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The Spark That Survived
From Myra Lewis Williams, former child-bride of rock & roll legend Jerry Lee Lewis, comes a new memoir, one that shows that anyone can write their own story, even when all the world sees is a troubled past. From the innocent girl caught up in a whirlwind of fame to the strong woman struggling to prove herself in a time of darkness, Myra remains true, independent, and an inspiration to all.
Myra Lewis Williams is only five feet tall, yet she stands as a shining beacon of hope and inspiration to any woman who has ever struggled through life’s depths of despair. In this memoir, with her own brand of unflinching, down-to-earth, humorous, Southern storytelling, she reveals how she crawled out of the darkness and came to stand in the light of building a new life for herself. Myra hopes that her story will show women that they are stronger than they know, and that if she could overcome her own misguided decisions and life’s most tragic misfortunes, they can, too.
As Myra says, “This is a book about how to overcome life’s worst tragedies and your own dumbass decisions.”
Myra Lewis Williams is only five feet tall, yet she stands as a shining beacon of hope and inspiration to any woman who has ever struggled through life’s depths of despair. In this memoir, with her own brand of unflinching, down-to-earth, humorous, Southern storytelling, she reveals how she crawled out of the darkness and came to stand in the light of building a new life for herself. Myra hopes that her story will show women that they are stronger than they know, and that if she could overcome her own misguided decisions and life’s most tragic misfortunes, they can, too.
As Myra says, “This is a book about how to overcome life’s worst tragedies and your own dumbass decisions.”
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2016
74 people are currently reading
342 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 30, 2017
Interesting life
This was a very easy read and the chapters were very short. It was like hearing stories from a friend's life, which I liked. It's good to hear two sides of a story, especially about a public figure, who usually portrays only what they want you to think. Myra is an interesting woman, and I'm glad she found true happiness.
This was a very easy read and the chapters were very short. It was like hearing stories from a friend's life, which I liked. It's good to hear two sides of a story, especially about a public figure, who usually portrays only what they want you to think. Myra is an interesting woman, and I'm glad she found true happiness.
June 1, 2017
Good
I liked this book better than Great Balls of Fire. The author, Myra, was Jerry Lee Lewis' second wife. He was 22, she was 13 when they married. She was also his 2 nd cousin. This book gives her perspective of her marriage to Jerry Lee and all the ups and downs of their marriage.
I liked this book better than Great Balls of Fire. The author, Myra, was Jerry Lee Lewis' second wife. He was 22, she was 13 when they married. She was also his 2 nd cousin. This book gives her perspective of her marriage to Jerry Lee and all the ups and downs of their marriage.
February 10, 2022
Great Book
I enjoyed this book and your spirit Myra. There is no doubt you were seduced by JLL and the blame is all his.
Can’t even imagine getting married at that age and no less to my cousin.
But you prevailed! Thank you for the inspiration.
I enjoyed this book and your spirit Myra. There is no doubt you were seduced by JLL and the blame is all his.
Can’t even imagine getting married at that age and no less to my cousin.
But you prevailed! Thank you for the inspiration.
January 25, 2020
What an amazingly strong woman
I liked reading in her own words her struggles and successes. I just wish it wasn't so short. Not much in depth description and most chapters were only a page or two.
I liked reading in her own words her struggles and successes. I just wish it wasn't so short. Not much in depth description and most chapters were only a page or two.
December 21, 2024
3 stars.
I didn't read Myra's first book, Great Balls of Fire, but I did watch the movie. I thought this book might be continuation of that book and, in some way, it kind of is. This book does start with Myra's marriage to Jerry Lee Lewis, her second cousin, and then moves onto their marriage, their relationship, divorce, and her life since.
This book reads almost like short essays for each chapter. Each chapter is labeled with Myra is going to talk about, her son Steve's death, her daughter Phoebe, her divorce from Jerry Lee, etc. Each chapter is pretty short, not much detail, and this book is a pretty easy read.
What I liked about this book was learning more about who Myra was and is today. You would think she would be damaged from getting married at thirteen (pretty much against her will), being a wife on her own, having her first child at fifteen, and being divorced by twenty-six or seven, I think. That is a lot of life in one person, in one short amount of time. But, Myra shows how resilient she is by picking up from Jerry Lee, and then working towards building her own life and career away from her. You still see little bits of that young Myra but, you also see a woman who had to be strong to look after herself and her daughter, and did just that.
The reason for my 3 stars is because I didn't think the book was that well-written, and I do think many of the chapters were too short. I don't love essay format for books so, I struggled a bit through this but overall, it was an okay read
I didn't read Myra's first book, Great Balls of Fire, but I did watch the movie. I thought this book might be continuation of that book and, in some way, it kind of is. This book does start with Myra's marriage to Jerry Lee Lewis, her second cousin, and then moves onto their marriage, their relationship, divorce, and her life since.
