Learning to Fly (Hardcover)

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Amazon.co.uk Review
Learning to Fly is a rather apt title for Victoria Beckham's autobiography as she spreads her wings and embarks on a solo career without the safety net of the Spice Girls. The well-trodden story of the girl group takes up less time than you would expect in this book as Victoria uses it more as a platform to redress the balance of the rumours, gossip and allegations in the tabloid press. And boy, are there plenty of them to get her teeth stuck into. Victoria is open and honest throughout the book and comes across as a reasonably level-headed person and not simply a pouting clothes horse with a taste for designer labels. In fact, Victoria tries a little too hard to dismiss her glamorous image, thus destroying a little bit of the mystery that made her one of the two most talked-about Spice Girls (along with Geri). Unfortunately, for someone who condemns the press for the interest they show in every trivial detail of her life, she is more than happy to push those same trivialities here. So we have to wade through a lot of unimportant detail before we get to the meaty stuff, but there's plenty of that. The early days of the Spice Girls makes for interesting reading, particularly her catty comments towards the unseen sixth Spice Girl Michelle ("she had less rhythm than a cement mixer") and her first encounters with David Beckham are made all the more interesting in that we know what happened next. If there's one thing that comes over it's her love of her husband and her son, a love that was strengthened by the death threats and kidnap attempts. But the book really moves up a gear as Victoria slowly comes to realise someone very close to them has betrayed them and used his position within the Beckhams' inner circle to make a quick buck. That betrayal obviously hit home very hard and one can't help, perhaps for the first time, to understand some of the pressures she faces on a daily basis. There are plenty of lighter moments though, such as her brief romantic dalliance with 80s teen movie idol Corey Haim, which ended with her booting him out of her car. A glossy, fun and entertaining read, this book shows that while she may be Learning to Fly Victoria Beckham has her feet on the ground and the world at her feet. --Jonathan Weir

Review
Lips may curl derisively at this one, but canny booksellers will realise that it has almost as much potential as partner David Beckham's highly successful ego trip. And Posh Spice, after all, gives the faintest impression (unlike hubby) that she might once have opened a book. But words are not the issue here: like the David Beckham book, this is a feast of beguiling images of the sylph-like Spice Girl. In text that gives an impression of great frankness (suggesting she might even have had something to do with the writing of the book), Posh conveys what it's like to be half of the most famous couple in Britain, and talks about the vulnerability that has clearly never left her. There's also a welcome humour and self-mockery that surfaces at times, but the core audience for the book will be going for the 75 new photographs along with the occasional revelation. Posh is apparently undertaking a packed two-week promotional tour for the book.

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65 Reviews 5 star:  (40) 4 star:  (7) 3 star:  (13) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:  (3)           Average Customer Review 4.2 out of 5 stars (65 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Most Helpful Customer Reviews   20 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars essex girl that has in the past frequented THAT country club, 5 Oct 2001 By A Customer when i received the book, i started off halfway through as i really didnt want to go through all the childhood years and the 'spice wannabe' struggle, and go straight into her life with the famous footballer. it was amusing to read the 'girlie' side of dating her future husband. i have since read the book from start to finish, and have read more into her, and was left disappointed. her husband sounds as absolute gem of a chap. her knowledge of football is more than mine, however, it was interesting to read a females comments on the manager of mufc and the two england coaches. i did appreciate, however, that her comments on geri were not as bad as i was expecting - which was refreshing as again the media had played that one up. i did laugh out loud on the three star tatoo.... and admired her 'clash' with naomi. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   39 of 46 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars Dull and Smug, 2 May 2004 By  Mrs. N. Goodinson (UK) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Learning to Fly (Paperback) I do like a tale of "Ordinary Girl Makes Good", so I thought I'd give this a try. I was hoping for a heart-warming tale of struggles and successes that would give me a more informed opinion of Ms Beckham than that which I have gleaned from reading the papers. Sadly what I got was a self-indulgent, boring and altogether too smug account of a privileged life. The writing wasn't great; the story was incoherent and jumped about all over the place, and I really didn't like the way she used the book as an opportunity to name-drop her celebrity friends and slate all those who have crossed her. I am still rather mystified as to just what Cliff Richard ever did to her. Overall the book had a very self-satisfied tone that suggested Ms Beckham's opinion of herself far exceeds her talent. I'm giving it one star because the bit about Corey Haim was quite funny, but I wouldn't recommend buying the book on the strength of that. Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)   36 of 43 people found the following review helpful: 1.0 out of 5 stars The most boring book ever, 2 Jan 2002 By A Customer This must be the most awful, boring book I have ever attempted to read! I am not a big fan, but thought it might be interesting to see what she has to say for herself, but after comments such as "there were no black people at my school - we were all nice little white kids", and "I was so ugly as a child I looked like one of those kids who get put up for adoption" I could not bothered to carry on. There is no flow in the context - it is all over the place, and it's 'David this' and 'David that' - hardly the story of her learning to fly. Sorry, but this gets a thumbs down! Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review › See all 65 customer reviews...		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 3.0 out of 5 stars Im a fan but.... This book was a great introduction to who Victoria Adams is or was but lacking a lot to what becoming Victoria Beckham has made her to be circa 2001, really was lacking when it... Read more Published 1 month ago by S. Fisher 3.0 out of 5 stars Not for those who want to get inside Posh's mind I enjoyed this book but I couldn't help feel at the time that parts of Victoria's life have been edited to appear less shocking/gossipy. Read more Published on 23 April 2007 by sam hrt 4.0 out of 5 stars A hugely good read with a pinch of salt. This really is a truly laugh a loud book, though often it might not be in the way Posh would like. It does really give you an insight into her life and is... Read more Published on 8 Jun 2006 by Sally 3.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining for young wannabes - yes. The gritty truth - probably not! This is a glossy version of Queen Victoria's climb from playground outcast to celebrity pouter. Personally, I wasn't over keen on the thinly disguised smugness and her air of... Read more Published on 6 May 2006 by Daisy Duke 5.0 out of 5 stars Learning To Fly - Victoria Beckham I read Learning To Fly in a few days and I couldn't put it down for one second! I had never really been that interested in celebrities' lives before but I wanted a different read... Read more Published on 2 April 2006 by xits_a_girl_thingx 1.0 out of 5 stars oh dear - a disaster the worst book i have ever read - you have been warned Published on 11 Mar 2005 by love 5.0 out of 5 stars learning to fly learning to fly is a perfect title for one of the most famous women in britian she is not just famous for her beeing in one of the most succesfull group ever made she is also... Read more Published on 5 Nov 2004 by amy linton 5.0 out of 5 stars Honest, Romantic and Truly Touching I have to admit that before I read this book, I thought of Victoria Beckham as a smug pouty pop star with no brain. Read more Published on 20 Jul 2004 5.0 out of 5 stars really griping and honest this was one of the best books i have read i would recommend it to any teanager. 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!! Published on 12 Feb 2004 5.0 out of 5 stars A really interesting read I love Posh anyway so I knew I was going to enjoy this book but I didn't realise how much. It was really good to hear about what her and David did for their first dates, what... Read more Published on 30 Dec 2003 Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 65 customer reviews...

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