Reckless

My Life as a Pretender

By: Chrissie Hynde

Narrated by: Rosanna Arquette, Chrissie Hynde

Length: 8 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

From Chrissie Hynde, one of rock's most iconic, alluring, kick-ass, and (let's face it) sexy women, a brilliant, no-holds-barred memoir of a rock life lived to the hilt.

Chrissie Hynde, the songwriter and front woman of The Pretenders in its various incarnations, has for 35 years been one of the most admired and adored and imitated figures in rock. This long-awaited memoir tells her life story in full and utterly fascinating detail, from her all-American Ohio '50s childhood to her classic baby-boomer seduction by the rock of the '60s to her sojourn in the crucible of punk that was '70s London to her instant emergence with her band, The Pretenders, in 1980 into stardom as a frontwoman and songwriter. She brings a fantastic eye for detail, a withering and sardonic sense of humor, and a fearless and sometimes naked emotional honesty to her memoir, and every line, every word of it is unmistakably hers. It is sure to be recognized as a classic of rock literature - and, man, is it fun to listen to.

With an introduction read by Chrissie Hynde.

©2015 Chrissie Hynde (P)2015 Random House Audio

Reckless: My Life as a Pretender

It was interesting to find out how the Pretenders came to be. Not enough story about Chrissie's personal life as an adult. I felt like there was a lot more story to be told. Maybe Chrissie will do a follow up?

Great bio but narration was jarring and annoying at times

The story was a good rock star bio. I loved Christie’s writing style and her complete candor. Rosanna Arquette captured the attitude but sounded like she was sight reading the text, often stumbling over words, mispronouncing words, and sometimes changing what I thought was the author’s
intent with her choice of emphasis. I would have liked to hear it in Chrissie’s own voice. But if you’re a fan of Hynde, the Pretenders, music in general or of London, then its a worthwhile read.

Interesting

Its a little sparse in some sections but overall a really interesting listen. A must for Pretender fans.

Excellent narrator is distraction

The book and story is amazing, and this aspect didn't stop me. Here's the thing, Rosanna Arquettes voice is too singular and recognizable. As I listen to the story, I am imagining Rosanna Arquette in all these situations... Not chrissie. Her performance is amazing, and id like her in a fiction book, but her voice and known beauty really distracts me. Truly a first world problem. Again, the book is fantastic and well written. I don't even smell a ghost writer (Anthony Bozzo, I am looking in your direction)

It was disappointing how early in her career the story stops. Spoiler alert: the book spends half the time on her youth, and too little on her pretenders days. The book stops aftet their second album in the early 80s. We have so few voices of female rock stars and band leaders. She is so thoughtful that's its disappointing we don't get more of her time running the show. We see missing about 30 years from this narrative. It feels like it's part 1 of a 3 parter.

Fake it til ya make it! AKA The Great Pretender

I love this book, and Rosanna Arquette nailed the reading! Christie Hynde is a Midwestern girl who fell in love with rock n’roll and had a longing to see the world outside Akron. This is her story—It’s not a “how-to” on becoming a rockstar or a feminist or whatever. It’s like sitting with an older friend over a good bottle of wine and talking about life.

An eye opener of her drug soaked past!

I grew up listening to the Pretenders and it was quite an eye opener to see how Christie Hynde got to where she is now and how she was so close to other punk bands such as the Sex Pistols and The Damned. Who knew? I only wish she could narrate it herself, which would have made listening to it more thrilling. I also wish this biography went farther in her career, with her relationships and subsequent band mates. Because after this story ends is where the Pretenders career really skyrocketed with MTV and all. Maybe a little more editing of her young days and more story about her future career.

Honesty! Could have been subtitled "Survivor"

I enjoyed this tell-all, and the details of Chrissie's story feel genuine, even when she admits painful episodes and mistakes. She concludes that the moral of the story is that music, humor and honesty are enough for joy... That drugs, booze and smoking are just a dead end side track ... As Anne and Nancy Wilson also explain in THEIR rock autobio. But while CH paints the picture, she does not state definitively that they cause us to lie and pretend to each other and to ourselves... That youth and rock can be about expression and new perspectives WITHOUT the fake party atmosphere that substance abuse creates. I wish she could have pointed to some rockers that created art, had fun, but did NOT disintegrate due to abuse. Steve Miller is on that comes to mind (though I think he has been married three times, so I am not sure if there is a connection with abuse or not.) Also, I would have enjoyed more revelation about how she crafted her lyrics, which are quirky, personal, and NOT "poppy" ... "Kid" is a great example... Who is the "kid"? Herself? Anyway, I am a big fan, I learned a lot... Rock on, from the middle of the road!

Not Much Discussion on the music

I buy autobiographies of artists as I want to know behind the scenes regarding the music. There was very little of that here. Though this isn’t a guarantee that an artist will write about that aspect of their career it is always my hope they will.

Great book with a so so read.

What did you love best about Reckless?

I love the story of Crissie's rise to fame. Shows that sometimes if you just hang out with rockers long enough you'll become one.

What other book might you compare Reckless to and why?

No other book. It's her story.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

Learned the pronunciations of the towns she was talking about. I'm from Ohio and know how to pronounce Cuyahoga.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

"I shot my mouth off and he showed me what that hole was for."

Any additional comments?

I felt like this was her perspective on the story, but also like there was info missing. Like how does she happen to always just meet celebrities and instantly get to hang out with them?

Especially good if you're from Northern Ohio

I listened to this while driving to Cleveland. Hynde's memories of Cleveland and Akron in the 1960's and 1970's are evocative & true. It's quite a statement about persistence of character, too. The drug abusers might make a listener want to go get wasted, but finish the book before you do--it has a strong message about that in the end. Arquette's performance was great for the material, too. Overall, I enjoyed it.