Sinéad O'Connor: The Last Interview: and Other Conversations

by Melville House (Editor), Kristin Hersh (introduction)

A significant collection of interviews with the defiant, controversial, and ground-breaking singer, songwriter, and activist throughout her turbulent career . . .

“It’s not like I got up in the morning and said, ‘Okay, now let’s start a new controversy’.” -- Sinéad O’Connor

Sinéad O'Connor’s music — both in her songwriting and in her beautiful voice —addressed both emotional despair and incandescent joy with glorious ardor. But she may have been just as well known for her outspokenness. This collection of interviews covers the entire span of O'Connor's career, from the early days to her last interview. From giddy teenager to seasoned superstar, she speaks candidly about her meteoric rise to fame, and recounts what happened when she ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II on live television in an act of protest. Unguarded and unpredictable, O'Connor was a woman who electrified the globe: imaginative, opinionated, and eloquent.

Genres: Music, Nonfiction, Irish Literature

176 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2024

Reviews

[Alan (on December semi-hiatus) Teder · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Lass That Is Gone
A review of the NetGalley Kindle ARC (downloaded October 7, 2024) of the Melville House paperback/eBook to be released (October 29, 2024).

Sing me a song of a lass that is gone,
Say could that lass be I? - excerpt from The Skye Boat Song (Theme from Outlander), one of the final released recordings* by Sinéad O'Connor.

I suppose most people became aware of Sinéad O'Connor (1966-2023) with her recording of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U in 1990. I became a fan as soon as I heard her song Troy off The Lion and the Cobra album in 1987. That fandom even included getting a copy of the 12" vinyl of the notorious collaboration with shock performance artist Karen Finley on Jump in the River in 1988 [Content Warning: This will sound pretty tame until 4'18", after which it totally jumps the tracks].

This series of interviews collected by Melville House shows that O'Connor was consciously and consistently making her own way throughout her career from the time when she shaved her head in defiance of her record company wanting to market her for her looks. There is the recurring theme of her pain at childhood abuse which underscores many of the interviews.

Much of this was at the hands of her own mother, although the nuns at a Catholic school also left an underlying resentment. That later exploded with her defiant ripping up of a photograph of the Pope during a Saturday Night Live broadcast in 1992 as a symbolic gesture against child abuse in the church. This was well before the Boston Globe's 2002 exposure, articles later collected in Betrayal: The Crisis in the Catholic Church (2003) and the Pope's subsequent apology.

The backlash at the SNL performance seemingly derailed O'Connor's career, but her own feeling was that it set her back on course as someone who defied the status quo. That consistent theme runs throughout all of these interviews, even though there was always a haunted background to her life which sadly ended too young.

My thanks to the author, the publisher Melville House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this preview ARC, in exchange for which I provide this honest review.

Footnote and Soundtrack
* Listen to Sinéad O'Connor's recording of The Skye Boat Song (Theme from Outlander) on YouTube here or on Spotify here.

Listen to So Far: The Best of Sinéad O'Connor on a YouTube playlist which begins here or on Spotify here.

Trivia and Link
The Last Interview series collects conversations with various artists, writers and musicians over their lifetimes. With this Sinéad O'Connor edition the series will number 41 volumes. You can see the series listed at the publisher Melville House here.

[chantel nouseforaname · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sinéad O'Connor was the realest G. Quite possibly, the last true G. God rest her soul.

All of these interviews were poignant, direct, and she never minced any words about her feelings about things. She could see where she was privileged and also had a very clear perspective of where she was disadvantaged. Every stance she took she took it with her whole chest! I appreciate that. I think the world appreciates that about her. There are very few people like her to be honest.

Some of her revelations, as she stood out on the ledge (alone a lot of the time), really exposed a lot of our favourite artists for who they really were, including her. A lot of the times it wasn't so pretty. I appreciate that level of honesty as well.

This book is infinitely quotable and highlightable - Sinéad O'Connor being incredibly wise and outspoken about her life's circumstances and the various realities of the world. There are so many levels to her thinking. I love that the interviews selected zoom in and out about motherhood, Rastafarianism, Islam, Christianity, Ireland, travelling, hip-hop, Black culture, who she is vs who folks have wanted her to be, the music industry, the television industry, men and the violence they beget, and her incredibly complicated experiences with her own mother who was an abuser and who died when the artist was 18.

This was a phenomenal read. It made me scare up a couple others issues of the Last Interview series, and also I had to add her memoir Rememberings to my list of memoirs to read. Y'all know I love a memoir, I anticipate Sinéad's to be stellar. Highly recommended. RIP.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Completely mistitled, this is a collection of 9 mostly interesting and insightful interviews from across her career. I have no idea if her last interview was on The View but I hope not.

