Reckless

My Life as a Pretender

De: Chrissie Hynde

Narrado por: Rosanna Arquette

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 frontwoman of The Pretenders in its various incarnations, has for thirty-five 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 fifties childhood to her classic baby-boomer seduction by the rock of the sixties to her sojourn in the crucible of punk that was seventies 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.

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.

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.

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.

Interesting

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