The unimaginable highs and the despairing lows of one of the most compelling and creative figures in the world of popular culture
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Review
'A striking, occasionally beautiful record of 42 years lived at
full tilt' -- Observer
'Courtney's compelling memoir.' -- Elle
'Dirty Blonde is like Love herself and her other work:
determinedly provocative, captivatingly visual, aggressively honest.' -- Observer
'Peter Docherty's [diaries]... will have to go a long way to beat
these.' -- GQ
'The distinctive and hilarious artefact that its subject's
troubled yet spectacular life would seem to demand.'
-- Independent on Sunday
'This is a raw and intimate self-portrait of Love, both pre and
post Kurt Cobain' -- Mirror
'there is unmeditated confession that is all the more welcome for
coming without apology' -- Daily Telegraph
`an extraordinary and fascinating scrapbook-style riffle through
the life of the singer, actress and former wife of Kurt Cobain.' -- Harpers Bazaar
full tilt' -- Observer
'Courtney's compelling memoir.' -- Elle
'Dirty Blonde is like Love herself and her other work:
determinedly provocative, captivatingly visual, aggressively honest.' -- Observer
'Peter Docherty's [diaries]... will have to go a long way to beat
these.' -- GQ
'The distinctive and hilarious artefact that its subject's
troubled yet spectacular life would seem to demand.'
-- Independent on Sunday
'This is a raw and intimate self-portrait of Love, both pre and
post Kurt Cobain' -- Mirror
'there is unmeditated confession that is all the more welcome for
coming without apology' -- Daily Telegraph
`an extraordinary and fascinating scrapbook-style riffle through
the life of the singer, actress and former wife of Kurt Cobain.' -- Harpers Bazaar
Book Description
Groundbreaking rock musician. Award winning actress. Perceptive songwriter and author. Mother. Wife of a rock god. Fashionista and trendsetter. Provocateur. In each and every one of these roles Courtney Love has demonstrated a wholehearted commitment to her art, and an intense drive and a lust for life which has made her a star and a celebrity icon but has also led her into some unwise, uncharted and even dangerous territory. Simultaneously candid and enigmatic, her mordant wit and vivid intelligence have been matched in intensity only by the extraordinary life she has led, from a bleak early childhood through great fame and terrible heartbreak to the present day. At times exhilarating and at times unsettling, this is a story told for the first time in Dirty Blonde. Here are the unimaginable highs and the despairing lows of one of the most compelling and creative figures in the world of popular culture: a fierce and insightful woman with an unblinking world view and a determination to express herself no matter the cost. ‘Illuminating . . . A raw and intimate self-portrait of Love’ Mirror ‘Extraordinary and fascinating’ Harper’s Bazaar ‘Dirty Blonde is like Love herself and her other work: determinedly provocative, captivatingly visual, aggressively honest’ Observer
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
36 of 39 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I received this book by mail this morning and it's been such a great day! The book looks fantastic and expensive (but it didn't cost that much!) and is PACKED with fabulous pictures, notes, lyrics, letters and everything you could wish for as a fan of Courtney Love. As you can expect some parts of the journals were extremely sad, but if you're looking for details on Kurt Cobain's death, and Courtney's mourning and breaking into little pieces you will be disappointed. Actually if you're looking for any tabloid stuff you'll be disapponited. Reading this we find images of dignity, talent, hard work, loving mother and beauty, something the media rarely give Courtney credit for. It feels authentic and real, I enjoy(ed) every word of it.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By E. Hazeldene
Format:Hardcover
This book is worth a read if you're a big fan of Courtney, but I felt it was a bit substance-less, especially after all the raving reviews I've heard from people. Maybe I'm missing something here. The first half of the book from Courtneys days before fame is pretty interesting. On one level it's predictable, the school reports are telling. On another level it's quite warming to see the kind of scribbles a lot of us wrote as teens. However, the further we get into the book the more filled it becomes with pictures 'taped in', rather than writing, which was a let-down for me. You can google 'Courtney Love' and find the same pictures floating about - I was looking for writings and expression. Reading a diary, I was expecting more expression and/or emotion. As I say, this all tails off by the end - perhaps that in itself is telling of Courtney.
To summarise, if you are a big fan of Courtney you will find large parts of this interesting, and it's a plus that it is a beautifully presented book, but ultimately it leaves you wanting more than what you got. However if you're not especially a fan of her and are expecting to get an interesting read this is probably not worth your money.
To summarise, if you are a big fan of Courtney you will find large parts of this interesting, and it's a plus that it is a beautifully presented book, but ultimately it leaves you wanting more than what you got. However if you're not especially a fan of her and are expecting to get an interesting read this is probably not worth your money.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Heather
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
This is a great book, beautifully laid out and really unique. The pages are designed to look like a scrap book and you really feel like you are grtting an insight into Courtney's private thoughts and crazy mind!
The stuff from her early years, including school reports is really interesting and insightful and she writes well beyond her years. On one of my favourite pages (pg. 23)is something she wrote about death and is really moving especially when you realise she was so young to have such deep thoughts. She writes that "when i die, burn my body, take my ashes... let some linger in the breeze... leaving only all the love my heart has carried"
Also there are some really great, quirky photographs of her and Kurt. They make you feel like your looking in on private moments, especially of those with their daughter as a baby.
