Sinead O'Connor's mix of self-confidence and sef-hatred, combined with a very Irish aversion to adulation, has made her one of our most misunderstood artists. ''Remeberings" finally gives us her side of the story. She is alternately mystical, angry, audacious, and uncertain, and it's powerful to have her embrace these contradictions rather than force them into an uncomplicated narrative.

Reading Sinead’s memoir is an intimate conversation between the author and the reader. As I was invited to share in her journey, she advised me that she is telling it in her own voice. Sinead is candid, often blunt and her words weigh heavily as she describes a difficult and painful childhood. Her mother was extremely abusive, emotionally,, physically, horrifically and heartbreakingly so. Yet, her love for her mother is evident.
Her professional and personal lives have been punctuated by her often controversial comments, experiences and spiritual quests. She made headlines for her hit records, nominations and awards, tearing up a photo of Pope John Paul II on SNL, being ordained as a priest, converting to Islam and explaining her sexual preferences. She has been wife, mother and now a grandmother. She has changed her name, her appearance but has always remained true to herself.
Sinead’s rendition of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ is filled with longing and pain and one cannot imagine that she was not reflecting on her life, her experiences and her ability to survive.
Hers is a unique life and one that is unselfishly shared in the pages of this memoir.
Thank you NetGalley, Sandycove Publishing and Sinead O’Connor for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.

I’ve loved Sinead O’Connor’s music for years, and reading about her life experiences only deepened my appreciation for her and her music.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Sinead O'Connor is most notably known for her music career as well as her performance on SNL in the 90s where she infamously tore a picture of the Pope on television. This is her autobiography in which she states, and I am paraphrasing, that she would like for HER story to be out there before she is gone.

I will be the first to admit I do not know much about Ms. O'Connor nor am I familiar with her work outside of the Prince cover of "Nothing Compares 2 U" she is most famously known for. With that being said, the book was...interesting. It addresses things I believe most people would not know about while of course speaking on the things most anyone is probably curious about - her fame, the mental breakdown people watched online a few years back as well as the SNL incident.

Is it a necessary celebrity read? I would say not. Unless you are a super fan or you are like me, curious more than anything, I do not think it is an autobiography for everyone. One of the reasons being is that unlike most memoirs this is exactly as the title states - "Rememberings". Ms. O'Connor does not have distinct timeline set in the book so there is not a true chronological order to the memories she shares. I do think if you would enjoy a memoir that shares memories while also offering the thinking and/or feelings behind them or that led up to certain things maybe you could get something greater out of it.

The most positive aspect of the book that kept me engaged and willing to finish is her honesty with the reader. It truly is a memoir whose purpose was to ensure her experience was told exactly as she perceived when they happened as well as a true reflection of her account in permanent pages. For that, I give her kudos.

Also..if you just enjoy finding the most bizarre Prince interactions there is one included that sounds like an actual nightmare someone could have dreamed in their sleep.

Sinead is an icon who I feel is owed a massive apology by a lot of people.

Also, this cover is one of the most stunning I have ever seen.

The book is a little hard to read. She states herself in the beginning that she's written it in her own voice as if she's having a conversation with someone and it definitely sounds like that. Particularly in her earlier chapters about her childhood where she speaks like a child in the present tense. She also uses a lot of American words for things so it seems like she's speaking for an American audience. Words like 'candy', 'kindergarten' etc. are not words we use in Ireland so it's a little forced but not something that bothered me necessarily.

It was a little repetitive in parts. She tends to tell the same story or mention the same incident as if she hasn't previously mentioned it. It was a little distracting but doesn't occur so much that it's too bothersome.

The abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother is horrific. However, she doesn't have the reaction to her mother that one would expect from someone who suffered abuse. She seems to still really love her, miss her and want to do her proud. She had a tough upbringing for sure.

She tells a crazy story about a night she was invited to Prince's mansion. It is honestly so bizarre it sounds like someone explaining a crazy dream to you. Just wait for it!

She speaks about the infamous SNL incident, how she was treated afterwards, and the Dr Phil episode. She doesn't go into huge detail but you get at least an insight into how she was feeling through it all.

My favourite parts of this book were the later chapters when she focused on her catalogue of music and when she speaks about her kids. You can see her words lighting off the page and almost picture the warmth she has when speaking about these topics.

It's a rather unusual memoir, can be rambling and all over the place in parts but it feels very her. And I think this is far more authentic than a lot of celebrity memoirs. Say what you want about Sinead but you cannot argue that she is real and a rare rare talent.

(Thank you to Netgalley and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for the advance copy. All views are my own).

Lovely and powerful. Even as a fan of her music and lyrics, it's striking to see what a storyteller she is. Heartbreaking, funny, agonizing and delightful.