This didn't sit right with me...as an audiobook, Boy George should have hired a narrator, honestly. Reading his own book it sounded a bit like a book report. He didn't put any feeling behind it, just read line after line like reciting memory work in school.

I will admit that I knew next to nothing about Boy George before reading this. But I am a fiend for memoirs and this didn't disappoint. George O'Dowd truly had a fascinating life and I enjoyed the audiobook immensely. He minces no words and gets a kick out of his own stories, which I love. The best part of the recording is his bursts of laughter (that are frequent) where his words seem to surprise even him! He interjects off-the-cuff throughout and I feel it tells more about him than the actual editor-approved musings.

A lighthearted and fun listen.

I just finished listening to the audiobook. I very much enjoyed it and I did like the new music that was added to the audiobook.

I do recommend .

I tend to enjoy celebrity memoirs. I was not too familiar with Boy George or Culture Club other than the top hits I remember growing up with in the 80's. This audiobook was very similar to a long rambling conversation. He covered a lot of his life. From early childhood in a big Irish Catholic family to the present. Lots of stories about other celebrities and his interactions with them. There were a few songs he added and that was a nice touch I guess. Overall- it was ok.

I wanted so to like this one. I didn't feel this book got deep into Boy George like I wanted to. Yes, it touched things but lacked warmth and depth. Some of you readers will like this one because it kind of skims his life, but those who want a deep dive may find this lacking.

I am going to recommend the audiobook if you are picking up this one because the author will not only read it to you but will sing to you.

This was…not good. I listened to the audiobook and Boy George, unfortunately, reads it (he has two previous books but said this is the first one he read for audio). His voice is so monotone and he mumbles his words so much I couldn’t listen any faster than 1.0x or else I was confused. I wasn’t a fan of his before this book but I was hoping to learn something because I do know his music. The audio was “featuring new music” which only ended up being two songs (the best part of the audiobook IMO, which is why it gets a second star). I was so bored listening to this and also got frustrated by him chuckling at himself, which he did often. I didn’t like that he bashed Ed Sheeran and Adele. He reiterated multiple times that no one does anything new, they just do it differently. The part about all his drug use was very detailed and not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook to review.

I rarely read autobiographies, I'm not especially a fan of Boy George or Culture Club. I've seen a lot of very positive reviews for this book, I remember the impact of Culture Club in the eighties and I'm trying to read more variety.

It struck me as very open and honest, not least talking about his father's violence and gambling addiction, George's journey through drug addiction and the pressures and reality of fame and obsessive fandom.

I remember the 1982 first appearance on Top Of The Pops, 'Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?'. Watching at home and the next day at school, 'Is that a boy or a girl?', I think the first time I had heard 'Is he gay?'.

It's expansive and varied. My favourite bits were the cultural background to and the emergence of Culture Club, the vibrant music, club and fashion scenes of the seventies and eighties, from punk to new wave to new romantic, and George's flamboyant outsider status in the gay scene. There's a very touching tribute to his mother and fond memories of lots of friends and acquaintances.

There's an honesty and truth, plenty of George's learned wisdom and a sense of peace gained through surviving the turmoil.

It's very good. George's narration is excellent, not as slick and polished as some professionally narrated audiobooks but very real.

I really enjoyed it, I'm certain fans will love it. It deserves a wider audience, anyone with a casual interest in the music and culture of our times should have a look.

Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media

Some of the stories were great, however, I was often distracted by the giggling. At first, it was cute but it got to be too distracting.

This audiobook was just so lovely to listen too. I love listening to an author's words from their voice. They put the right emphasis on the right parts and laugh along with themselves. This book was no different. I've always known 'of' Boy George. But this biography adds so much more. Highly Reccommend.

Wow! There was so much I didn’t know. I really enjoyed it, it had lots of tea. I also really liked learning about Boy George’s opinions on some things. Thanks NetGallery!

So. Im not overly familiar with Boy George aside from Culture Club’s top hits. But I sure love learning and love a memoir. So when I saw this on netgalley audiobooks I was hopeful to get a copy!
The audiobook is def the way to go. The amount of shade and laughter throughout was so much fun. And while writing the book Boy George wrote a couple songs so he shared the recordings in the audiobook. Which was a delight.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced listening copy.

Oh my goodness but this was a fun listen! I can't imagine it would be anywhere near as fun to read - listening felt like having a dishy cocktail filled brunch or happy hour with the cool but dangerous friend who you didn't really want to be like but couldn't help but be fascinated by... It's very stream of consciousness and random and it feels more like anecdotal memoir than autobiography. But he's so clearly captivated by the sound of his own voice and his own life experiences, that the way he presents and tells them is utterly engaging. I love the way he cracks himself up and spontaneously laughs or bursts into a bit of snark at random moments. I also really enjoyed the included songs, it further enhanced the feeling of hanging out with a friend for a boozy, gossipy afternoon!

3 stars

I usually love celebrity memoirs read by the celebrity. This one, however, seems very stream of consciousness with very little structure. I do enjoy Boy George's chuckle - it brings life to the story. However, there were a few chuckles that made me uncomfortable, that he was laughing at things that weren't pretty serious. Nonetheless, I am thankful for the opportunity to listen to this audio.

