Remembering Whitney

My Story of Love, Loss, and the Night the Music Stopped

By: Cissy Houston

Narrated by: Robin Miles

Length: 7 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Honest and heartbreaking, a mother's story of tears, joy, and her greatest love of all: her daughter, Whitney

On the eve of the 2012 Grammy Awards, the world learned of a stunning tragedy: Whitney Houston, unquestionably one of the most remarkable and powerful voices in all of music, had been silenced forever. Over the weeks and months that followed, family, friends, and fans alike tried to understand how such a magnificent talent and beautiful soul could have been taken so early and so unexpectedly. Glamorous and approachable, captivating and sweet, Whitney had long ago won the hearts of America, but in recent years her tumultuous personal life had grabbed as many headlines as her soaring vocal talents. Her sudden death left behind not only a legacy of brilliance, but also painful questions with no easy answers.

Now, for the first time, the beloved superstar's mother, Cissy Houston—a gospel legend in her own right—relates the full, astonishing scope of the pop icon's life and career. From Whitney's earliest days singing in the church choir to her rapid ascent to the pinnacles of music stardom, from her string of number-one hits to her topping the Hollywood box office, Cissy recounts her daughter's journey to becoming one of the most popular and successful artists of all time. Setting the record straight, Cissy also speaks candidly about Whitney's struggles in the limelight, revealing the truth about her turbulent marriage to singer Bobby Brown, her public attempts to regain her celebrated voice, and the battle with drugs that ultimately proved too much.

In this poignant and tender tribute to her "Nippy", Cissy summons all her strength to reveal not only Whitney the superstar, but also Whitney as a sweet girl, a bright-eyed young woman, and a deeply caring mother. Complete with never-before-seen family photographs, Remembering Whitney is an intimate, heartfelt portrait of one of our most revered artists, from the woman who cherished her most.

Download the accompanying materials.

©2013 Cissy Houston. Foreword copyright 2013 by Dionne Warwick (P)2013 HarperCollinsPublishers

Great Book

Where does Remembering Whitney rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is my first audiobook I have listened to and the experience was remarkable. The emotion expressed made me feel like I was listening to Mrs Cissy Houston describe her life with her family and her remarkably gfted daughter.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The entire Houston family played a pivotal role in the entire book.

Which character – as performed by Robin Miles – was your favorite?

Cissy Houston

Whitney's story told from a motherly loved side

Whitney's Houston's biography remembering the pain is a story narrated and written by her mom Cissy Houston. Cissy shares intimate and private moments of her daughter's life. The book discusses details of the very beginning of her life from birth being delivered in the delivery room in the hospital up until the moment of her death from her hotel room.

Good, sad story about Whitney's life

Liked it a lot. It's so sad to hear of a parent losing their child.

Love the book and the reader Ms. Robin Miles.

If you could sum up Remembering Whitney in three words, what would they be?

Amazing, courrageous mother!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Ms. Cissy Houston, of course! As a mother of 5 and grandmother of 8, i totally understand what she went through, the pain, the worries, the sleepless nights, the love to her children. The love and worries doesn't end with our children, it continues when we start having grandchildren. It's like starting all over.

What does Robin Miles bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Ms. Robin Miles is the lady who read the book, huh? Well, let me tell you. She read that book as if she was Ms. Cissy. She represented Ms. Cissy so well it's just amazing. Ms. Miles should be reading your books if the authors cannot read them. She puts her heart into the story and keeps your interest. There has been books that i buy and then don't read when i hear the booring voice of the reader. Even some authors read so horribly you want to stop reading, example: andy williams. i love his singing voice, but his reading voice is just a no no!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when her son called her to inform her that Whitney was dead. I cried so much at that moment.

Any additional comments?

I love Ms. Cissy and Ms. Miles. Two amazing ladies.

A Mother's Love

This book was fabulously written, in my opinion, and showed the unconditional love of a mother. I don't car what criticisms are put out there about Whitney Houston, no one knew her and could love her as much as her family did. While we as fans certainly loved her and her music we will always cherish the gift that God allowed us to have in her music and her life. I give this book 5 stars for how beautifully and transparent it was written and how graceful it was read. Rest Well Whitney, we will always love you but we will see you again!

Gone To Soon

Exceptionally good! Im going to listen to it again it's good. I loved it.

Laugh, cried, smiled

I’m a big Whitney Houston fan I even love Cissy but whomever read the book in Mrs (momma) Houston place was awesome felt as Mrs. Houston was reading it herself as you felt the love from the both the author and the narrator love love love made me fall in love with both Houston’s all over again and I learned so much about Momma Houston as well take a bow you raised and trained an awesome human being in Whitney Houston I couldn’t stop listening

Nobody Knows Whitney Better Than Mama

If you could sum up Remembering Whitney in three words, what would they be?

Sad, Eye Opening, Closure.

What other book might you compare Remembering Whitney to and why?

I don't compare this to any other book. It was Cissy's Story and obviously we needed to learn who NIPPY was

Which scene was your favorite?

The Funeral was my favorite scene.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me love NIPPY more than Whitney. It did make me cry.

Any additional comments?

If you want to really know Nippy as opposed to the persona of Whitney Houston I suggest you listen to this story....it will give you compassion of the True Story of this great Artist....gone to soon ....or perhaps it was her time to go and finally rest.

Mouth dropping stories,empathy for a mothers grief

I had a very limited idea of who I thought Cissy Houston was. I listened to Robin Crawfords book first and she politely verified how most people think of Houston's mother, calling her the 'Big Cuda' for barracuda. I even went so far as to wonder if Whitney's problems were a result of her mother. Now I know that those judgments are incorrect and inappropriate for someone who is obviously in so much pain over her daughters death.
There were several stories where my mouth dropped, Big, scary things that had not been known in the public. This is of course only Cissy's side of the story but it is one of fairly deep and painful self reflection and self blame. After reading Ms. Crawfords book and this one, I now have a better idea about what led to Houston's downfall....and it was herself. She was her own worst enemy.

Amazing

I recommend this book especially if you've ever lost a close loved one. God bless us all.