Sounds Like Me

by Sara Bareilles

[lindsey]

(Source: I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.)


I was so excited when I first heard Sara Bareilles was writing a book, and I impatiently counted down the days until I could finally read it.  I've been a fan of hers for years, as I mentioned in an earlier post on my blog, and I sort of felt like a proud mother when I received my copy in the mail.  That may sound odd since she's three years older than I, and I've never actually met her, but following her progress from the time before she ever even signed with a record label to now, when she's written a book, has been amazing and inspiring.  So, yes, I am proud of her.

Sometimes we, or least I, think that singers, actors, writers, etc, have it all together.  They never struggle with their craft.  They never have bad days, or even bad hair days.  They never have worries or deal with anxiety.  I know it isn't true, but on the surface it sometimes seems like they lead charmed lives.  That's why I occasionally enjoy reading celebrity biographies.  Not that I enjoy reading about the misfortunes of other people, but because, in well-written ones, at least, the stories are inspiring and encouraging.  That's the case with Sounds Like Me.  Though I don't really consider this a celeb bio; it's more of a letter to her fans.

Sounds Like Me is incredibly honest.  Sara was candid, and not afraid to talk about some of the hard things she's dealt with in life.  Or, if she was afraid, she took her own advice - she was brave, and talked about the hard things anyway.

She discussed her childhood - from idyllic times with her family to heartbreaking stories of being bullied.  She talked about failed relationships, her struggles with depression and anxiety, and her worries about finding her purpose in life.  And, of course, her music plays a huge part in the book.  I enjoyed reading the backstories for some of her songs, and I have an even greater appreciation for her music than I did before.

Sara comes across as someone you'd really like to hang out with - just watching Netflix and eating pizza.  It's easy to relate to the stories she shared, and even though she has been blessed with so much success, she still seems down to earth.

This was a very quick read, however that may have just been because I devoured it.  I didn't want to put it down, and I was sad when I finished it, as I wanted it to go on for another 200 pages, at least.  If you're a fan, I would highly recommend Sounds Like Me.  It's encouraging, inspiring, and it lets you get to know Sara as a person, and not just as a singer and songwriter.