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Kicking & Dreaming: A Story of Heart, Soul, and Rock and Roll Audiobook
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(3.04) - 467 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Two sisters. Two voices. One Heart.
The mystery of ""Magic Man."" The wicked riff of ""Barracuda."" The sadness and beauty of ""Alone."" The raw energy of ""Crazy On You."" These songs, and so many more, are part of the fabric of American music. Heart, fronted by Ann and Nancy Wilson, has given fans everywhere classic, raw, and pure badass rock and roll for more than three decades. As the only sisters in rock who write their own music and play their own instruments, Ann and Nancy have always stood apart—certainly from their male counterparts but also from their female peers. By refusing to let themselves and their music be defined by their gender, and by never allowing their sexuality to overshadow their talent, the Wilson sisters have made their mark, and in the process paved the way for many of today's female artists.
In Kicking and Dreaming, Ann and Nancy, with the help of critically acclaimed and bestselling music biographer Charles R. Cross, recount a journey that has taken them from a gypsy-like life as the children of a globe-trotting Marine to the frozen back roads of Vancouver, where they got their start as a band, to the pinnacle of success—and sometimes excess. In these pages, readers will learn the truth about the relationship that inspired ""Magic Man"" and ""Crazy On You,"" the turmoil of inter-band romances gone awry, the reality of life on the road as single women and then as mothers of small children, and the thrill of performing and in some cases partying with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Stevie Nicks, Van Halen, Def Leppard, and other rock legends. It has not always been an easy path. Ann struggled with and triumphed over a childhood stutter, body image, and alcoholism; Nancy suffered the pain and disappointment of fertility issues and a failed marriage but ultimately found love again and happiness as a mom. Through it all, the sisters drew from the strength of a family bond that trumps everything else, as told in this intimate, honest, and uniquely female take on the rock and roll life.
Throughout their career, Ann and Nancy have never found an answer to the question they are most frequently asked: ""What is it like to be a woman in rock and roll?"" Kicking and Dreaming puts that question to bed, once and for all.
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"I listened to this one on unabridged audio as read by Ann & Nancy and the occasional guest as appropriate to certain passages. More candid than usual for this type of book. The sisters pull no punches, not even for themselves. Many of the Heart questions I've had over the years were answered."
— Ritchie (5 out of 5 stars)
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Kicking & Dreaming Listener Reviews
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Jeffrey Brown, 6/6/2021
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" Pretty juicy. Their revival in the 80s comes off as pretty much a mistake, somewhat tarnishing their reputation. Good read. "
— Carter, 2/14/2014 -
" I really wanted to love this book since Heart was such a part of the background to my youth, but it really fell short. Ann and Nancy are incredible and you really get to understand their passion for music but I felt like we were only told parts and small pieces of the other stories. I wanted to feel like I was part of the Connie's but the writing just didn't dive deep enough. To be fair, they did share some vulnerable aspects of their lives but just brushed past so many things. I'm still inspired by these women who kicked ass and continue to kick ass and hope to keep hearing about the in the future. "
— Melissa, 2/10/2014 -
" I really wish this was better! I wanted to like it so much, but I just couldn't get past the first couple of chapters. Not well constructed or edited at all--reads like a transcript of an interview that should have been worked into an actual cohesive narrative. The raw material is okay, but some of the stories shared by the Wilsons read like facile caricatures of the actual events they experienced; perhaps through repeated retellings these stories have lost their verisimilitude even though they actually happened. "
— Margot, 1/31/2014 -
" I thought this book had the potential to be much better than it turned out to be. I read it in a day and a half and felt that there could have been much more detail added. It shouldn't have been such a quick read. "
— Jen, 1/28/2014 -
" I loved reading the backstory about this band, from the Wilson sisters themselves. "
— Sarah, 1/26/2014 -
" Ann does not have good things to say about Annie Leibowitz! "
— Layne, 1/22/2014 -
" Great book about Ann and Nancy Wilson and Heart. If you enjoy their music you will enjoy the books. "
— Don, 1/8/2014 -
" ... I love me some Heart. For my money, Ann Wilson is in the Top 5 rock 'n roll singers of all time. LITTLE QUEEN and DOG & BUTTERFLY are stone masterpieces. It amazes me that such fire and passion comes from two women who are, well, really just a cuppla nice girls from Seattle who wanted to be in a rock band. You won't find any tawdry tales of sex 'n debauchery here, and their brief flirtations with '70s-style party substances is barely alluded to. That they've kept it classy in this tabloid-centered culture is commendable - it's just not very good reading. "
— Jay, 12/28/2013 -
" It is a good start but way too light. I wanted details and something more than frosting. "
— Npaw, 12/21/2013 -
" This book answers quite a bit of questions about the Wilson Sisters aka Heart. "
— Christina, 10/31/2013 -
" Honest though hardly shocking memoir. I'd rate it higher if it made me want to revisit their albums more. "
— Saint, 10/3/2013 -
" This is a great read. It was an original ride through the lives of the Wilson sisters and the people closest to them. Surprisingly honest and enlightening, this is not a typical rock autobiography - this is a gift to us. Thanks! "
— Ruth, 10/2/2013 -
" An incredible, all access pass into the lives of the Wilson sisters. I learned so much about the origin of some of my favorite songs they sang and learned so many new things. If you love Heart, this book is a must-read. The pictorial at the end was a surprising and welcome bonus. "
— Michele, 9/26/2013 -
" Trail Blazers. "
— Cathy, 9/17/2013 -
" Christmas present - love, love, love this book!!! "
— Bobbi, 8/18/2013 -
" Great story of two strong rock and roll women. Open, honest a interesting. "
— Charmaine, 7/31/2013 -
" I love the Wilson Sisters, so I enjoyed this book. I liked the format too, because it took certain experiences and had both of their thoughts on the situation. "
— Jennifer, 3/5/2013 -
" Excellent book by the Wilson sisters. I am a fan of Rock 'n Roll Autobiographies and this one was an easy read that kept my attention from the opening to the last page. "
— Jeff, 2/15/2013 -
" Great read, autobiography of Heart sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson and of course the story of the band, with frequent shifts in the narration, not just between the sisters but also others who were there. Must read for any real Heart fan. "
— Vince, 12/19/2012 -
" i just read the Heart bio. came out about a month ago. nancy wilson was one sad little innocent messed up butterfly back in the day...but wicked hot "
— Brian, 10/1/2012 -
" Ann and Nancy have provided the music that is the backdrop of my life. I couldn't read this fast enough. I thought I knew my girls pretty well, but there were some things that surprised the hell out of me. Sex, drugs, rock and roll? It's all here, and it's spectacular!!! Thank you ladies!! "
— Margaret, 9/28/2012
About the Authors
Ann & Nancy Wilson are the leaders of the rock band Heart, whose albums have sold thirty-five million records worldwide. They continue to tour all over the world. In 2013, they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.