[Sonali Anand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good exploration of O'Connor and her inner psyche through several interviews spanning from the beginning of her career to her final interview in 2021. Sinéad O'Connor was a daughter of Bob Dylan and John Lennon, and a protest singer if there ever was one. She was able to blend the arts with politics in a rare way, and her music will forever have a place in our human history. These interviews were a great way to see her inner progression as an artist and activist throughout her career, and I particularly appreciated the addition of the Rolling Stones interview. Overall, this was a quick, very enjoyable read, and a wonderful tribute to O'Connor and her contribution to humanity.

[Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

the true meaning of an icon

[Claudyne Vielot]

"Sinead O'Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations"

Thanks to NetGalley and Melville House for permission to read this work prior to its publication date.

I read O'Connor's memoir earlier this year and found it deeply affecting. The interviews compiled in this work are no different. The only controversial thing about Sinead O'Connor is that she said what she believed in consistently throughout her career without compromising herself. In a world of politicians saying things and spinning them, fake apologies from influencers and all around BS being spewed from every direction, it means so much to be a person that is true to your beliefs and true to your word. This is an inspirational read and I just wish it had pictures of Sinead, as she was as gorgeous as she was truthful.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Autobiographic, Sinéad O'Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations (2024) by Melville House is a collection of her interviews between 1987 and 2021. The famous pop singer with the shorn hair and doc martin boots, was a Grammy Award winning artist, creator of diverse music genre albums and human rights advocate and activist. Best known for her huge 1990 hit single 'Nothing Compares to You', Sinéad’s life was not without controversary, raising her children on her own and struggling with the demons of mental health. Her death at fifty-six years of age, was preceded by her eldest son’s tragic death just over a year earlier. This book is an interesting prism into the life of Sinéad O'Connor through the years, with various magazines and journalists (a list of them is provided in the appendix) discussing a variety of topics regarding Sinéad’s own worldview. An inspirational read, as Sinéad reveals in her own words, her story, life, music, views and why she did what she did. A must-read book with five stars rating, that provides a valuable insight into Sinéad O'Connor, an incredible if troubled soul. With thanks to Melville House Publishing for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without any inducement.

[Ro U · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Melville House and NetGalley for the ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

I am a huge fan of Sinead O'Connor's, and have been educated on her history and place in pop culture, and I really liked these interviews for providing even more context on who she is, what influenced her behavior and decisions, and where she saw herself in relation to her popularity and as an activist. The interviews span from her early days to her final conversations, really demonstrating her unwavering commitment to authenticity, and her fearless approach to addressing controversial topics. Reading through these dialogues, I was struck by her candidness and the depth of her reflections on music, activism, and personal struggles. The book doesn't shy away from the challenges she faced, such as her mental health battles and the infamous moments that defined her public persona like the tearing up of the Pope picture on SNL.

For fans and newcomers alike, this compilation serves as a testament to Sinéad's enduring influence and the complexities that made her such a compelling figure. It's a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the woman behind the music and the headlines.

[MackGetsLit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A compilation of interview that Sinead gave spanning her career that shows her personal and professional growth. I enjoyed this and being able to follow her thought process throughout the years. I think she was done a great disservice in pop culture and by the media during her life, and hopefully as we look back on her words people can see that she was spot on about most of her "controversial" opinions and actions. Her views on child abuse, racism, war, church vs religion, feminism, and how the music industry is predatory are all covered in this compilation. I found myself highlighting several passages of her interviews about these topics, particularly the passages about reproductive rights for women and her views on being a single mother. I often think we as a society didn't deserve Sinead, and I only feel that sentiment stronger after reading her interviews together in this format.

Thank you to NetGalley and Melville House for the advanced copy of this in exchange for an honest review.

[Jamie Cha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give the book 4.5 stars. I received a free ebook in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. I am a gen x er. I remember growing up with SineayO Connor. I really liked the artist. Yes, I remember some of the controversy's.

I finished the book in less than 2 days. It is very easy to read. The book is full of her interviews. A lot of the interviews are written as dialogue.

The interviews are so interesting. She was a head of her time. The book is a compilation of the interviews. It feels strange reviewing the book.

Sinead talks about mental health, feminism, gratitude, motherhood, religion, reproductive rights, beauty, and more. Sinead wasn't like other celebrities. She was tough and fragile.

I am very thankful to Netgalley and the author of this book. Now, I really want to read more on Sinead o Connor.

[Jeannette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full Disclosure: I received an Advance Reader's Copy of Sinead O'Connor: The Last Interview: and other Conversations edited by Melville House from Melville House Publishing via NetGalley. It should be available to the public October 29, 2024.

