Stories I Might Regret Telling You

by Martha Wainwright

This is Martha Wainwright’s heartfelt memoir about growing up in a bohemian musical family and her experiences with love, loss, motherhood, divorce, the music industry and more. Born into music royalty, the daughter of folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III and sister to the highly-acclaimed singer Rufus Wainwright, Martha grew up in a world filled with such incomparable folk legends as Leonard Cohen, Anna McGarrigle, Richard and Linda Thompson, Pete Townsend and Emmylou Harris. It was within this loud, boisterous, musical milieu that Martha came of age, struggling to find her voice until she exploded onto the music scene with her 2005 debut and critically acclaimed album, Martha Wainwright, which contained the blistering hit, ‘Bloody Mother F*cking Asshole’, which the Sunday Times called one of the best songs of that year. Her successful debut album and the ones that followed such as Come Home to Mama, I Know You're Married but I've Got Feelings Too and Goodnight City came to define Martha's searing songwriting style and established her as a powerful voice to be reckoned with. In Stories I Might Regret Telling You, Martha digs into the deep recesses of herself with the same emotional honesty that has come to define her music. She describes her tumultuous public-facing journey from awkward, earnest and ultimately rebellious daughter, through her intense competition and ultimate alliance with her brother, Rufus, to the heart-breaking loss of their mother, Kate, and then, finally, discovering her voice as an artist. With candour and grace, Martha writes of becoming a mother herself and making peace with her past struggles with Kate and her younger self. Ultimately, this book offers a thoughtful and deeply personal look into the extraordinary life of one of the most talented singer-songwriters in music today.  

255 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2022

Reviews

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories you might regret reading? Fortunately not. Martha Wainwright is a gobsmackingly talented Canadian singer with a knack for honesty and what seems to be a drive to set the record straight no matter what. Although most people might question the "born into musical royalty" blurb on the back cover, she really did grow up and still lives surrounded by music, not least by the music of her wonderful mother Kate, and now gives her brother Rufus a run for his money too. As always, I checked out the photos first, and they're all certainly a highlight. On the downside, some of her life decisions made me sad (and I'm sure devastated her as well) but the upside is that I've been listening to a great deal of Martha's music this week and was knocked off my feet by "Martha Wainwright Sings Edith Piaf" which is completely wonderful and a must-listen for anyone. Music you won't regret hearing, for sure.

[David O'Connell · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 (Audiobook)