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2.5 

What Would Barbra Do?

By Emma Brockes
What Would Barbra Do? by Emma Brockes digital book - Fable

Publisher Description

Emma Brockes didn't always love musicals. In fact, she hated them. One of her earliest (and most painful) memories is of her mother singing "The Hills Are Alive" while young Emma crossed the street to go to her babysitting gig. According to her mother, the music would keep muggers at bay. According to Emma, it warded off friends, a social life, and any chance of being normal. As she grew older, however, these same songs continued to resonate in her head, first like a broken record and then as a fond reminder of her mother's love.

Some people would slice off their arm with a plastic knife before they'd sit through Fiddler on the Roof or The Sound of Music. But musicals are everywhere, and it's about time someone asked why. From An American in Paris to Oklahoma!, Brockes explores the history, art, and politics of musicals, and how they have become an indelible part of our popular culture. Smartly written and incredibly witty, this is a book for people who understand that there are few situations in which the question "What would Barbra do?" doesn't have relevance, in a world much better lived to a soundtrack of show tunes. At the heart of What Would Barbra Do? is a touching story about a daughter, a mother, and how musicals kept them together. Part memoir, part musical history tour, it will keep you laughing and singing all at once.

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4 Reviews

2.5
“Emma Brockes, like myself, was raised by a mother who loved musicals. You know, the movies and stage shows that highlight performers who burst into song and choreographed dance numbers in the middle of deep conversations. I love them. Emma has a love/hate relationship with them - her passion for some makes her intricately critical of others. This book is her thoughts on dozens of different musicals, their performers and the genre itself. On the one hand, I liked it because I like to read about musicals and as an author, she has a quirky and sometimes hilariously snarky voice. But the book really just is, mostly, her own personal thoughts about them. Why she adored Mary Poppins but mostly hated but sort of loved Yentl. Thoughts on Barbra Streisand just in general and a lot on the differences between musicals of different time periods. I was always pleased to pick it up, but one thing must be said: there is no real organization to the book. It is sort of like one of those idea webs you make before you write a paper. Jumbled thoughts all over the place and the ending actually confused me. I just decided not to let it bother me but all the jumping around made it not feel particularly cohesive and I still don't really know how musicals changed her life. If you are a huge musicals fan, I would tell you to read it because if you are like me, just reading about them is like visiting an old friend. But otherwise, it will probably drive you crazy - but I bet the title itself told you that.”

About Emma Brockes

Emma Brockes is an award-winning writer at the UK Guardian. She studied English at Oxford University, where she edited Cherwell, the student newspaper, and won the Philip Geddes Prize for journalism. In 2001 she was named Young Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards. In 2002 she was voted Feature Writer of the Year, one of the youngest-ever recipients of the award. What Would Barbra Do? is her first book. She lives in London.

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