Thank you Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advance audiobook in return for an honest review.

P.S. Karma Chameleon has been playing on a loop in my head for the past few days. Thanks a lot! lol

I enjoyed hearing more about Boy George's life in his own words. Very well done audiobook and the addition of unreleased music is a lovely bonus. He has certainly lived a tremendous life and learned from his experiences.

Karma written in narrated by boy George is by far my favorite audiobook that I know I’m going to listen to many times in the future when needing to pass time or just wanting a good laugh from inside stories about Hollywood heavyweights an even one about Elon Musk and how he rudely walked out of boy George his concert at a corporate event which is totally rude by the way tell him growing up making it big in America and even the dark days nothing is held back boy George seems like a person who is really who you think he is a down to earth lovable person who just wants everyone around him to be happy and I Felt so good listening to the book and laughing at the same time he did he seem so genuine and his stories are so entertaining I wish I could get this book 100 stars or 1 million I just absolutely loved this book I feel like I know boy George but as if it’s what I thought I would know before listening to the book he seems so open and kind and that totally comes across in Karma. I love how he could name all the female news anchors but didn’t know the guys he met who had tons of security… I thought that was not only funny but what you would come to expect from someone who only remembers the important stuff in life. I loved this book so much and Bob Boy George still to this day and although I didn’t dress up like him as a teenager I still loved him and do now and thanks for the tip about watching the Brigitte Nielsen and Joan Rivers interview because… Yes that was awkward! Boy George is the best in this book is even better. I want to thank Dreamscape media and net Galley for my free audio copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

I’m a Boy George fan. I have records, books, cds and cassettes. When I first saw Boy George in the 1980’s, I said “what a beautiful girl!” and my friend’s sister said it was a boy named George. I previously bought a signed Karma hardcover from the UK, read that last month and loved it. I was excited to listen to the audiobook read by him. I can imagine someone other than Boy George having a better narration style. He reads it himself and he laughs throughout the reading. In Karma, he talks about things I haven’t ever heard before and some I have. From star signs to spirituality, lovers to lawsuits, drug use to sobriety to imbibing, arrests to prison, and friends to family. Name dropping from Adele to Janet Jackson, Madonna to Morrissey, Pete Burns to Sam Smith. There are also two new songs “Suddenly I’m Wiser” and “Religion”. I enjoyed listening to the audiobook and listening to him about his experiences.. Thanks to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.

I love when celebrities narrate their own memoirs! I’m a big fan of Boy George and Culture Club - I love how creative Boy George is aside from being super talented.

Told in his own words, his memoir is a look back at his life from his early days of coming out to his Irish Catholic family, to the punk rock days of The Culture Club, celebrities he met and worked with in the 90s to finally coming to terms with who he is today (and it involves some meditation practices). He has lived a fascinating life for sure, but the way this book was written made it a little difficult for me to get into. It’s basically a stream of consciousness, meandering monologue. It definitely makes it more personal, and works for the audiobook, but I’m not sure I would have been able to get into this if I wasn’t listening to him narrate his own story. I still enjoyed this candid look at his life though, told with his cheeky sense of humor and wit.

Thank you to Netgalley, Blink Publishing and Boy George for the ALC! “Karma” is out now. This review will be shared to my instagram blog shortly :)

Dishy, insightful, and sooooo much fun. Boy George and Culture Club were my first step outside of my parent’s music as a child, and I’ll adore him always. For me, he was a portal to imagination- so different and much livelier than my gray world. I missed his first book, but immediately requested this as soon as I saw it pop up on NetGalley.

Although I imagine the physical version might hold photographs, I’m so glad I chose to take in this book by ear. It’s narrated by Boy George himself, which makes it twice as good. His voice is fun and chatty. It feels like he’s telling stories just to you.

Highlights for me are how honest he is about his evolution as a human as time has marched on. I wish more authors were as free with including the ugly along with their preferred version of themselves. I particularly loved his retelling of his prison time.

Big thanks to Boy George, NetGalley, and Dreamscape Media for granting access to an early audio recording.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and to NetGalley for an ARC of this audiobook.

I didn't know a lot about Boy George prior to this audiobook, but when I saw it I thought it would be an interesting listen so I requested it.

I was not disappointed. I really think the best way for this book to be enjoyed is to listen to it. I love how he can look back on things and laugh at them...and his laugh is really infectious. Listening to him recount stories from his life was great. It was almost like listening to someone have a gossip session. I loved listening to him tell his own story with raw honesty and humor. Also included in this audiobook were two new songs.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a lot of fun and I feel like I now understand better who the real Boy George is.

For the most part, I enjoyed this autobiography from Culture Club's lead singer, Boy George. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed George reading his own book. I liked that he would laugh at various scenarios that took place during his life. And that he COULD laugh at these things. It was nice to hear George's point of view on the many items that had been reported on during his roller coaster life. Another bonus of listening to the audiobook was that there were some new songs by Boy George included. He has grown so much as a musician and a person.

Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.