What do you think?
Rate this book
Life Is Not a Fairy Tale
A memoir by the winner of "American Idol" describes the obstacles she overcame before achieving celebrity, relating her experiences of surviving an abusive relationship, being a single mother, and embracing a strong faith in God.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
21 people are currently reading
489 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 5, 2009
a book about a girl who had a bad child hood and she got pregnant at 16 right after she was raped a former friend who was sent to prison but was let out because she dropped the charges. she dropped out of high school and went to go live with a friend and then a couple months later she auditioned for american idol and then she won and now is famous for her music and her talented voice.now she talks to girls all around about how to stay in school and how to be smart and talented young girls
February 27, 2009
This was good and this kinds of things that happened to her in this book happens to people daily, i know bwcause i experienced most of the things that she has experienced in life and im only 16 years old.This is a great book for every one whose going through something and it thinks that they cant make it out of it, there is a chance because she made it out of it and so did i.
January 11, 2015
I like Fantasia. I just couldn't get through her life's story.
March 25, 2009
This autobiography by Fantasia Monique Barrino was a very good book. She was born June 30, 1984. Fantasia is very talented and is best known as being the American Idol winner in 2004. She was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina to Joseph and Diane Barrino.
This book was based on Fantasia as a child and teenager who had low esteem who sudddenly pieces together inspirational speeches after she hit 19 years old. Her mom and dad are unmarried but the family has a band and she is the lead singer of the band, she thinks that singing is her mother's and grandmother's dream, not hers so she wanders aimlessly throught life while getting picked on because of the way she looks.
But Fantasia does not let that get to her for to long. She responds to the situation by skipping school and and dressing inappropiate to catch boys eyes.She lands a basketball player as a boyfriend; once they have sex, he drops her in a heartbeat. Trusting a boy who's been keen on her, she ends up getting raped and sinks into greater self-doubt.
Fantasia finds out she is pregant and she decides to keep the baby. The father does not want anything to with her or the baby so she is left alone raising the baby basically.
In the end of the book Fantasia wins American Idol and goes on in life. She did not let her past stop her on the way either.
This book was based on Fantasia as a child and teenager who had low esteem who sudddenly pieces together inspirational speeches after she hit 19 years old. Her mom and dad are unmarried but the family has a band and she is the lead singer of the band, she thinks that singing is her mother's and grandmother's dream, not hers so she wanders aimlessly throught life while getting picked on because of the way she looks.
But Fantasia does not let that get to her for to long. She responds to the situation by skipping school and and dressing inappropiate to catch boys eyes.She lands a basketball player as a boyfriend; once they have sex, he drops her in a heartbeat. Trusting a boy who's been keen on her, she ends up getting raped and sinks into greater self-doubt.
Fantasia finds out she is pregant and she decides to keep the baby. The father does not want anything to with her or the baby so she is left alone raising the baby basically.
In the end of the book Fantasia wins American Idol and goes on in life. She did not let her past stop her on the way either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2011
Having never seen one American Idol episode, though I've heard of Fantasia, is what made her memoir a pleasure to read, particularly the section on how she came to American Idol, and how she sang her way into the number one spot. Good God this section carries a spiritual note, like nothing I've ever read.
The grandmother, and her mother, the friend Tory, and without doubt, her brother I applaud. And thinking back on that `defying moment', I applaud her father too. The inclusion of Clive Davis (in the Top 3 competition) ...man... I got a little choked up there. Really touching. The advice however, (for me) weighed down the memoir some. No doubt Fantasia kept it real, although being as young, she has at least five - six times of living and experiencing to revise her position on the apologizing, having regrets, and believing she made so many mistakes. Simply put, the divine energy that musicians project, none more so than a voice that becomes an American Idol, had to go through some things to come out over the top.
Keepin' it real, and short, I'm convinced I've now got to go sync up some Fantasia inspirational mood music!