I agree with other reviewers who say this book lacks substance, if you are looking for a book with 'all the answers' then you will not find it here but for me and for anyone else intrigued by this fascinating woman then this book is excellent and the quirky pages will keep you mesmerized for hours.
The stuff from her early years, including school reports is really interesting and insightful and she writes well beyond her years. On one of my favourite pages (pg. 23)is something she wrote about death and is really moving especially when you realise she was so young to have such deep thoughts. She writes that "when i die, burn my body, take my ashes... let some linger in the breeze... leaving only all the love my heart has carried"
Also there are some really great, quirky photographs of her and Kurt. They make you feel like your looking in on private moments, especially of those with their daughter as a baby.
I agree with other reviewers who say this book lacks substance, if you are looking for a book with 'all the answers' then you will not find it here but for me and for anyone else intrigued by this fascinating woman then this book is excellent and the quirky pages will keep you mesmerized for hours.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Poison Pen
Format:Hardcover
As a huge fan of Love's since the early 90's i was both excited at the prospect of a visual scrapbook type affair and perhaps the sneak peak of a few pictures we hadn't already seen.
Sadly all i found in this book was mostly illegible scrawlings - a tiny handful of real diary entries and mostly random half finished poems, statements, messy lyrics. Nothing too gripping. Infact personally the only interesing insight i found in this book was the collection of all the early hole posters Love created and some of the few real diary entries from around this time at very start of her music career.
Also all the factual scans of her school reports amongst other things were nothing already pre-published in the Poppy Z Brite biography.
Love shows very little of her true self in this book - also something i can't quite put my finger on, and this leaves you feeling disappointed. I can completely understand wanting to retain some privacy, but this books serves up nothing you didn't already know, hardcore fan or not. And thats if you can spend enough time squinting to make out what her scribbles actually say.
Overall, nice pictures, nice to flick through. But it has unltimately ended up on my shelf gathering dust.
Sadly all i found in this book was mostly illegible scrawlings - a tiny handful of real diary entries and mostly random half finished poems, statements, messy lyrics. Nothing too gripping. Infact personally the only interesing insight i found in this book was the collection of all the early hole posters Love created and some of the few real diary entries from around this time at very start of her music career.
Also all the factual scans of her school reports amongst other things were nothing already pre-published in the Poppy Z Brite biography.
Love shows very little of her true self in this book - also something i can't quite put my finger on, and this leaves you feeling disappointed. I can completely understand wanting to retain some privacy, but this books serves up nothing you didn't already know, hardcore fan or not. And thats if you can spend enough time squinting to make out what her scribbles actually say.
Overall, nice pictures, nice to flick through. But it has unltimately ended up on my shelf gathering dust.
By EmC246
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a big Courtney Love fan so I really wanted this book but I expected more, a lot it is random things and I thought it would have more written parts from Courtney in it, there are some cool pictures and scrap notes, and it's a good item if you're a big fan of hers though.
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
If you are into the whole mystery surrounding Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, this is an absolute must-have! I was really impressed by the book...The quality of the paper, notes and pictures. BUY IT!
By Mima
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This diary was very inspiring for me. The book is bigger than I expect and also is a well designed.
I think Courtney Love is amazing person.
I think Courtney Love is amazing person.
By M. Ruta
Format:Hardcover
dont know what to say about this book really...i can only read parts of it...given that i do not believe for a minute that that is her hand writing printed on the book why couldnt they use a Font that was easy enough to read?
the parts i could read are very interesting though...love courtney!
the parts i could read are very interesting though...love courtney!
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3.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Why to purchase this book?
Why? For her B-side.
For all the rest, a chaos of hastily put togheter mess in the effort to match the sales of Cobain's Journals. Read more
For all the rest, a chaos of hastily put togheter mess in the effort to match the sales of Cobain's Journals. Read more
Published on 6 Jun 2011 by Brittany
1.0 out of 5 stars
Rubbish
this book is a collection of mostly incoherant rubbish scrawled across nicely presented pages . also i question the authenicity of a "diary" written by a fame hungry hasbeen who... Read more
Published on 7 July 2010 by Lisa M
3.0 out of 5 stars
a couple of hundred pages of "look at me"
Love is clearly a VERY intelligent woman. But intelligence, as in this case, isn't always the redemptive, horizon-widening quality it ought to be. Read more
Published on 29 May 2009 by The Sky Is Empty
3.0 out of 5 stars
Punk Legend
This book has a fantastic sexy cover. And to be honest it sums up her character and that one picture says it all.
But the content does not do her justice. Read more
But the content does not do her justice. Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2009 by Arthur Daley
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Sexiest Pop Star Of All-Time
Courtney Love is the former wife of rock star Kurt Cobain...she is also the sexiest pop star ever.
More erotic than Debbie Harry and dirtier than Madonna. Read more
More erotic than Debbie Harry and dirtier than Madonna. Read more
Published on 3 Feb 2009 by Mr. G. Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Tribute TO A Star
Courtney Love has a bottom that most women would die for. This book tells us everything we all want to know about Ms Love...she is a real rock star. Read more
Published on 29 Dec 2007 by The Critic
5.0 out of 5 stars
Courtney Loved It
Brilliant biog of rock goddess Courtney Love. Ms Love is brilliant as lead singer with Hole , was fantastic as a sexy stripper and single mum in the movie JULIE JOHNSON , and will... Read more
Published on 27 Dec 2007 by Steve Allen
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