I’m so excited. And how appropriate for this book-receiving occasion. First I want to bitch about how I missed singer, Ruth Pointer, releasing her autobiography in February. Where was I! Where! As a strong supporter and fan of her band, The Pointer Sisters, I’m disappointed in myself. Especially seeing how she was my favorite vocalist in the group. She had (well, still has) that smoky, contralto voice that just throws me over. Not familiar with it? I’ll leave a Youtube video of the group’s song “Automatic”. Ruth sings lead as she pulls you into the cosmic bliss of her voice. Now let me disclaimer my enthusiasm by stating how all the sisters’ voices were different, and added something magical to their music. Especially if you sit back and catch their three-part (at one point four) harmonies. Which are absolutely amazing, especially for listeners like myself who love to active the conscious to pay attention to back vocals and such. Still, I suppose I’m just bias because I live for a female singer who can master the lower registers. Maybe because it's so unique for female singers. That dark, rich contralto tone is why Brandy (who actually shifts) is my favorite artist of my specific generation. Ruth was definitely my favorite during her time. Which of course the concept of "time" in music is moot.
Anyway, so yes. Ruth was my favorite Pointer. Going by the synopsis of her autobiography, I’m taken aback by what she’s willing to reveal. Well, to be accurate, her story. Now I'm familiar with her baby sister June’s drug addiction, as well as June's passing in 2006. (From what I've read so far, Ruth's autobiography takes a brief moment to address the tragedy June faced which led to her later struggles.) But I always saw Ruth, the eldest sister, as the responsible and forthright sister. An illusion we tend to give any of our eldest siblings. I myself being one. Even so, she was in the same mess as June–using drugs and alcohol to cope with her own demons. On the other hand, the use of drugs and alcohol were almost par for the course, given the 70's and 80's when the group took off. Either way Ruth is revealing her struggle with addition and rise in the music industry, but with so much more in the vein of inspiration in Still So Excited!
FYI: Let me gush for a split-second and mention how my absolute favorite Pointer Sister song is "If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady." Pure damn gold! Do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with the song.
FYI: Let me gush for a split-second and mention how my absolute favorite Pointer Sister song is "If You Wanna Get Back Your Lady." Pure damn gold! Do yourself a favor and familiarize yourself with the song.
Da Chen immerses the reader in the world of the Chinese imperial palace, filled with ghosts and grief, where bewitching concubines, treacherous eunuchs, and fierce warlords battle for supremacy. Da takes us deeply into an epic saga of 19th century China, where one man searches for his destiny and a forbidden love."
~ Synopsis taken from Goodreads
Let me tell you. Anytime I go to the Dollar Tree/General/Store, I make a move for the book section. It’s usually a mess in the area, but I enjoy hunting for something new to read for a single dollar. And that’s just what I found with Da Chen’s My Last Empress.
I read Da Chen’s book, Brothers, back in 2006. Considering it’s been awhile, all I can say is I liked the book okay. Hard for me to remember the exact details other than two brothers in China separated at birth. One got the privileged life, the other got a bad deal. The twist is they both fell in love with the same girl. Then I forgot the rest.
But no, the author’s name still sticks with me. Which is why I grabbed this copy of My Last Empress out of an avalanche of Sudoku puzzles and paperback Westerns. Dish washer liquid in hand, I pumped on to the register in delight.