The grandmother, and her mother, the friend Tory, and without doubt, her brother I applaud. And thinking back on that `defying moment', I applaud her father too. The inclusion of Clive Davis (in the Top 3 competition) ...man... I got a little choked up there. Really touching. The advice however, (for me) weighed down the memoir some. No doubt Fantasia kept it real, although being as young, she has at least five - six times of living and experiencing to revise her position on the apologizing, having regrets, and believing she made so many mistakes. Simply put, the divine energy that musicians project, none more so than a voice that becomes an American Idol, had to go through some things to come out over the top.
Keepin' it real, and short, I'm convinced I've now got to go sync up some Fantasia inspirational mood music!
January 9, 2010
After watching the movie about Fanatasia's life I wanted to read her book, but I must say that I enjoyed the movie much more. She is very religous and talks about God all the way through the book and though I admit some of it was pretty inspirational, alot of it felt like I was reading about how to be a good christian girl from the hood.
The book was not wrote in a story from at all, it was basically Fantasia telling you what happened and her thoughts on those experiences.
I must admit that after reading this book I'm a bit more of fan now of her music than I was before. I can relate to her life because I'm still living in the struggle. I see the "hoochie mama's" in the summer time pushing their babies in their strollers with their cordless phones tucked away somwhere with them. We all have dreams but for most of us those dreams just come at night when we close our eyes. I'm happy that Fanatsia's dream became a reality and her daughter will never know our struggle.
The book was not wrote in a story from at all, it was basically Fantasia telling you what happened and her thoughts on those experiences.
I must admit that after reading this book I'm a bit more of fan now of her music than I was before. I can relate to her life because I'm still living in the struggle. I see the "hoochie mama's" in the summer time pushing their babies in their strollers with their cordless phones tucked away somwhere with them. We all have dreams but for most of us those dreams just come at night when we close our eyes. I'm happy that Fanatsia's dream became a reality and her daughter will never know our struggle.
November 15, 2013
I'm one of the world's biggest Fantasia Barrino fans. This book was better than the movie. I think I was better off reading the book before I watched the movie. In this amazing book ,I've learned a lot. Fantasia was only a kid when she was raped. Soon after she give birth to a little girl. A lot of people including family thought Fantasia was going to be like everybody else. But Fantasia didn't her not finishing school or being a teen mother hold her back from anything.Just like myself singing was also Fantasia first love. She stared from a very young age just like myself. I give this book five stars. Anybody who's been told they will never being anything, this is the best book for them to read.
February 5, 2010
Synopsis: this book is about the famous sinqer Fantasia. and how she became famous, its basically her life story..
Classification:
Audience: towards youing mature adults
Purpose: to give you info. on Fantasia's life..
Medium: Life Story, A Book.
Genre Of Settinq: Non-Fiction
Genre Of Plot: Auto-Bioqraphy
Genre Of Style: Everyday person becominq a star :)
Criticism:
The book to me was very good. it made me think of what i wanted to become in MY LIFE, and how i was qonna make a differece. because Fantasia made it clear to alot of women, sinqle mothers, and pretty much everybody thatanythinq is possible. no matter what.. You can do whatever it is that you want to do.
Classification:
Audience: towards youing mature adults
Purpose: to give you info. on Fantasia's life..
Medium: Life Story, A Book.
Genre Of Settinq: Non-Fiction
Genre Of Plot: Auto-Bioqraphy
Genre Of Style: Everyday person becominq a star :)
Criticism:
The book to me was very good. it made me think of what i wanted to become in MY LIFE, and how i was qonna make a differece. because Fantasia made it clear to alot of women, sinqle mothers, and pretty much everybody thatanythinq is possible. no matter what.. You can do whatever it is that you want to do.
February 15, 2008
I got to read this book, and I tell you for someone still quite young, she's learned her lesson and has since moved on with her life in a more positive way. Two albums under her belt, starring in a Broadway production(The Color Purple). But her life before this was not pretty. She was the only girl in her family. She had a reading problem which caused her to do poorly in school because of it, and with her boyfriend, she had her first baby, Zion in 2001. I highly recommend this book for all the young girls out there that feel because they seem trapped, they can't escape.
