Just Skimmed Through STORMS

[gretchen]

I finished the book about 2 weeks ago..stayed up until 3:45AM to finish it. I must say I felt strange after the last page turned and the book ended. I felt depressed and a bit angered. It was as if I were wearing cement shoes and I had been cast into the water reading that thing. The book was so totally unnecessary and hurtful. Carol Ann Harris had a right to write the piece for her own personal satisfaction, but to what end? I just left the whole situation with a heavy feeling in my heart and a sachel of melancholy the size of a small car.

[michelej1]

I was thinking how, except for the major events in my life, I don't remember what year most things happened to me, let alone the more specific dates on which they occurred. You remember high and lowpoints, but can't easily put them in order.

I often have to go back and say, "Did I take that trip before or after, so-and-so died?" Memory makes a jumble of events and their chronological sequence. So, off the top of my head, I might get a lot of things in my life wrong, if pressed to recount them for you spontaneously.

But Carol wasn't working off the top of her head. After all, she kept an "audio diary" which chronicled everything as it happened. Moreover, she had years to check witnesses, notes, old FM memorabilia and references while writing and researching. I assume that's why she's able to assure readers in one of the prefacing pages that everything in the book is "documented."

It's for this reason that when some of the pieces in Storms don't fit, I suspect fabrication as the reason, rather than human error.

Michele

[Tango]

Book Review: Carol Ann Harris - Storms - My Life with Lindsey Buckingham and Fleetwood Mac


Written by Nancy Dunham
Published November 04, 2007


At last – a glimpse behind the scenes of Fleetwood Mac, the mega group of the 1970s. As fans know, the writing and recording of the band’s 1975 album Rumours won its members international fame and enormous wealth. It also shattered the relationship of guitarist/songwriter Lindsey Buckingham and long-time girlfriend/collaborator Stevie Nicks, as well as the marriage of band members John and Christine McVie.

While gossip about the group has been rampant from the release of Rumours until now, insiders’ accounts have been few. Enter Carol Ann Harris, ex-long-time girlfriend of guitarist/songwriter Lindsey Buckingham, who had a front row seat on day to day life in “The Mac” for almost nine years.

Harris tells it all, from her eye-locking flirtations with Buckingham just prior to Rumours’ release, to his proclamation that a night spent with another woman was chaste due to his longing for Harris, right through the consummation of their relationship and the resulting cocaine-fueled nights, anger-filled recording sessions, and tearful accusations of sexual betrayal.

The tales, while not unbelievable, make Elvis Presley’s reported indulgences seem almost modest.

The stories not only involve Harris and Buckingham but the entire “Mac” family, including managers and technicians plus the band’s A-List cast of intimates such as Dennis Wilson, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, and Eric Clapton. One thing you can say — Harris doesn’t hold back.

Although she professes to have made peace with Nicks through the years, this book portrays the singer as a bubble-headed, self-absorbed nymphomaniac who never felt genuine affection or compassion for others. Mick Fleetwood is cast as a dull-witted old addict and a rampant womanizer who drives Jenny Boyd (sister of model Pattie Boyd, who is also the ex-wife of Clapton and George Harrison) to near insanity, Although John and Christine McVie come off as halfway intelligent, their purported excesses and failings are recounted in painstaking detail.

What’s interesting is while Harris tsk tsks at the antics of the Mac family, she takes on a fairy-tale like vision of her own life. Time and time again, Harris said she returned to the physically and emotionally abusive Buckingham because he needed her as his muse. Despite seemingly endless accounts of strangling, hair-pulling and other torture, Harris proclaims she never saw the mistreatment coming.

Yet for all her tales of how she sought to be just a normal influence leading a regular life in this chaotic world, Harris' glee at the abundent cocaine, 5-star hotels, limos, and luxury living bubbles just below the surface.

Her tales of her kindness and self sacrifices fall a bit flat in some scenarios such as when she vividly recounts mocking an ex-love of Fleetwood’s – whom she calls “The Blob.” The woman’s major sin was that she wore a size 12. Oh, wait, maybe she was “mentally ill” too, Harris says later in the book. That’s just a glimpse into the superficial status and values in this woman’s life.

Everyone makes mistakes, especially as young adults. But generally as one grows older and reflects on those blunders they feel regret and sadness. What’s stunning is that Harris tells of her “fairy tale” life and times without a shred of self awareness or remorse. Even now, she doesn't seem to realize that this "fairy tale" is a nightmare.

Nancy Dunham is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who lives in Alexandria, Va. Contact her at [email protected]


http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/11/04/192539.php

[danax6]

Originally Posted by Tango

Although she professes to have made peace with Nicks through the years, this book portrays the singer as a bubble-headed, self-absorbed nymphomaniac who never felt genuine affection or compassion for others.

Thanks for my laugh of the day.

I'm glad someone else sees it this way.

