Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC of 'Resistance' by Tori Amos.

"Collective trauma is its own energy."

This is a much anticipated work by a woman who has been making waves in the music industry for upwards of 40 years. Enigmatic, fiery, often misunderstood, charismatic performer that she is, Tori Amos has been a catalyst of our collective cultural memory since the early 1990s. If you are unfamiliar with her unique musical style, this book might not be the best introduction to her or her music.

The writing mimics the cadence of Amos's lyrics. The book is diaphanous and not rooted by chronological events. Rather the story flows thematically, and events and recollections present themselves as totems guiding the narrative. Each chapter is punctuated by song lyrics and filled with anecdotes of how her music came into existence. If you are not used to Amos's method of storytelling, then this can be a bit jarring. However, those familiar with the magical quality of her writing will be richly rewarded.

Amos has been criticized for her sometimes vulgar and outspoken musical style. With songs like 'Me and a Gun', 'Raspberry Swirl', "Leather", "Playboy Mommy", and "Original Sinsuality", Amos's lyrics explore themes of sexuality, womanhood, and the powerful Feminine. She has been politically active for most of her career, and her blatant intolerance for injustice is inspiring. She was the original spokesperson for RAINN (founded in 1994) and continues to fundraise for them annually. As she explored is 'Resistance', it becomes clear that Amos has had her finger on the cultural pulse of our nation for many decades.

However, this book is not a blueprint for political activism. Nor does it bring us any closer to some shared sense of progress, but instead serves as an acknowledgment of our shared trauma. 'Resistance' also explains how Amos has been able to channel her discomfort with the American political engine through her music, and while she is clearly 'woke', this book still manages to feel out of sync. Amos has been largely silent on social media for the past several years, and the passion that fuels these pages seem a bit...tone deaf. Amos has produced a very personal work, but one that might not resonate with a wide audience. Which is unfortunate because she has such a powerful and compassionate voice and the potential to reach new audiences.

Disclaimer: I've been a fan of Tori's after getting "Little Earthquakes" upon its release and have enjoyed her musical offerings since.

I loved this book; I'm not going to write anything about the book itself but what I will write is that It's not a tell-all, it's a memoir in the form of essays attached to her songs. Amos has very defined beliefs and those are evident in many of the essays.

I would recommend this to friends; I would recommend this to any fan, I would recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about Tori Amos's thoughts.

Thanks to Tori Amos, Atria Books, and Netgalley for the ARC copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review. I'll preface this review by saying I've been a fan of Tori Amos' music since I turned 18 and discovered Little Earthquakes, it was my very first compact disc purchase, quickly followed by Under the Pink. I listened to Tori Amos through my travels and college and graduate school. I don't have all of her post 2000's music and don't know it as well as I know her discography from 1992-2002.

This is a memoir that jumps back and forth through time and connects her song lyrics to their meaning, how they were inspired by her Muses, what was going on in history at the time. I thought some was more interesting than others and connected mostly to her post 911 reaction as well as her family connections and musings on love, grief, and feminism and politics. This book being titled Resistance may be a little misleading because although current politics are mentioned, it's not the focal point. After all, I'm sure Tori wouldn't want to give the Donald a bigger ego. Time only knows what will happen but 1 thing for sure will be paying more attention to Tori's music and work.

While I haven’t listened to Tori Amos’ later albums as much as I did her first 10, those first 10 albums carried me through an up and down traumatic childhood, through tumultuous teenage years, and finally through my crazy 20’s. Tori’s lyrics have always pierced me through the heart, and there have been so many times that it felt like she had literally written a song for me personally. This is why I hold Resistance close to my heart: it is a written memoir depicting the birth and longevity of some of Tori’s songs, how they came to her, what they meant at the time, and what they still mean today. Each song comes at a certain point in Tori’s life where the personal narrative is closely woven with events in this country and the world, a personal call of resistance and uprising against everything that is wrong in this world.

I personally think that the best way to read this memoir is to read the lyrics of each song prefacing each chapter, to then listen to the song with one’s eyes closed, and then to read the chapter. I’m not sure that a person unfamiliar with Tori Amos’ work would appreciate it as much as a fan would, as the narrative is a little incohesive, and doesn’t exactly follow a precise timeline. The writing is also a little confusing at times, especially as the author uses a lot of metaphor and personal names for things (“Muses” for example for her own songwriting process). There were a few areas that I ended up skipping through rather fast as they took too long to reach a clear message, but there were also other areas that I loved. The way Tori talks about her family, about the causes that she holds so close to her heart, and about her activism. I also really enjoyed reading about her early piano bar life, I actually felt like I was standing next to her in the room as I read.
All in all I would say a 3-3.5 stars for this book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I'm a fan of Tori Amos' music, but I didn't know what to expect of a book authored by her. I was afraid it would either be flighty and hard to interpret at times like her song lyrics, or would be a collection of uninteresting thoughts. This was neither.

Amos is a strong writer, and she has a lot to say. I liked that it was a nice mix of autobiographical stories, combined with background information on her songs (lyrics included at the end of each chapter), and a summary of her personal beliefs.