This book reads almost like short essays for each chapter. Each chapter is labeled with Myra is going to talk about, her son Steve's death, her daughter Phoebe, her divorce from Jerry Lee, etc. Each chapter is pretty short, not much detail, and this book is a pretty easy read.
What I liked about this book was learning more about who Myra was and is today. You would think she would be damaged from getting married at thirteen (pretty much against her will), being a wife on her own, having her first child at fifteen, and being divorced by twenty-six or seven, I think. That is a lot of life in one person, in one short amount of time. But, Myra shows how resilient she is by picking up from Jerry Lee, and then working towards building her own life and career away from her. You still see little bits of that young Myra but, you also see a woman who had to be strong to look after herself and her daughter, and did just that.
The reason for my 3 stars is because I didn't think the book was that well-written, and I do think many of the chapters were too short. I don't love essay format for books so, I struggled a bit through this but overall, it was an okay read
September 25, 2024
Myra Lewis Williams is probably best known as the child bridge of singer Jerry Lee Lewis. Myra was only 13 when they married. She is also Jerry's second cousin.
Myra was suddenly thrust into the adult role of wife and into controversy when she let it slip during a tour in the UK that she was Jerry's wife.
This is Myra's second book. It is her life story and how she wanted to write it.
Myra has been through a lot, but she has made the best of it and has had quite a life. The book reads almost like a diary. It's an easy read with short chapters. It's not super in-depth, but overall, it is a good book. I'm glad Myra found happiness.
Myra was suddenly thrust into the adult role of wife and into controversy when she let it slip during a tour in the UK that she was Jerry's wife.
This is Myra's second book. It is her life story and how she wanted to write it.
Myra has been through a lot, but she has made the best of it and has had quite a life. The book reads almost like a diary. It's an easy read with short chapters. It's not super in-depth, but overall, it is a good book. I'm glad Myra found happiness.
June 5, 2024
The True Story about JLL and Myra
I enjoyed reading the true story about JLL and Myra Lewis’ relationship. I suspect that JLL was more of a creep than anyone can even begin to realize. This certainly brings it home. I agree he was immensely talented but as a person he gets a minus zero in my book.
I enjoyed reading the true story about JLL and Myra Lewis’ relationship. I suspect that JLL was more of a creep than anyone can even begin to realize. This certainly brings it home. I agree he was immensely talented but as a person he gets a minus zero in my book.
February 19, 2023
I wish this book had been longer and more detailed. I really liked how Myra presented herself and think she sounds like an awesome lady with a strong will to survive, but I found the book flimsy and that it glossed-over much of her life. It could have been fleshed out a lot more.
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April 30, 2024I really liked the book. Each chapter is a recount of something significant that happened in her life. It was tastefully told without making you feel like she considered herself a victim. I really enjoyed reading it.
August 22, 2017
Amazing
It's amazing to hear such a heart filled story of survival and will power of a girl/woman who was ripped from childhood and still made it out on top.
It's amazing to hear such a heart filled story of survival and will power of a girl/woman who was ripped from childhood and still made it out on top.
November 4, 2022
Interesting.
November 5, 2022
For a tell all, this tells almost nothing.
February 10, 2023
An authentic, poorly written autobiography from a traumatized survivor/unreliable narrator.
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July 25, 2024No, there's only one reason a twenty-two-year-old man would want to marry a child. He would want someone he could control. Someone he could mold the way he wanted.
February 25, 2025
Great Read
Such a good read! I’ve never been a fan of JerryLee Lewis, but now I’m a fan of Myra Lewis!!
Such a good read! I’ve never been a fan of JerryLee Lewis, but now I’m a fan of Myra Lewis!!
October 31, 2022
What a wild ride!
What an amazing book!
It will inspire so many women that have suffered abuse and suffered from low self-esteem.
Thank you Myra for the real story...Your story.
What an amazing book!
It will inspire so many women that have suffered abuse and suffered from low self-esteem.
Thank you Myra for the real story...Your story.
March 1, 2017
Someone gave me this book to read because they liked it, otherwise I would have never read it. It was an okay book, just not my cup of tea.
September 13, 2020
Awesome
This was a very easy read, the book flowed very well. You can feel her every emotion in this book. It was amazing to see how she came through all the times good and bad. She depended on God.
This was a very easy read, the book flowed very well. You can feel her every emotion in this book. It was amazing to see how she came through all the times good and bad. She depended on God.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews