Piece by Piece (book)

Piece by Piece is an autobiographical book by singer/songwriter Tori Amos and co-authored by rock music journalist Ann Powers. It was published in the U.S. on February 8, 2005 and in the U.K. in June 2005.

Piece by Piece
Cover art of Piece by Piece
AuthorTori Amos, Ann Powers
Cover artistMarysarah Quinn
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
GenreAutobiography
PublisherBroadway
Publication date
February 8, 2005
Media typeHardcover
Pages348
ISBN0-7679-1676-X

Synopsis

The book is told in a conversational style with questions posed by Ann and responded to by Tori. They compiled the material for the book through phone calls, e-mail conversations and in-person interviews. Along with details about Amos' career, music and personal life it also delves into mythology and religion in a fashion often associated with Amos. The lyrics "piece by piece" feature in the song "Datura" on the 1999 album To Venus and Back.

Commercial and critical success

The book received mixed reviews from critics, who generally agreed that Amos' writing on the music industry and recording process was the stellar part of the book. Blender magazine cited the work as "no mere star memoir . . . it’s more like a soul-map of Amos' stride from pop tart to poet provocateur."[1] Regardless of reviews, the book was more successful than expected and was published in conjunction with Amos' solo album The Beekeeper (2005). The book peaked on the New York Times bestseller list at #12.[2]

Content

The work consists of eight chapters, each of which includes "song canvases" explaining Amos' inspiration and process for developing particular songs.

  • Introduction: The Soul's Dance
  • Chapter 1: Corn Mother: Genealogies
Song canvases: "Ireland", "The Beekeeper", "Mother Revolution"
  • Chapter 2: Mary Magdalene: The Erotic Muse
Song canvases: "The Power of Orange Knickers", "God", "Marys of the Sea", "Lust", "I'm Not in Love"
  • Chapter 3: Saraswati: The Art of Composition
Song canvases: "Garlands", "Parasol", "Sweet the Sting", "Sleeps with Butterflies", "Cars and Guitars"
  • Chapter 4: Demeter: The Journey into Motherhood
Song canvases: "Pandora's Aquarium", "Muhammad, My Friend", and "Ribbons Undone"
  • Chapter 5: Dionysus: Bringing the Music Forth
Song canvases: "Wampum Prayer" and "Winter"
  • Chapter 6: Sane Satyrs and Balanced Bacchantes: The Touring Life's Gypsy Caravan
Song canvas: "Martha's Foolish Ginger"
  • Chapter 7: Venus: Creating a Public Self
Song canvas: "Goodbye Pisces"
  • Chapter 8: The Lioness: Surviving the Music Business
Song canvases: "Take to the Sky", "Hoochie Woman", "Witness", and "Barons of Suburbia"
  • Conclusion: Quan Yin: The Art of Compassion
Song canvas: "Jamaica Inn"

References
  1. Sinagra, Laura (March 2005). "Dream Girl: Tori Amos: Piece by Piece". Blender.
  2. "Best-seller Lists: Hardcover non-fiction". The New York Times. 2005-03-13. Retrieved 2011-09-16.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.