Really wonderful. I would recommend for any fan,

Resistance: A Songwriter’s Story of Hope, Change and Courage by Tori Amos is a memoir I’m sure her fans will love.
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I haven’t heard any of her music before but her name sounded familiar so I thought I’d read this book especially since I’ve been really loving memoirs lately. I liked how the book was told through her songs (lyrics included) and how she talked about many different points of her life from childhood to now as well as her difficult times of failure and grief.
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I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys her music or is just curious to learn more about her as this is a quick read.

I requested this book because my sister is an ardent Tori fan and asked me if I could get a copy of it and let her know what I think. I am also a Tori fan, but not on the same level. In retrospect, I find it a little strange that I would be pre-reading this for someone else who is arguably a better audience for it. It was odd and informed my reading of it. I was constantly interrogating my reactions. "Yes, you wish this was organized differently, but what would your sister think?"
Overall, I enjoyed it. I felt like sometimes the thematic organization meant that similar topics were returned to again and again. I think I would have preferred a more conventional narrative, but that is not what I would expect from Tori. I will post a review on Goodreads closer to the release date.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tori Amos talks about how her experiences shaped her songs. And it doesn't sound like much but Amos writes so candidly it almost feels like you're there with her.

I'll admit it. I did not care for her first book at all but I've adored her music since middle school

The book doesn't follow any chronological order and bouncing around Tori's memories is an enjoyable experience

Tori Amos is an amazing songwriter. This memoir is beautifully written. A behind the scenes look at the inspiration for songs, touring the world during tumultuous times, where she was during 9/11 and dealing with the ripple effect of that day. If you are a fan of Tori, you will definitely love this book. If you haven’t listened to any of her music, now is your chance. Reading this book will make you a fan. Thank you for the arc netgalley!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a digital ARC of Resistance by Tori Amos.

I grew up listening to Amos in my teen years and was thrilled to be able to read this book. Amos shares her process for song development and the experiences that shaped each song while the lyrics are provided at the end of the chapter. The book does not follow a chronological timeline, but rather a thematic approach. Amos shares her political views, her response to sexual assault, her response to 9/11 and her overall feminist views.

This is a brilliant and multifaceted memoir from one of the music's greats. Perfect for our political time, I especially love the recounting of how she crafts setlists for each concert. As an activist, Tori Amos has always put her name behind causes that mean so much to her and her fans appreciate that.

I will forever be buying whatever Tori is selling. That said, I'm not sure the magic translates. It reads about as well as Piece by Piece. If you loved that, you're going to love this. If you love Tori Amos, you're going to buy this anyway, just like I did. I adore the insights on the different songs and tying it to political themes. All of us fans are going to scoop this up no matter what. Please sell signed copies. I'm not going to be able attend any of the book tour dates! XOXO

I haven't regularly listened to Amos' music since her heyday in the 90s and early 00s while I was in high school and college, yet felt distinctly drawn to this book. Although the end result is a little too scattered to add up to something that really packs a punch, the portions that work provide some interesting insight into to her writing process, inspirations and stances on a wide range of topics. It's amazing how several of her songs immediately came flooding back into my brain after just reading the lyrics listed before and after each passage. At the very least, this book has helped me rediscover the beauty and power of Amos' musical oeuvre.

Tori Amos first pierced my consciousness like a lightning bolt thrown by Letterman from his Late Night Show. That might sound mundane except that I was in Saudi Arabia, married to a Saudi, and this dynamic, creative & intellectual singer on a Western TV show (one that made it past the censors) pulled me up to the edge of my seat with her voice and thoughts, melodic yet dissonant, haunting and probing. Her creative expression embodied the reason I was in the Middle East and in the same musical breath, straight from the diaphragm, that creativity (like critical thinking, scientific investigation, and freedom to make life choices) was so fragile an acquisition for women anywhere that it has to be guarded and nurtured, not used and then suffocated. I was acutely reminded of these memories as I moved into the pages of this important memoir with the spot-on title. Resistance is a recounting of how a conscientious and vibrantly switched on singer-song writer finds purpose. Resistance is about being alive to meaning; it is about music being the meeting place where thinking people can cut through propaganda to try to understand what is really going on in the world.

Intellectual stimulation has been a function of music since the time of Arius, who responded to the Council of Nicea by singing. Song offers a powerful societal structure and Tori Amos shows that being a support to that structure comes with responsibilities. From the first chapter, I felt the electricity of her words, the value of the critical thought, the searching and weaving together of melody to express perceptions reflecting what her first piano bar was literally in the center of: world politics. Her description of playing in smoked-filled lounges in Washington, DC, demonstrates the seeds of her interest in the world, in politics, in freedom and rights. I like her humility as she admits she had no idea, as a young singer at the piano, what Tip O’Neal meant when he said he was speaker of the house. I could just imagine him dancing to an Irish jig.

