Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina

Yes for Copeland. No for Pitts. As I listened to Ms. Pitts, I kept thinking, has Misty heard this narration?

That she told it. Telling our stories is important.

The performance would have been BEST if Copeland had been the narrator of her own book. If that wasn't possible, it might have been BETTER if a narrator with a younger voice had been hired and then directed, if need be, while in studio. Pitts' performance would have been ACCEPTABLE (at best) if close attention had been paid to her delivery and if re-takes had been requested while in studio or once it was listened to by Audible.

Pitts' narration was beyond distracting. Her over enunciation made it sound like she was reading a children's book, e.g., "ow-er fam-i-ly," "ow-er mother," "ow-er" father." She also mispronounced words and dance terms or put the emphasis on the wrong syllable, e.g., "pas de doo", "choreo-graphy". And this gem: "...fisherman had 'pliéd' San Pedro's waters...". Are you kidding me?! Surely they "plied" the waters" of the harbour.

Pitts also made well-known song lyrics unrecognizable when read aloud. Was she not allowed to sing the first lines of songs by Mariah Carey, New Edition or The Marvelettes?

The poor narration inspired me to write my first book review. I doubt that's what Misty had in mind.

This book deserves better narration than what it got here.

Inspiring, insightful, honest.

Absolutely not. Her phrasing was stilted, her pronunciation was overdone, her dramatic choices were bizarre. She truly distracted from the story in a way I've never experienced from another narrator.

Despite the terrible narration, I did listen to this book in one weekend. Misty Copeland has a really interesting story.

What an inspiring story?! The order of the chapters and the sub-stories is a bit chaotic at time. What bothered me the most is the narration. The voice of the narrator just doesn't match Misty the character. It sounds like a much much older voice, and a bit contrived and exaggerated for this simple memoir. I would say it's an enjoyable book but not an enjoyable listen. Too bad. I really want to re-listen to the story again or sections of it but the narration just makes me cringe enough that one time through is enough. I wish they update the narration with another voice....

I strongly disliked the narration of this book. This is an autobiography, written in 1st person, and I do not think that the voice actor matched the author. She sounded much older than Misty Copeland was at the time she wrote the book. Additionally she over enunciated every word and even added inflection and emphasis in incorrect places. I did not think I would be able to finish the book when I first started listening, but Misty's story hooked me enough to keep going.

No

As a dancer, I really enjoyed hearing Misty's story. She came from such unlikely circumstances. to become a brilliant ballerina. This book really made me appreciate her much more than I had before.

The book, yes.

She spent a lot of time almost but not quite dealing with her "Mommy" issues.

Misty Copeland

No

I spent half the book thinking Misty Copeland was autistic.

Somewhere towards the end, I finally figured out the narrator was trying to say "artistic"

So inspirational, vulnerable, and well told. Quick read about this powerful woman! Didn't know about her humble beginnings. So amazing what she was able to accomplish.

Misty Copeland's story gave a view into a world unfamiliar to many. Her sharing of losses and triumphs in growing up as a most unlikely child prodigy, a custody battle that would take her from those she loved and could have provided a "better" life, and eventually meeting her destiny as a principle with a major ballet company was full of all things that make for a great movie or an even more awesome life.
I also loved the narration by Lisa Pitts. Her voice was suited perfectly in telling the story of a graceful ballerina; poised, elegant, inflection just right. I will recommend this book to others but especially middle school pre-teens. A great read about growing up shy and awkward but through hard work becoming one of the most graceful people in the entire world. Wonderfully motivating!

I love Misty Copeland and I really wanted to love the book but the narrators voice killed it for me. I think she sounded too mature for anyone to relage to as Misty. She was very(over) dramatic and it was just not the voice of a twenty something young woman!

This is the "Autobiography of Malcolm X" for women. I am putting this book in my daughters hand

Misty Copeland is a marvel. She has broken through seemingly impossible barriers, not only because she is a woman of color, but she certainly does not possess the typical ballerina body type. I admire her so much, she is a gift.

Her voice was annoying, it takes away from the story.

Yes, to see Misty Copeland dance in person.