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When I Grow up: A Memoir | 
| Author: Juliana Hatfield
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $12.47
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Rating:  39 reviews
Sales Rank: 54193
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.2
ISBN: 0470189592
Dewey Decimal Number: 782.42164092
EAN: 9780470189597
ASIN: 0470189592
Publication Date: September 22, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New. 100% money back guarantee. All books shipped from Strand Bookstore, New York City, USA.
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Product Description
By the early nineties, singer-songwriter and former Blake Babies member Juliana Hatfield’s solo career was taking off: She was on the cover of Spin and Sassy. Ben Stiller directed the video for her song "Spin the Bottle" from the Reality Bites film soundtrack. Then, after canceling a European tour to treat severe depression and failing to produce another "hit," she spent a decade releasing well reviewed albums on indie labels and performing in ever-smaller clubs. A few years ago, she found herself reading the New Yorker on a filthy couch in the tiny dressing room of a punk club and asked, "Why am I still doing this?" By turns wryly funny and woundingly sincere, When I Grow Up takes you behind the scenes of rock life as Hatfield recounts her best and worst days, the origins of her songs, the source of her woes, and her quest to find a new purpose in life.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 34 more reviews...
Well Done...A Great Book of the "Almost Famous" January 6, 2009
Mark Howell (Houston, TX)
Make no mistake, this is a great book. Not only is the perspective fresh, and something rarely seen in the publishing world - the story of a person who was almost very successful, but the writing is crisp, fast paced, and sure to grab the interest of most anyone who has something more than a passing interest in music.
The stories and viewpoints here shine, not so much because of their originality (there are some familar elements of the celebrity tell all), but because of the perspective and uniqueness of the viw that Juliana Hatfield brings to the telling. This is a very compelling story of the rise and plateau of Juliana Hatfield.
For all of the ups and downs of Juliana Hatfield's career and the excellent aspects of this book, I was a bit dissatisfied with the lack of responsibility she takes for her own decline and that lack of time spent off of stage. Also, she spends a chapter blaming Clear Channel for her failure rather than taking responsibility for her depression that led to a cancelled tour and failure to deliver an album her record company wanted to release (there's more to it, but read the book).
That being said, it is an excellent read and is very likely to be enjoyed by most anyone who would even be considering buying it.
 Close to home January 4, 2009
Thomas Lhamon (Flat Rock, MI United States)
I've been in love with Juliana for a long time (I tell people that she would be the only girl I would consider marrying). Now, I'm not so sure as she may be too much like me :). The book is a great inside look at a tortured artist and her personal struggles and victories (?) over them. Along with some revealing history (why her career suddenly took a drop when it was on the cusp of superstardom) she gives a lot of insight into why the music business has turned into such corporate robot. As a musician, this book really appealed to me as we have all gone through these types of situations. It will also appeal to adolescents struggling with their new identities and help them to realize that we all continue that struggle and it's simply a matter of coming to grips with making the best of what you have. Juliana is one of the few artists left still making music because she NEEDS to, not because she makes money from it. If the record companies would spend half of what the spend on Brittany to develop artists like Juliana, radio would be worth listening to again.
 Juliana's version of "Mein Kampf" - seriously. January 1, 2009
JSG (Near Ithaca NY)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is recommended for fans of Juliana Hatfield and readers who'd like to get a glimpse of the "inner workings" of an artist. I have a lot of Juliana's CDs as well as a few Blake Babies efforts and I enjoy her music from time to time. After reading this book, I can't say much surprised me re: Juliana and her thoughts. A fan of hers can glean this from her recordings.
The book is surprisingly well-written. It's a quick read - but one you don't want to end. In the "readability" department, it's a 5-star book. Juliana is a natural and talented writer. She's very articulate and expressive as well as observant and pretty darn funny. She'd be a great music critic or columnist in a music related magazine. She also excels at social commentary - making wry observations as she travels the country on tour.
As mentioned in other reviews, the chapters alternate between her tour at the time of the writing and meaningful events in her past. It's slightly annoying at first - you'd like her to expound on how the Blake Babies picked up momentum and got signed and so forth, but instead of that the next chapter picks up on tour again. Is it really necessary to know about each club and what her memories are of the audience and the food spread from show to show? I think it was easier for her to fill the book via her journals. I wish she'd gone the autobiography route - She really leaves the reader begging for more autobiographical info. Read the chapters that go beyond the tour and you'll see what I mean. As I read through the book I found myself asking questions re: her food intake, outlook on life and business acumen. Some of these questions were answered towards the end of the book.
It's hard to comment on the book without criticizing Juliana herself. She strikes me as being snobby, condescending and oblivious to what it takes to maintain a fanbase. I've never seen her live, but after reading this it's obvious that as a fan I'd most likely be disappointed in her concerts - she writes about how detached and sloppy her performances were throughout the tour, and I certainly wouldn't want to hang around and meet her. She clearly finds dealing face to face with her fans as something she'd prefer not to do. And she claims it's because of anxieties and not being able to fake a smile. She'll pretend not to hear people call her name and things like that! She reminds me of someone you'd date who was self-effacing, vulnerable and had lots of issues, but instead of feeling sorry for her predicament, you can't stand her because she is disparaging and nitpicks you to no end. She could take a hint from a country artist and realize that some time spent after a gig meeting her fans might help keep her fanbase interested in her and maybe get some good word-of-mouth going for her next tour. Why not genuinely try to like people that make it possible for you to make a living at music? I get the impression she views signing CDs as a necessary evil, rather than a way to meet some of her fans.
It was painful and annoying hearing her repeatedly complain about her hunger as the band drove into a new city. She'd routinely eat one Clif bar for breakfast and next to nothing for lunch then be famished when dinner rolled around and the "spread" (if there was one) at the club wasn't up to her expectations. Why not load up a cooler with some nutritious food so you don't starve? And God forbid if there was any kind of non-vegetable matter (like cheese) on her food. She won't eat the food or she'll scrape it off. She's a vegan and foolishly expects to be able to roll into some nowhere town and find good vegan cooking (if there is such a thing.) She disparages most of the clubs she plays. Good luck getting booked in them again when you decide to tour in the future!
The ironic part of all this, and the pathetic part is that she is fully aware of her shortcomings - she wishes she could be better with her fans and her relationships. She appears to enjoy wallowing in her depression. She occasionally meets men that she has momentary crushes on, but instead of going out after a show somewhere - and maybe making a new friend or potential lover, she retreats to her hotel room. Self-fulfilling prophesy. This is not an inspirational book. It could be called Juliana's "Mein Kampf". And I'm not joking. It's more of a book on what it's like going through life painfully self-conscious, anorexic and mildly to moderately depressed. It made me wonder about the cliche "you are what you eat". If you don't nourish your body, the rest of your being suffers. Read it if you want to feel Juliana's pain or maybe feel better about yourself. About 5% of this book is triumph. Most of it is self obsession. Funny thing is that after reading the book I still liked her, it's hard not to since you get to know her so well, and you know she wishes she could do better.
 Plodding and dull December 28, 2008
BayAreaReader (BayArea_CA_USA)
This seemed like it would have so much promise but I had to stop reading after the third chapter. It was excruciatingly slow and plodding; I wanted to scream get to the point already! (if there is a point)
Wanted December 28, 2008
A. Barber (Kansas City, Missouri)
I have been a Jules fan for many years. I could always relate to her lyrics...she seemed so alone in a crowded room-so to speak, and misunderstood even by her own self. The way she looked at the world conveyed through her lyrics resonated so much sometimes with my own views.
Also, I could relate in her insecurity and always feeling like 'Am I missing something? I just don't get it' regarding life in general. This book gives you a behind the scenes look at the every day of a rock star on the road, living in hotels, not making connections with people on purpose--so we think? Her memior left me wanting to know her more as a person. I appreciated the recount of daily life, show after show but what's in her head and heart really? I have always related and I was hungry for insight. This book to me, didn't seem like a memior so much but more of a diary and a lot of 'facts' and recollections that didn't go beneath the surface too far at all. As I've grown to observe about the beloved Juliana is that she can take baby steps concerning her own growth. I look foward to another 'memior' and definitely admire her for doing this one.
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