Aaliyah: More Than a Woman

by Christopher John Farley

Aaliyah Dana Haughton was that music business a teen idol who transformed herself into a critically acclaimed hip-hop soul artist, a singer who successfully made the transition to actress, and a beautiful woman who never let the trappings of celebrity go to her head. Following her impressive debut at age 14 with the album Age Ain't Nothin' but a Number, Aaliyah raised the bar with her hugely influential and bestselling follow-up, One in a Million. She then took her talents to Hollywood, starring in the action thriller Romeo Must Die and the highly anticipated horror film The Queen of the Damned. But soon after the release of her third album in the summer of 2001, Aaliyah's life was cut short in a tragic plane crash.

Here is the inspirational story of the star The Washington Post dubbed "Hip-Hop's Lady Di" -- a woman who, by the time of her death at age twenty-two, touched legions of fans around the world with her haunting voice and gentle spirit.

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Ryan Berry]

I'm Aaliyah fan she was a legend to me because she had numerous hits and i want to know how did she ever get to stardom where she is called "The Princess of Hip Hop" and died so tragically like rappers Notorious B.I.G, Tupac "2Pac aka Makaveli" Shakur, or TLC member Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes.

[Lynecia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This could have been so much better. It went off on random historical tangents way too much. I picked this up to read about Aaliyah not music history...

[Shanikia8F R.I.PUNCLE CURT/ KNOW AS MII CUZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book about Aaliyah because it all about her and who she really is. This book talks about her everyday life as she success her career as an singer.

[Tiffany Spencer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aaliyah More Than A Woman
This is a behind the scenes look at the life of the deceased legendary RNB star Aaliyah Dana Haughton. The novel takes us from her birth to the day when after shooting for the Rock The Boat video her final day of the tragic plane crash which left us with a great loss.

My Thoughts:
When you read a biography the whole point is to walk away from that with more information about who you're reading about than you already knew about them. Which because social media hadn't really gotten to the point where it had hit us hard yet and the only information sources we had were Fresh and Right On magazine. (Later on, Sister 2 Sister would be a step up because of its thoroughness and more in-depth articles than the 2 or 3 pages of the former mentioned). The problem with reading this was although it wasn't a bad read, it wasn't exactly giving me anything new or interesting.


A lot of pages were wasted on background information about issues and origins. Such as how women play second fiddle to men in the music industry. While this is WORTH being addressed, a book about AALIYAHS life isn't the place for it because it's not relevant. He was trying (the author) to squeeze this into the thought that because Aaliyah was R-Kelly's protégée because he was more publicly known he got all the props. Which is BS! I came up in Aaliyah's era. And she definitely did NOT need R-Kelly's shine. Aaliyah as an artist may have got her style and lyrics from him, but she more than could carry her own. It's an insult to insinuate that she played second string to him. She was a star in her own right.

Another thing it spends too much time on is the background of the start of the music genre "neo-soul" and the artists that developed it. It's important to note that she was a neo-soul artist and give that a paragraph or so, but a history of it belongs in a history of RNB/hip-hop book. (That's a whole nother book in itself). I had to wonder is this a book about Aaliyah or a book about Lauren Hill, whom the author seems to have an extreme fascination with.

What I did learn was a little more information surrounding the plane crash. Such as the things that might have contributed to the crash. And when you learn that the passengers themselves didn't seem to care if the baggage level was extended just that they had to have the stuff, is a shame. Sadly it makes you shake your head. No one can be too blame for this horrific tragedy, but it's just the irony that they themselves didn't seem to value their safety much because they were given a warning. Would it have hurt them to have some of that stuff flown out on another flight? Was it really worth losing their lives over and the lost of this extraordinary young woman?

I went back and watched a few things that I wasn't aware of. How could I have missed there was a video for Got To Give It Up? And NO Madonna's song did NOT sound like it had traces of Back and Forth inserted in it. I didn't hear not one note of that and I played it a couple of times. So in conclusion, just like the movie about her, it was surface. I felt like it didn't live up to the title and give us "more than a woman" or "more to this woman". But in retrospect, Aaliyah was such a private person that it probably gave us what it could of her life. Aaliyah will always be remembered and her music will forever live on in our iPods. She took us "Back and Forth" and let us know that even though she had much more to accomplish her "Age Wasn't Nothing But A Number" She definitely had "The Beats for the Street" and had us all wanting to be "Down With Her Clique" So despite the lack from this book for his beautiful young lady you definitely "Gotta Give It Up". RIP AALIYAH!!! In this age of mediocre music. YOU ARE MISSED!!!