[Lori40]

I think that Nancy Dunham did a great job summarizing the main problem that I have with CAH, in the last sentences of her review.

"Everyone makes mistakes, especially as young adults. But generally as one grows older and reflects on those blunders, they feel regret and sadness. What's stunning is that Harris tells of her 'fairy tale' life and times without a shred of self awareness or remorse.

[SuzeQuze]

Yes a lot of fans have said that Harris paints herself as an innocent in it all which is ridiculous.

[danax6]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Yes a lot of fans have said that Harris paints herself as an innocent in it all which is ridiculous.

I agree. Combine that with her biased and therefore rather inaccurate portrayal of Stevie Nicks -which Nancy Dunham perfectly described- and I still wonder why some people think this book is the second coming. It was nothing more than a fun read.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by SuzeQuze

Yes a lot of fans have said that Harris paints herself as an innocent in it all which is ridiculous.

I don't think that CAH made herself look innocent in the book. I think she did try to depict herself that way, even though the result was something quite different.

She made herself seem very passive. She was never an actor. Well, the things she initiated were always the good things -- like taking care of Lindsey. But something like her own drug use just happened to her. It wasn't a choice and she wasn't responsible. She naively fell into it, without realizing the implications. She was basically just a victim throughout and she kind of carefully crafts that image. I rather smile when she describes her life at home with her sisters all reading books quietly, then she is suddenly thrust into this loud, raging, drug world.

She observes and has things happen to her. She doesn't do them. She is not the cause of them. And I just don't believe that anyone is really that much of a bystander in their own lives. Just from the way she made sure that Lindsey knew that Stevie grabbed her (although she wasn't hurt, Stevie was clearly high, and other people around them never knew that anything had happened), I can tell that she was a participant in some of the friction around her. She was trying to make Lindsey go off on Stevie and I'm sure that wasn't the only time, she sparked things among the band and crew. Love to hear those girlfriend tapes she and Sara made.

I get the feeling that she left some of the most juicy part of events (her part) out of the book.

Anyway, aside from the drug use, what did she describe herself as doing in the book that wasn't innocent? Michele

[jkmaletic]

I just finished this book and it was a very interesting read, although I had to wonder, despite the supposed taped conversations and journals kept, how she was able to remember her times with Lindsey so vividly.

I was surprised of all the writing about the abuse she received from Lindsey. It was shocking and disappointing to say the least. I've never been a huge fan of Lindsey's solo career, so I don't know a lot about him. But I wanted to know what YOU guys thought, as obvious Lindsey "fans", of this book. I'm curious.


~Jamie

[michelej1]

I would look at this thread. I think the thing was hashed out pretty throroughly.

http://www.ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/sh...ad.php?t=33136

[jkmaletic]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I would look at this thread. I think the thing was hashed out pretty throroughly.

http://www.ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/sh...ad.php?t=33136

Oh, ok. Thanks - didn't know there was one already.

[David]

Originally Posted by jkmaletic

I was surprised of all the writing about the abuse she received from Lindsey. It was shocking and disappointing to say the least. I've never been a huge fan of Lindsey's solo career, so I don't know a lot about him. But I wanted to know what YOU guys thought, as obvious Lindsey "fans", of this book. I'm curious.

I think Lindsey is violent.

[CelticGypsy]

Originally Posted by jkmaletic

I just finished this book and it was a very interesting read, although I had to wonder, despite the supposed taped conversations and journals kept, how she was able to remember her times with Lindsey so vividly.

I was surprised of all the writing about the abuse she received from Lindsey. It was shocking and disappointing to say the least. I've never been a huge fan of Lindsey's solo career, so I don't know a lot about him. But I wanted to know what YOU guys thought, as obvious Lindsey "fans", of this book. I'm curious.


~Jamie

I recently bought and read this book too. Yes, I had heard about Lindsey's temper but wow I was shocked that it got as bad as it did. I love Lindsey as a performer but I definitely could understand why Stevie and other girlfriends like Carol Ann chose to leave him. Carol Ann seems much happier now with her husband and so does Lindsey with Kristen and the kids. A few surprises in the book that I never heard before so it was worth the money and the two days not doing any housework while reading it
Glad I have a very understanding hubby

[#1LiddyBuckFan]

I went ahead and merged jkmaletic's thread about the book Storms into this one since we already have such an extensive conversation started.

[Nico]

I'm a little confused because the chapter where Carol describes Lindsey's horrible seizure appears chronologically in the book before the incident of him cutting off most of his hair/beard...yet, there was some video posted in the "Rumours" board of Lindsey during the time he had the seizure/spinal tap and he had no beard. So was there more than one seizure or is her version of history off?

I know I should be able to differentiate between Lindsey during "Rumours Tour" and "Tusk Tour" by now. Most fans can, but I still have no idea which is which. I just know "Lindsey with a beard tour" and "Lindsey when he shaved it off" tour.