But later, Amos gave me goosebumps when she talks about what resistance has meant to her: resisting against the music producers who held her in contract, resisting when they wanted her to get rid of her piano, resisting against pressure to cancel tours. Her music is as much about personal creative freedom as a commitment to guard a psychic ground where artists, musicians, and music lovers know information exchanged is not for the purposes of gas-lighting. She addresses some of the political players she resists, like Mitch McConnell, telling him that he has “plowed through with a ruthlessness similar to what women have experienced for thousands of years,” a ruthlessness that Amos’ grandmother must have been thinking of when she advised her granddaughter that one day she would have to surrender to a man completely and thereby lose control of who she was.

Resistance is a conversation. Amos talks about Kavanaugh and quid pro quo. She talks about her conversations with other women throughout the USA and her belief in what women can accomplish. She reminds her readers that there is a real-life Handmaid’s Tale implicit in McConnell’s catch phrase “plow this through” and that in any single breath, new freedoms taken for granted can dissolve in a sour wind. Anyone of any gender can be controlled, but women have forever been an easier target than men, in general. Being controlled can turn a woman into a facilitator to power that controls other women. The ramifications of quid pro quo and control are common themes in her songs. Amos explains that “once a song leaves [her] lair, it will form relationships that [she has]no control over. . . .” The endless variety of interpretation of songs is a reaction all artists understand, but for that connection to take place, a songwriter must “unearth emotions that confront us with those portions of ourselves that we hide when posting on social media.”


Resistance clears the air and lays the cards out on the table. When I first saw Tori Amos, I knew she represented the force that had granted me freedom to choose to come to Saudi Arabia, a force that diminished and almost died due to my personal situation. She reminded me I was still alive and a direct heiress of a legacy of grandmothers and great-great grandmothers going it alone, using their brains and their wiles to gain a heretofore unimaginable level of female freedom. Resistance will surely remind its readers of “tools” that may need dusting and taking out of the backyard shed; the manuscript underscores the importance of music to a tradition of freedoms that need to be watered and sustained just like plants. Thanks #NetGalley #Attria Books #www.grassrootswritersguild.wordpress.com

I've been a fan of Tori Amos since "To Venus and Back" (circa 1999). I love everything she stands for. I love her strength, her honesty, and her resilience. Her music helped me when I was teenager when I was battling anxiety and depression. Her ethereal voice and cryptic lyrics became like a lifeline for me during these turbulent years. She is a musical prodigy after all. I appreciate her raising awareness through her RAINN hotline, and always fighting for the underdog. I'm an honest person so even though I love Tori as a songwriter, I don't think this was a well written memoir. The problem I had with "Resistance" is Tori's confusing prose and tone. When she starts talking about her songwriting process, (she calls them her muses) this where she loses me as a reader. Tori has always been too smart for her own good, but the way she writes comes off a little pretentious. She's also very eccentric, which isn't a bad thing but I don't think her overall message/intentions are coming in loud and clear. She talks in circles and I found it difficult to keep up with the way she expresses herself. I felt like she jumped around too much from one topic to another. I will always love and admire Tori, but I can't give her a glowing review just because I'm a fan of her music. With that being said, I did enjoy her first memoir, "Piece by Piece" much better. It was more cohesive and intriguing. There were some touching moments in "Resistance" when she talks about her unconditional love for her parents. I also enjoyed reading about when she started performing in piano bars as a teenager, and her candidness about the political landscape in America, past, present, and future.

Thank you, Netgalley and Atria for the digital ARC.

Release date: May 5, 2020

This book really shows the true Tori Amos. She is a prolific writer in addition to her songwriting. She is very open about politics and what is going on in the world. It is refreshing to read something that is so honest. She also writes about some of her songs and what brought them to life. As a true Tori fan, I read this very quickly and it really made my already high opinion even more so. A true gem of a book and I will recommend to all my family and friends.
I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Tori Amos is a brilliant writer of both prose and songs. I found it so interesting to learn the inspiration for so many of her songs and to learn more about her writing process. Although I know most of her songs are written about Amos’s own life experiences, I was surprised to read that she takes the stories and letters from her fans and processes them by writing songs. Another fact I found so interesting is that when on tour, Tori will think about the town where she is playing and write her set list based on the issues that particular town might be facing and matching them with songs from her repertoire to help the fans attending her show. Thoughtful artists like Tori Amos are what our world needs right now.

How lovely to be reminded of the strength and beauty of Tori Amos's music. Viewed from this new angle, it also provides a relief that you're not the only sane person left in the world. Thank you, Tori, for hearing our voices and translating them to song; thank you for giving us hope and reminding us that there is still beauty in the world. This powerful book makes me feel less alone.

A really well done memoir that have great insight into the life and career of Tori Amos'. I loved how each chapter not only told the story of that part of get life, but she also told how that part of hey life was told in one of her songs. She then ends the chapter with the lyrics they pertain to the cheaper from said song.

I went back through my music library and relived the time is my life when each of her albums came out and the influence they had on me then. I highly recommend this to any feel of Tori.

Her opening may have been one of the best chapters I have read in any book. Well composed with an extraordinary finish, much like her music.