Sinead O'Connor: The Last Interview: and other Conversations edited by Melville House with introduction by Kristin Hersh is a collection of interviews with Sinead O'Connor that span her career basically from beginning up until her death. Reading it made me miss her so much! Not only was she an incredible singer, she always spoke her mind no matter what the consequences could be. Not enough people do that in the world! She had a tough life, faced so much criticism, and yet continued to make music that would smack you across the face with its beauty and insight. She was so much more than the woman with the shaved head, or the person who tore up the picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live. If only people went after pedophiles as hard as they did Sinead after she did that. How dare she call out child abuse! Make no mistake, in reading these interviews, you can't ignore that much of what Sinead did was to call attention to all the different ways children are abused. She wanted a better world for her children and all children. She was way ahead of her time. Now excuse me while I go listen to No Man's Woman.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m embarrassed to admit that I didn’t know much about Sinéad O’Connor beyond her music and the Pope incident on SNL. I was only a few years younger than her and listened to her music growing up. Back then, I’m not sure all her beliefs and causes would have resonated with me, but reading them now, it’s clear she was wise beyond her years—eerily prescient in the issues she spoke out about.

The interviews in this collection are well-chosen and in-depth. It was fascinating to read them together and see how her views evolved over time. However, I found myself wishing for more background or context to better understand what was happening in her life at the time of each interview. Some interviews are clustered within the same period, while others stand alone—what events might she have been responding to in those moments?

Overall, this book offers valuable insight into the mind of a talented artist with deep convictions. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a fan of Sinead O'Connor's music ever since her first album dropped, I was heartbroken to hear that she passed away so young. It's so awesome that the Last Interview series chose to put together a book of her interviews. That said, if you've followed Sinead O'Connor at all over the many years, even vaguely, you know that she's not always coming across as the most stable or sympathetic person and that definitely is the case in these interviews, unfortunately. But that's one-hundred percent her so I appreciate that they didn't try to edit anything and turn her into someone else. It's an interesting read, although uncomfortable at times.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review the ARC of this book.

[KDRBCK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sinéad O'Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Melville House.
A gripping compilation of interviews spans years and years of her life, hows the mind and mindset of this outstanding artist. Her haunted soul, the tragic circunstances of her death and abova all else, the love for her music and her son.
A gripping raw and gritty read.

[Lisa H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of interviews.

This makes me sad to read her interviews knowing that she's gone at such a young age.
I found Sinéad O'Connor a complex, interesting and wounded person. She was strong and fragile in equal measures. She had the courage of her convictions and that is a rare thing, indeed.

[Rony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mooi overzicht van Sinead’s evolutie als artieste en als mens.
Ondergewaardeerd en beschimpt omdat ze als vrouw reageerde op misbruiken om haar heen, in de muziekindustrie, in de kerk, en ook in haar eigen familie toen ze nog een kind was.
Een moedige vrouw en een pure artieste. Alleen maar respect voor haar.

[Katarzyna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I grew up listening to Sinead and witnessing all the controversy around her I didn't know much about her or details that led to her sometimes questionable actions. Reading this book now as an adult really helped me understand some of those actions. Very interesting insight into her opinions about God, religion and women's rights. This is a good book for everyone that would like to learn more about O'Connor.

Thank you Melville House and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sinéad O'Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations" is a nostalgic, informative, and emotional ride through O'Connor's musical history. This was my first foray into Melville House's "The Last Interview" series and now I want to read more of them.

TW: Child abuse

Thank you to Melville House Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Austin Comerton · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had expected the book to be somewhat in an interactive style that may have detailed direct responses from Sinead O'Connor. Having interviewed her in 2011 in a lengthy conversation, I had found my interactions with her to be insightful and refreshing.

[Kate Devine]

Always speaking truth to power, Sinéad was steadfast in her convictions on music, religion, and justice. This insightful collection of interviews reflects Sinéad’s unyielding character. A wonderful musician and an even better advocate, she continues to be greatly missed. RIP.

[Jbondandrews · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have given this book more stars but I think the interviewers were terrible especially the ones on the View and I think Sinead deserved better than that. I guess the editor of the book couldn't find better interviews but perhaps there weren't any.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Series of interviews with Sinead in chronological order. Interesting, and heart-breaking. What a talent! Thank you to # NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

[Karli · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a small collection of interviews with Sinead O'Connor throughout her career. In it, Sinead explains her thoughts and beliefs on topics ranging from religion to feminism to mental health and how they changed over time. She also shares insight on growing up with a strict Catholic background in an abusive home.

While there were interviews and things I learned about her life that were new to me, I kept wanting more information and ultimately wanted to read about Sinead in her own words. Perhaps the interview format is not for me.

Thank you to NetGally and Melville House Publishing for the ARC!

[Aziza Mehmoudzai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Tara Levesque · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fitting to finish this on International Women’s Day cuz Sinead was freaking right about everything and Kristen Hersh is the coolest friend.
Thanks for this one @kimfahner

[czarina]

book so good i had to change my profile picture