April 2, 2009
This autobiography of fantasia was a good book and i love that she stared in her movie called the fantasia Barrino story. It talks about her growing up and how she and her family goes to church and that she would sing in the choir and that's how she started her love for music. And how people would talk about the way she looks funny and that she was raped and she got pregnant by her boyfriend and he was no help. Her dad was no help he would come and go and when she went to american idol and the rest of her journey from their.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 13, 2009
The winner of American Idol Fantasia put in writing everything in her life that hapeened to her good and bad. The story it not about [" oh woe is me", It is about how she went from rags to riches by believing in her gift. Fantasia turns he negatives into positive and how everything she does is for her daughter. In the publication she also talks about what you can do to better yourself and that it is all about having courage, hope, and God and each time it will turn out all right. Even though she is famous now, Fantasia has not lost her true self.
October 28, 2011
Imagine boys only liking you for your body or how you dressed how would you feel? The people that was in the book is Fantasia , her baby father B and her mom and dad. The book was about a girl who had problems since she was young until she got older then she got picked for American Idol now she's pursuing her dreams and trying to become a good mother. This book was good and yes i recommend people read it.
July 15, 2017
I read this book long time ago. But as I remember, while I was reading this book, I always look at the remaining pages and says, please don't yet finish. This book has full of advice and motivation especially for the teenage.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the thing that i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can, and the wisdom to know the different."
This is the best quote that I have found in the book.
"God grant me the serenity to accept the thing that i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can, and the wisdom to know the different."
This is the best quote that I have found in the book.
December 27, 2017
I never cared for Fantasia until I read this book. Fantasia shares the intimate details of her life. I encourage everyone to read it and pass it on to younger teens to avoid the pitfalls she fell into. I am a proponent of literacy efforts as well now. Fantasia missed out on so many good books growing up because of her illiteracy. Much love to Fantasia for penning her story and acknowledging her God-given gifts.
October 10, 2015
this book was alright. it wasn't the best one I have read. I feel for her and then again I don't because she falls in love too quickly she is way to naïve and I just don't understand how someone like her can live like that. beautiful girl, beautiful voice, beautiful personality but she is a bit dumb for me. I would not recommend this read to no one
March 8, 2017
This was a decent read. There was some repetition sometimes however it mostly kept my attention. I enjoyed reading about her life before and after winning American Idol. Although she wasn't my favorite during that season I did like some of her performances. And after reading her book, I am now rooting for her continued success.
September 9, 2007
Omg!!!!!!!!I totally love this book.The number one thing i learned from this book is never judge a book by its cover.Most people that keep big secrets that needs to be told bottled up inside,are in for a rude awakening.
May 5, 2011
Fantasia's life has been an emotional roller coaster ride, but I respect her for telling her story. She gives a detailed account of her upbringing and her roots, and I enjoyed the read. It's always a pleasure to learn how people became who they are, and I really enjoyed this book!
December 3, 2014
I read this book a long time ago, just thought I'd add it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Fantasia's life. People are so critical of others, and people are very harsh to her, but I'm so glad she rises above anyhow, isn't that sweet? Success is the BEST revenge! :)
November 29, 2016
This book is a rare, that the movie is made 99% like. She became a friend and I motivation after reading. I would encourage any adolescent or approaching to read this book or just anyone that feel like hard mud.
April 18, 2008
itz a cool book i also learned about her lifestyle
May 17, 2008
fantasia life isn't a joke.She came from being rape from achieving her dreams. She is a inspiration to me. She could teach the world how life is not a fairy tale.
October 22, 2008
this book is very good its real and i like it alot its very interesting and it makes you want to keeep reading and reading
February 2, 2011
Final Rating 3.5 Stars
September 20, 2018
I love this book.
July 20, 2009
I like what I have read thus far!
Read
December 9, 2010thix is a good book and i love it cuz its ah gud book and true...
Currently reading
September 30, 2011I really like this book an I can't to finish!
October 24, 2014
Honest & Inspiring! An Uplifting Story!
February 28, 2007
Fantasia is the shit, and she was illiterate.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews