Horror Stories

A Memoir

By: Liz Phair

Narrated by: Liz Phair

The two-time Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter behind the groundbreaking album Exile in Guyville traces her life and career in a genre-bending memoir in stories about the pivotal moments that haunt her.

When Liz Phair shook things up with her musical debut, Exile in Guyville—making her as much a cultural figure as a feminist pioneer and rock star—her raw candor, uncompromising authenticity, and deft storytelling inspired a legion of critics, songwriters, musicians, and fans alike. Now, like a Gen X Patti Smith, Liz Phair reflects on the path she has taken in these piercing essays that reveal the indelible memories that have stayed with her.

For Phair, horror is in the eye of the beholder—in the often unrecognized universal experiences of daily pain, guilt, and fear that make up our humanity. Illuminating despair with hope and consolation, tempering it all with her signature wit, Horror Stories is immersive, taking listeners inside the most intimate junctures of Phair’s life, from facing her own bad behavior and the repercussions of betraying her fundamental values, to watching her beloved grandmother inevitably fade, to undergoing the beauty of childbirth while being hit up for an autograph by the anesthesiologist.

Horror Stories is a literary accomplishment that reads like the confessions of a friend. It gathers up all of our isolated shames and draws them out into the light, uniting us in our shared imperfection, our uncertainty and our cowardice, smashing the stigma of not being in control. But most importantly, the uncompromising precision and candor of Horror Stories transforms these deeply personal experiences into tales about each and every one of us.

Musical interludes composed and performed by Liz Phair


Advance praise for Horror Stories

“Liz Phair’s songwriting has always had the rare quality of being short-story-like. Damn good short stories, too. Horror Stories has that unique Liz Phair ability to make you look at something you’d rather not, but once you do you’re glad you did—like any form of honest art. This is why Liz Phair still is, and always will be, a threat.”—Ben Folds

Unapologetically Liz

Addictive listen with beautiful musical bridges between chapters. The stories each stand alone but also flow as one, honestly revealing her good and bad sides. She’s a clear voice of Gen X

Excellent memoir

Loved this memoir. So heartbreaking, and heartwarming at the same time. Very well written and spoken.

Especially for Gen X women ....

Especially chapter 1 about guilt, chapter 14 about sexual harassment, assault and stalking, chapter 15
about depression and suicide, and chapter 17 about growing old were powerful, but I like the deep stuff. But this book has everything: comedy, girly superficiality, and supernatural profound depth.

The music & beyond: Reflecting on an amazing life

Never a full moment in this rocker's life. a fun and deep reflection on Liz's childhood, career and attempt to be an adult. She does a great job narrating.

Profound

I know Liz from college, and am good friends with “Peter,” so it was neat (and strange) to learn more about their connection. That’s really a small point, though—what drew me in is that Liz is so honest and reflective in her (fantastic) reading of these stories. Especially powerful for me were the Trader Joe and grandmother Winnie chapters.