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Burlesque or Bust: Bringing my Mental Health to Heel
Having grown up among strict religious evangelists in Australia, Priscilla fought to escape overbearing authority regimes and damaging emotional cues. However, her desperate attempts to find her own place in the world culminated in a catastrophic breakdown and detachment from reality.
Hospitalised with severe bipolar disorder and marked as one of the worst cases of psychosis the doctors had ever seen, Priscilla found her salvation in a lilting piece of piano music, 'Tones'. Finding comfort in the song's melody, she began the painful process of piecing her life back together.
In Burlesque or Bust, we are invited to join Sapphira, Priscilla's alter ego, as she escapes to the underground London cabaret circuit. Losing herself on the keys of her piano and in the song lyrics on her lips, she reinvents herself as a dazzling showgirl. Along the way she meets many powerful personal development teachers who turn her life around. With a new-found purpose, our heroine makes it her life s mission to share the art form that gave her true release, and to share her sparkle and joy with the world.
Hospitalised with severe bipolar disorder and marked as one of the worst cases of psychosis the doctors had ever seen, Priscilla found her salvation in a lilting piece of piano music, 'Tones'. Finding comfort in the song's melody, she began the painful process of piecing her life back together.
In Burlesque or Bust, we are invited to join Sapphira, Priscilla's alter ego, as she escapes to the underground London cabaret circuit. Losing herself on the keys of her piano and in the song lyrics on her lips, she reinvents herself as a dazzling showgirl. Along the way she meets many powerful personal development teachers who turn her life around. With a new-found purpose, our heroine makes it her life s mission to share the art form that gave her true release, and to share her sparkle and joy with the world.
- GenresNonfiction
184 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 8, 2018
I was kindly sent a copy by Trigger Press in exchange for an honest review.
From the moment I read the blurb I knew Priscilla's story was going to be intriguing, empowering, and a little bit heartbreaking. I finished it with a deep sense of secondhand pride for her and all she has accomplished, for her determination and positivity, and for being so open with her story and her feelings.
Priscilla writes vividly and the way she describes the depths of her emotions and anxiety had me really empathising with her from the start. I continually found myself amazed at her determination in discovering herself and developing her self expression. It really made me think about how creativity can be healing mentally. I particularly connected with her musical journey, and the way she describes the power and release she feels when singing and song writing. There were many sad moments, but also a lot of funny moments (particularly her costume mishaps, and slight obsession with Richard Branson) and inspiring ones too.
Overall, if you're thinking about reading this book, for whatever reason, do it! Her openness and honesty about her struggle with mental illness, and the way she overcame it really made me feel like my mindset and attitude had changed by the time I finished it. It was so inspiring to see her master her emotions and see how supportive the other people in her life were when she talked freely about what she was going through. Her mission to share her sparkle has certainly worked on me.
From the moment I read the blurb I knew Priscilla's story was going to be intriguing, empowering, and a little bit heartbreaking. I finished it with a deep sense of secondhand pride for her and all she has accomplished, for her determination and positivity, and for being so open with her story and her feelings.
Priscilla writes vividly and the way she describes the depths of her emotions and anxiety had me really empathising with her from the start. I continually found myself amazed at her determination in discovering herself and developing her self expression. It really made me think about how creativity can be healing mentally. I particularly connected with her musical journey, and the way she describes the power and release she feels when singing and song writing. There were many sad moments, but also a lot of funny moments (particularly her costume mishaps, and slight obsession with Richard Branson) and inspiring ones too.
Overall, if you're thinking about reading this book, for whatever reason, do it! Her openness and honesty about her struggle with mental illness, and the way she overcame it really made me feel like my mindset and attitude had changed by the time I finished it. It was so inspiring to see her master her emotions and see how supportive the other people in her life were when she talked freely about what she was going through. Her mission to share her sparkle has certainly worked on me.
August 29, 2025
Love you Sapphira! I love learning about what makes you such a strong entrepreneurial woman.
January 13, 2021
I chose to read this book as I'd read others by the same publisher about women with bipolar disorder and enjoyed them (Beautiful Chaos and Brighter Days). I was, however, disappointed considering that it was unanimously given five stars on Goodreads and UK Amazon. The book focuses on Priscilla's career and not really on her mental health, which was my reason for reading the book. Sometimes the phrasing is a bit awkward and/or a word is used incorrectly, eg 'I am remiss to admit I found it all a bit boring'. Another thing that grated on me was her calling people by their defining characteristics, i.e. 'Mr Handsome', 'Miss Sensible' and 'Mrs and Mrs Liberal'. It would have been better to just create fake names. Lastly some bits were a bit too 'hippy dippy' for me ie 'I stop and send love and vibrations from my dimension back to hers' and the bit about healing past injuries through expressing your primal voice. I hesitated between one and two stars but chose two, because it does have some redeeming qualities, like its message that you have to be in touch with your emotions in order to have healthy relationships; and for fans of burlesque I'm sure the story of Priscilla's career is fascinating.
October 3, 2018
"I can feel her coming on.
She is the one who wants the story to be told.
She is the one who calls the shots.
She is my alter-ego, and she has a different name.
Her name is Sapphira.
And she must be obeyed."
Those lines gave me goosebumps, and right there and then I knew I'd love this book.
Burlesque or Bust is first and foremost a tale of success. Priscilla is raised in a strict Christian environment and finds it hard to really be herself when everything she loves seems forbidden. She breaks the mould and tries to reclaim all that she has suppressed within herself by following her dreams to become a singer. After a bipolar episode sees her hospitalised, she decides to follow in Kyle's footsteps by moving from Australia to England to break London. And there, she discovers Burlesque.
Burlesque or Bust is so fabulous in every sense of the word: well-written, funny, touching, and most of all, it is inspiring. Priscilla's drive and energy shine through her words, and her transformation into Sapphira is absolutely a delight to behold. Five well-deserved stars!
She is the one who wants the story to be told.
She is the one who calls the shots.
She is my alter-ego, and she has a different name.
Her name is Sapphira.
And she must be obeyed."
Those lines gave me goosebumps, and right there and then I knew I'd love this book.
Burlesque or Bust is first and foremost a tale of success. Priscilla is raised in a strict Christian environment and finds it hard to really be herself when everything she loves seems forbidden. She breaks the mould and tries to reclaim all that she has suppressed within herself by following her dreams to become a singer. After a bipolar episode sees her hospitalised, she decides to follow in Kyle's footsteps by moving from Australia to England to break London. And there, she discovers Burlesque.
Burlesque or Bust is so fabulous in every sense of the word: well-written, funny, touching, and most of all, it is inspiring. Priscilla's drive and energy shine through her words, and her transformation into Sapphira is absolutely a delight to behold. Five well-deserved stars!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews