I am reading it now, I saw some threads on it before it came out, but has anyone bought it and read it. - Grace Jones I will never write my memoirs

.

I am only up to the late 60s, but surprised at how focussed it is, I expected a drug addled mess of mis remembered dates and people, but Grace is real clear with her stories and her words are really good. Learnt so much about her already. Funnily she refuses to admit her age, saying she was not born as a watch and she uses a lot of metaphors. I have worked out she was born in 1948 or 1949 making her in her mid to late 60s and she looks amazing for someone that old!

.

Her Jamaican upbringing was very strict and she carries grudges from an abusive step grandfather called Mas P who would beat her and her family for no reason (Grace says her grandma was a cougar who married a man 20 years younger than her). Grace's mother was very young when she had her too and she came from a strict religious family (The background is surprisingly similar to Dolly Parton's).

.

But yeah interesting stuff, can't wait to read more. Anyone else read it or have comments on this book.

.

So far I have learned

1. Her real name is Beverley Grace Jones, she was always called Beverley or Bev in Jamaica but became known as Grace in the USA

2. Her older brother Chris is gay and he has changed his name as his family have disowned him except Grace and his mother.

3. She is the 3rd of 7 children.

4. Her mother is still alive.

5. Grace arrived in Onondaga, Syracuse in 1961 and her father is a successful evangelist preacher.

6. She started school 3 years ahead of everyone else in Syracuse

7. She started trying LSD at the age of 16 in 1964, and left home to become a model and singer in the mid 1960s living in Philadelphia.

[Edited 1/9/16 3:18am]

Someone gave me this for Christams. Not read it yet though.

I think I'm going to buy this.

Grace Jones really is one of the most iconic figures of the last 40 years.

The music, tne various looks, the photos -- I was aware of her before she realy hit it big as she was all over glossy French photography magazines. Her type of atmospheric dance beats were also the essence of cool so she had quite the 360 degree branding going on, all that with a voice you would not think is so suitable but yet it is.

one of the best autobio's ive read in a while

she tells it like it is as only Grace can

I've read 2/3rds of it and I'm really struggling to maintain interest. Her upbringing and early Paris/ New York years occupy a large majority of the book, while the most prolific parts are constrained to a mere fraction of those early years. Also, the writing style doesn't make things easy. The book describes Jamaca in so many ways, I feel like I've traveled there and got sick of the place.

A true original and a character.

Hmmmm. I was going to buy the book but I may pass. Sounds a bit boring. I want to read more about her career and the goings-on in the music and film industry and what her experiences were with that. Not interested in reading about Jamaica. I hate it when musicians, especially musicians of color, write books and end up glossing over recording sessions, label politics and things of that nature.

kitbradley said:

Hmmmm. I was going to buy the book but I may pass. Sounds a bit boring. I want to read more about her career and the goings-on in the music and film industry and what her experiences were with that. Not interested in reading about Jamaica. I hate it when musicians, especially musicians of color, write books and end up glossing over recording sessions, label politics and things of that nature.

I feel the same way.When I read an autobiography of a musical artist,I wanna hear about recording sessions,drama in the studio (lol),and the behind-the-scenes stuff that goes on with record companies and superstardom.Grace is a truly interesting artist,but I don't think I'm gonna buy her book.

TheDigitalGardener said:

Someone gave me this for Christams. Not read it yet though.

When did you return??

Gunsnhalen said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

Someone gave me this for Christams. Not read it yet though.

When did you return??

Been back a wee while, though lord knows why I bothered

Adorecream said:

I am reading it now, I saw some threads on it before it came out, but has anyone bought it and read it. - Grace Jones I will never write my memoirs

.

I am only up to the late 60s, but surprised at how focussed it is, I expected a drug addled mess of mis remembered dates and people, but Grace is real clear with her stories and her words are really good. Learnt so much about her already. Funnily she refuses to admit her age, saying she was not born as a watch and she uses a lot of metaphors. I have worked out she was born in 1948 or 1949 making her in her mid to late 60s and she looks amazing for someone that old!

.

Her Jamaican upbringing was very strict and she carries grudges from an abusive step grandfather called Mas P who would beat her and her family for no reason (Grace says her grandma was a cougar who married a man 20 years younger than her). Grace's mother was very young when she had her too and she came from a strict religious family (The background is surprisingly similar to Dolly Parton's).

.

But yeah interesting stuff, can't wait to read more. Anyone else read it or have comments on this book.

.