RATING: 6

[Mrs. California · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an inspiring biography. In this book there is no protagonist,and no antagonist either. There aren't also no conflicts. What I have learned in this book is how much love she put into her music. The most sadest part is when it showed the picture of her plane when it crashed. It made me feel so sad knowing that she died.
On the book it said that in life she was a mystery, but in death she was a legend. My favorite songs that she made was 'More Than A Woman' and "Rock The Boat." In this book she went on tv when she was six years old and was in a talent show. She was in the talent show with who we mostly all know 'R-Kelly.' R- kelly's real name is Robert and that's what she called him.
But when she died almost everyone felt the emptyness of her leaving. I even felt sad myself. She left the family and she could of started another generation of her own. But she didn't. But also this book is mostly about too the book is fasinating.

[Melica Niccole · Rating 3 out of 5]

In reading the beginning of the book, I really could not get into the book. The author discussed a lot of things, which I felt strayed away from the subject matter. I wanted him to focus more on Aaliyah, so I would have a chance in understanding her better.

After reading the first 30 pages, this is when the transition started. I noticed that Aaliyah's story was being told; however there were still portions in the book that did not seem like they should have been a part of the book. An example of this was regarding focusing a lot on other artists, where it seemed as if Aaliyah was part of a book about various artists.

What the book did provide me with was an opportunity to understand the role that Aaliyah's family played in her career, how she was respected, and how she helped so many people. She was a beautiful young woman, who showed the world that she cared about others and the things she could change. She will always be missed

[Shana White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very good book for someone who didn't know that much about her because it gives a good background on her life and what happend to her and It can have you believeing," she died so young". She is the type of singer that changed some peoples life and she influenced them to live their dreams. As her being a African American singer/artist mainly is a big surprising that she made alot of accomplishments and how far she got to just have her life end very short. This book surprised me and really had me very emotional. Things happen for a reason. She was a very successful women that represented for us African American women showing us that we are always able to become successful in life and don't let anyone or anything bring you down. She is a role modle. Honestly I didnt really know that much bout her until this book taught me of her and influenced me.

[Autumn Jeanine · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first read "Aaliyah more than a woman" I was amazed of all the accomplishments she endured during her success.Then I was blue because after she made her last video "Rock the Boat" she passed away in a airplane crash in the year of 2001.I would rate this book as a five because it tells how you could accomplish and succeed up the ladder to success. Then thereafter to find out in just a second everything is gone in a blink of an eye.

[Faijaun Trowers-davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

THIS BOOK WAS GOOD ITWAS GOOD BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT SOMEONES LIFE BEFORE AND AFTER DEATH. SO NOT ONLY DID I KNOW ABOUT WHAT SHE DID OR WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT OF HER WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE BUT ALSO WHEN SHE EXPIRED

[Tiara Wilson]

Aaliyah was a great book. It was mainly about when she died. The author wrote about the times that he had a interview with her before she had died. She had died in a airplane tha had missed the airport in the Bahamas

[Noelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I love Aaliyah this book pasted her name on the front and had NOTHING to do with her.

[Taylor Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is an amazing story on the great baby girl Aaliyah on her life and legacy and see her life threw her eyes.

[Eric · Rating 5 out of 5]

i fucking love this book

[Erika Kaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will inspire young women to believe in their dreams and never give up. She had a wonderful life, despite all of the rumors about her.

[Deniesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aaliyah was a very smart and talented young lady that everyone will miss.This book showed the real Aaliyah and the wonderful young women she was.

[Lakenzwa Lyttle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, but found out things I never took my time to find out about Aaliyah.

[Winter Sophia Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Touching On All Levels!

[Vanity Celis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need a diva like Aaliyah! This is a crazy little cultural artifact. Reading it 25 years down the line, it feels like being transported right back to 2001, right down to the passable sexism, with its casual but pervasive focus on the men in Aaliyah’s environment. The asides about R. Kelly are chilling and always viewed through the lens of a “relationship.” One anecdote has the writer of this cute little biography asking about her involvement with R., inquiring whether she was still in touch with him or would ever consider working with him again — questions to which Aaliyah replies with a frosty “no,” without elaborating any further. The writer takes it as a sign that Aaliyah is able to separate her private life from her public one. Chil-ling!

