"The affairs dented my self respect"

[Penguin Emeritus]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

I think we would need to read more to jump to conclusions about the author. Was she not Chris's friend? I don't see anything negative towards Chris at all. If anything it makes Chris very human and vulnerable. We all wondered the hell she went through with John and how she coped. Could you imagine what someone really could have written even the blunt truth that would leave people gasping. I found this heartfelt showing her struggles not just as a woman but as a human being. All of this would have a toll on anyone. If anything one could say this is a glossy portrait compared to the harsh reality of the truth. I felt it very touching how losing her dad even at his late age really impacted her. Losing your parents is a benchmark in everyone's life. Her dad lived a very long life and got to see her on top of the world. Yet the reality is it still really hurt her. The band stopped their world tour and took 3 months off when Chris's dad passed. When Mick's mother passed during OWTS the band never cancelled or postponed one date. Mick was playing the next night. When Robin died, the band kept the Mirage tour going. Chris's outlook totally changed with her dad's passing. With all the hurt Chris went through, the reality is its almost impossible to write the truth yet not be too realistic. In everyone's life no matter how wonderful they are or were there were benchmarks and tough times. As they say, what does not kill you makes you stronger. IMHO this is why Chris was so strong. Its not a story of a weak woman that took advantage of men. Her experiences is what made her a fantastic writer and even better band mate. But we have to realize even in our heroes or heroines there are times they falter. I will never forget the story on Bob Welch's website that told the story of him running into Lindsey shortly after Bob left the band. Lindsey asked Bob, "how the hell did you stand to be around these people?"

This is true, I don't want to judge the whole book before I've read it. Jones was her friend but probably more of an 'occasional' friend, and also she interviewed her several times... I guess for me it's just a bit strange to imagine a close friend 'interviewing' her. and Chris obviously knew she was a journalist, which may have impacted how much/what she shared with her..?

But regardless, any new tidbits of info i can learn, i will eat up like candy. This excerpt is so interesting just because it's about a time period that Chris has said verrrry little about previously. it's great to get a peek at how she viewed things...her marriage, her parents' expectations, her affair etc. and i do think she was a strong person who handled a lot of pain in her life in terms of relationships.

That line about just being 'john's missus and not a person in my own right' was so revealing, it shows she kind of had that 50s/60s mentality of a wife sort of being an extension of her husband? very traditional. i wonder if women at that time in the UK were even allowed to open bank accounts on their own, because here in the US that only happened in 1974. maybe she felt financially trapped in a way as well? that line really hit me, i suppose, because i know that money was a huge concern of mine when i got divorced, how could i support myself after so many years of being home w kids and 'dependent' on a husband etc. it's scary to make the jump from financial security to who knows what. and also weird when relatives learn of things you did when you were miserable and desperate. been there done that haha

anyway now i'm rambling lol

--Lis