So far I have learned

1. Her real name is Beverley Grace Jones, she was always called Beverley or Bev in Jamaica but became known as Grace in the USA

2. Her older brother Chris is gay and he has changed his name as his family have disowned him except Grace and his mother.

3. She is the 3rd of 7 children.

4. Her mother is still alive.

5. Grace arrived in Onondaga, Syracuse in 1961 and her father is a successful evangelist preacher.

6. She started school 3 years ahead of everyone else in Syracuse

7. She started trying LSD at the age of 16 in 1964, and left home to become a model and singer in the mid 1960s living in Philadelphia.

You did not mention her other Brother that has a Mega-Church here in the states...The Collection-plates has made him one of the Richest & Powerful Pastors...He's on that Reality Show "Pastors of L.A" or one of those cities...I watched a couple of episodes and lost interest...All they did was flash their Diamonds, empty Pools & Cars...Grace's Bruh thinks he's too good to Marry (that's the character he plays on the show)...

Chancellor said:

You did not mention her other Brother that has a Mega-Church here in the states...The Collection-plates has made him one of the Richest & Powerful Pastors...He's on that Reality Show "Pastors of L.A" or one of those cities...I watched a couple of episodes and lost interest...All they did was flash their Diamonds, empty Pools & Cars...Grace's Bruh thinks he's too good to Marry (that's the character he plays on the show)...

Totally right, I haven't, but it runs in the family, Grace's father and her maternal grandfather were also pastors and bishops of ultra evangelical church.

.

Mainly out of disgust, given their treatment of Grace and her other brother who is openly gay and found it so hard, he had to change his name.

Just finished it, its a hard book to get through, but so interesting, apparently written by someone else, its Grace's words, all over the map chronologically, but just so interesting, yet she can be very crude at times. She is one of a kind and just an original.

.

Made me revisit a lot of her work which is on youtube, the One Man Show of 1982 and the Movie Vamp from 1986 where she plays very well Katrina, the queen of a nest of vampires. Katrina dates from ancient Egypt and only laughs, but she controls a nest of vampires who died only recently except Vlad who died in the 16th century in Romania. Its a camp but great movie and Grace Jones is amazing!

.

She is an enigma and her last point in book she opens the suggestion she may be immortal and a demon? But who KNOWS!!!

kitbradley said:

Hmmmm. I was going to buy the book but I may pass. Sounds a bit boring. I want to read more about her career and the goings-on in the music and film industry and what her experiences were with that. Not interested in reading about Jamaica. I hate it when musicians, especially musicians of color, write books and end up glossing over recording sessions, label politics and things of that nature.

She says she hated Hollywood and saw it as a system that chews people up and destroys them, she got away from it, and hated how the studios only portrayed her as a camp and bizarre figure. She also says her music is a constant metamorphisis and hates to be stuck in one trend for very long. She has no regrets about her boyfriends, especially Jean Paul.

Adorecream said:

I am reading it now, I saw some threads on it before it came out, but has anyone bought it and read it. - Grace Jones I will never write my memoirs

.

I am only up to the late 60s, but surprised at how focussed it is, I expected a drug addled mess of mis remembered dates and people, but Grace is real clear with her stories and her words are really good. Learnt so much about her already. Funnily she refuses to admit her age, saying she was not born as a watch and she uses a lot of metaphors. I have worked out she was born in 1948 or 1949 making her in her mid to late 60s and she looks amazing for someone that old!

.

Her Jamaican upbringing was very strict and she carries grudges from an abusive step grandfather called Mas P who would beat her and her family for no reason (Grace says her grandma was a cougar who married a man 20 years younger than her). Grace's mother was very young when she had her too and she came from a strict religious family (The background is surprisingly similar to Dolly Parton's).

.

But yeah interesting stuff, can't wait to read more. Anyone else read it or have comments on this book.

.

So far I have learned

1. Her real name is Beverley Grace Jones, she was always called Beverley or Bev in Jamaica but became known as Grace in the USA

2. Her older brother Chris is gay and he has changed his name as his family have disowned him except Grace and his mother.

3. She is the 3rd of 7 children.

4. Her mother is still alive.

5. Grace arrived in Onondaga, Syracuse in 1961 and her father is a successful evangelist preacher.

6. She started school 3 years ahead of everyone else in Syracuse

7. She started trying LSD at the age of 16 in 1964, and left home to become a model and singer in the mid 1960s living in Philadelphia.

[Edited 1/9/16 3:18am]

Her brother Noel Jones. I attend his church. He mentions his brother Chris sometimes. He hasn't disowned him. His Mother visits sometimes & is very ill. He says Lady Gaga wanted to work with her. But Grace refused.