On the up, it has a number of cute and wholesome anecdotes (Queen of the Damned shoot, meeting with director Michael Rymer, Aaliyah being an Egyptophile) and clearly positions Aaliyah as the innovator she was (Britney’s 2001 MTV VMA performance with the snake was preceded by Aaliyah!).

[Ananda Nadya · Rating 4 out of 5]

RIP Aaliyah, a legendary female R&B icon that can’t be replaced by anyone 🙏💫

[Mekhi]

Very an amazing book! I didn't know this book was published when Aaliyah was still alive! but Aaliyah's music is out go stream it

[Reka Beezy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know what this author was doing, but it seemed like he was writing a music historical, and a biased one I might add, other than Aaliyah's biography. Is it really necessary to tell me the history of Motown when that wasn't even Aaliyah's label? I honestly don't even think autobiography have me a glimpse of who the real Aaliyah was anyway, most of the book was so boggled down with facts and other people's generic observations (observations without real substance--I love Aaliyah as much as the next fanatic, but ain't no human rainbows and sunshine all the time!). But then again, maybe Aaliyah was, and if she was, then I'm sorry to say that I'm highly disappointed. I appreciate the time she had here on earth and the hits she brought into my life, but I guess 22 years isn't really enough to make a good book, either that or the author just really, really sucks at this sort of novel. In my effort to be optimistic, I'll just assume the latter. Don't recommend and won't re-read.

[Asia Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Aaliyah very much, and this book was a pleasant gift to commemorate her life and learn more about her. My overall complaint is that in some parts of the book, Farley interjects too many outside references when telling Aaliyah's story. For example, in the introduction, he writes extensively on the plane crash deaths of other famous celebrities or notable figures, which unnecessarily imposes on Aaliyah as the focus of the book. In other chapters, Farley tends to derail to the story lines of other music artists to whom Aaliyah was close, instead of staying aligned with Aaliyah's narrative. Maybe Farley did not have much biographical information about Aaliyah when writing this book. Some information, however, is novel to Aaliyah fans: those anecdotes that weren't revealed in Aaliyah's other interviews. This book does provide a snapshot of Aaliyah's pivotal moments in her life including her last interview before her death.

[Anilea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A saccharine, fairy tale-esque read about the Late Aaliyah.
It documents her early days as a child who was into singing & theatre, to her brief history with R.Nasty, her solo success, her experimentation with her image, sound & film roles, and her relationships around her family, clique & lovers.
Thinking about her still brings an ache, even while reading the book that tried it best to portray her life as delicate & as elegant as it could.
I still believe that we won't Have another Aaliyah. she was too lofty, Ambitious, down to earth & futuristic.
The book is a labour of love, wonderfully written, and lacks all the rotten, gossipy ratchets found in most of the posthumous biographies.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book because it give you an insight on RnB's princess its sad that her life was cut short at the age of 22 because her career was well on the fast track to hit the stratosphere with all that she was set to do.

Her legacy has left a lasting impact on what her life was and what it could've been she was a genuine person who gave her all into everything she did I was eleven years old when she passed it was just three days shy of my twelveth birthday Aaliyah you are still greatly missed.

[Nakeya smith]

i thought this book was really good because it really explained what happen to aliyah and where it happen.It also taught how much people were affected by her death and how much she influenced people.It also gave me information on her background .

[Just Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this many years ago. As I read, Remembering Whitney, this book came to mind. It was a great book that looked at Aaliyah's life and career in a postive note. This book seem real factual, not like the author was trying to make the reader like or dislike Aaliyah, Farley wrote the facts.

[Dana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book could have been good, but the author goes into far much detail about other artists in the industry that were directly or indirectly involved with Aaliyah. There should have been more information included that was not already previously known.

[Myra Byrom · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a sad story, and unfortunately, a badly written story as well. The author went on about intricacies of music careers; his experiences with many other celebrities (aka name dropping); so much irrelevant things that had nothing to do with the amazing Aaliyah. Shame.

[Jahmiah Stevenson]

good