Kicking and Dreaming

A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll

By: Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson

Narrated by: Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson

Length: 8 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Two sisters. Two voices. One Heart.

The mystery of "Magic Man". The wicked riff of "Barracuda". The sadness and beauty of "Alone". The raw energy of "Crazy On You". These songs, and so many more, are part of the fabric of American music. Heart, fronted by Ann and Nancy Wilson, has given fans everywhere classic, raw, and pure badass rock and roll for more than three decades. As the only sisters in rock who write their own music and play their own instruments, Ann and Nancy have always stood apart - certainly from their male counterparts but also from their female peers. By refusing to let themselves and their music be defined by their gender, and by never allowing their sexuality to overshadow their talent, the Wilson sisters have made their mark, and in the process paved the way for many of today's female artists.

In Kicking and Dreaming, Ann and Nancy, with the help of critically acclaimed and best-selling music biographer Charles R. Cross, recount a journey that has taken them from a gypsy-like life as the children of a globe-trotting Marine to the frozen back roads of Vancouver, where they got their start as a band, to the pinnacle of success - and sometimes excess. In these pages, readers will learn the truth about the relationship that inspired "Magic Man" and "Crazy On You", the turmoil of inter-band romances gone awry, the reality of life on the road as single women and then as mothers of small children, and the thrill of performing and in some cases partying with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks, Van Halen, Def Leppard, and other rock legends. It has not always been an easy path. Ann struggled with and triumphed over a childhood stutter, body image, and alcoholism; Nancy suffered the pain and disappointment of fertility issues and a failed marriage but ultimately found love again and happiness as a mom. Through it all, the sisters drew from the strength of a family bond that trumps everything else, as told in this intimate, honest, and uniquely female take on the rock and roll life.

Throughout their career, Ann and Nancy have never found an answer to the question they are most frequently asked: "What is it like to be a woman in rock and roll?" Kicking and Dreaming puts that question to bed, once and for all.

©2012 Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers

Wow, what interesting people - great read!!

Would you listen to Kicking and Dreaming again? Why?

Yes, I am actually on my second listen and really enjoy it. Ann and Nancy do a fantastic job recounting their lives and it's great to hear in in their own voices.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Love them both. I especially liked how they explained how the Beatles inspired them. They sure sounded like interesting, focused kids and I admire their commitment to the music, their family, and themselves.

Which scene was your favorite?

I enjoyed so much, it's hard to decide. That's part of the reason I am listening to it all over again - it's THAT good!

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, definitely. It might have also been nice if the intro and conclusion music would have been a Heart tune instead of something else

Any additional comments?

My only complaint is that i HATED how a narrator introduced each voice with each chapter. One can quickly/easily distinguish between Ann & Nancy's voices, so this "intrusion" is unnecessary and kind of disruptive.

Illuminating

Okay, as a female musician, I may be biased; I think Ann Wilson is one of the greatest singers in rock, and the songs Heart wrote in the 1970s are amazing. I recently saw Heart play live. These sixty-year-old women are still strong musicians and they can ROCK. So, I was prepared to really enjoy this book.

I loved learning about the music industry, and hearing the stories behind my favourite Heart songs -- all narrated by the actual Wilson sisters!

I am not a fan of Heart's 80s music, and it was particularly gratifying to learn that they didn't particularly care for some of those songs either -- it was the coke-fueled 80s 'star maker machinery' that was responsible for that egregious period. I could never correlate the talent that wrote the powerful "Barracuda" with the drivel that is "All I Want To Do Is Make Love To You". Makes sense now.

My only complaint was that I would have liked to have heard more about how the sisters' became musicians in the first place -- because the story begins when they are already in the fledgling incarnation of Heart.

A good listen.

Enjoyable book read by the authors

What did you love best about Kicking and Dreaming?

An interesting story. Anyone who listened to Heart's music growing up will enjoy this book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kicking and Dreaming?

How Ann Wilson was able to overcome her self image issues with her weight. The hurtful comments that were thrown at her would have devistated almost anyone else.

Which character – as performed by Ann Wilson and Nancy Wilson – was your favorite?

Both ere equally enjoyable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, just because of its length. However, I would still listen to sections of it for hours.

Any additional comments?

Glad the authors read this book.

fantastic story, read by the Wilsons

What an excellent book. Not a typical rock biography and not a typical band. Fantastic narration by the Wilson sisters and a few other notable people along the way gives it so much more humanity than the usual rock band biography would. I think there's room for an additional story here that could be better told by someone impartial and once removed from the band - that of the tough transition into a new decade/era by a band that arrived a bit late to their own party - or maybe I just want to hear more about Heart... the eighties breeze by pretty quickly here for such an interesting time for the band. But no book by another author could have the inside story that this captures so elegantly. Highly recommended in audiobook form for the narration by the Wilsons. Loved it from start to finish.

fans will like it

I'm a casual heart fan and was in danger of becoming bored but stuck it out. good Insight into the origins of the band and their rise and career arc. if you are looking for hardcore rock and roll debauchery there are only a few tales kinda brushed over from the 80s. Ann's narration is better than Nancy's

Better than expected, and I expected a lot...

I always enjoyed the energy and passion of Heart. What I learned about the Wilson sisters' background, their close family, pride in their Marine Corps roots, and their childhood struggles, made them very relatable. The audiobook is unique because there are multiple narrators... Anne, Nancy, but also Roger and Michael Fisher, each telling their own part of the story. I was not the biggest Heart fan, but now I will go back and check out all those songs and albums I had not listened to before. As a 55 year old who still plays rock, these ladies, five and ten years my senior, inspire me to keep on rocking.

Whole Entire Story Excellent.

It seemed very complete. the background story is just as important as the rock star story. There didn't seem to be anything dishonest about it. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Amazing book!

Loved every minute of this book. Being a Heart fan for decades it was nice to hear them talk about their journey.

a walk down memory lane

Any additional comments?

Insights into some of the richest musical eras from the inside of one of my favorite rock bands. it was a treat to hear the Wilson sisters in their own voices sharing their music, motivations, and reminding us of the fabulous catalog of their work and some of the challenges they faced and overcame.

GREAT book about one of the greatest bands EVER!!!

Heart is one of the only bands that has been a life long "super favorite" of mine. Thier music has been a HUGE part of my life from childhood until now at 47 years old. Thier songs bring cherished memories flooding back into my mind of my childhood, teens, early adulthood, and adult life. I am also a member of MILLIONS of young men who had a mad crish on Nancy during my teens. I never saw them as a groundbreaking band because of the two sisters. I only saw a premier, ass kicking rock and roll band that rivaled ALL other great rock bands of the 70's, 80's, 90's, and the current century. They are more than deserving of all award,s accolades, and thier RIGHTFUL place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside the other historic rock bands. Anns voice has ALWAYS been the unmistakeable pure thunder behind Heart and Nancys voice has at the same time been the elegant, soft counterbalance. Combined they create a heavenly harmony that is unequaled in music. Nancys guitar prowess is just another element that rocketed Heart to American legend status and kept them there for half a century. I challenge anyone to find another rock band with even similar accomplishments and legendary status!!! My only criticism with the audiobook is the constant reintroduction of each commentator throughout the book. After the first chapter that is totally unnecessary and truthfully speaking gets annoying and detracts from the overall experience. Otherwise it is fantastic.