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Room Full of Mirrors: A Biography of Jimi Hendrix Audiobook
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(4.00) - 2,237 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
For many, the name Jimi Hendrix conjures up a larger-than-life image of the man who set fire to guitars, women’s hearts, and the status quo. In this groundbreaking account, music journalist Charles R. Cross takes a far deeper look. Beyond Hendrix’s legendary onstage and offstage magnetism and his excessive lifestyle was a man who struggled to accept his role as an idol and privately craved the kind of normal family life he never had.
Based on more than three hundred interviews and never-before-seen private documents, this book recounts the entire arc of Hendrix’s life, from his troubled childhood and struggle with racial prejudice to his rapid ascent in swinging London to headlining Woodstock in 1969, with his death a year later. As colorful and large as the decade of the sixties, this biography gives the real Hendrix the immortality he deserves.
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"A well written account of how Jimi Hendrix evolved into the master guitarist known all over the world. He grew up in Seattle in a brokene home, desperately poor. He receives his first guitar at age 9 or 10 and from that point on he never stops learning his instrument, eventually becoming what many considered the best guitarist in the world. His rise to stardom was classic. He spent years on the road playing with different bands and barely making a living. Musicians appreciated his genius but it did not get him recognition or a record deal. He probably never would have been discovered if he hadn't met and become friendly with Keith Richards' (Rolling Stone guitarist) girlfriend, who brought him to England and introduced him to the right peoploe. Stardom then came quickly. He was intensely creative, writing many of the songs he performed, but also covering other artists. He loved Dylan, and Dylan is said to have loved his covers -- such as All Along the Watchtower. The Beatles, too, were early fans. The downward spiral is unfortunately predictable. It is our loss. Jimi had what seemed an endless source of inspiration and a real artists soul. I am not a huge Hendrix fan but I was intrigued and I'm glad to have listened to this book. Well read by the narrator, too."
— Irene (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Highly readable. An excellent portrait, probably unbeatable both for its moving depiction of his youth and thrilling rise to fame and for its myth-busting finality.”
— Los Angeles Times -
“Cross has written what he modestly calls ‘a’ biography, one by which all future biographers of the man will have to set their compasses.”
— Times (London) -
“A more intimate portrait than previous biographies. Funny, poignant, provocative, and sometimes disturbing.”
— Seattle Post-Intelligencer -
“A deep and sensitive look at the complex life of the short-lived father of acid rock…[Narrator Lloyd] James’s intensity and emotion make his reading compelling…A beautiful and unforgettable audio biography.”
— AudioFile -
“One of the best biographies to date…Admirably comprehensive and well referenced, this is the Hendrix biography to acquire if you can acquire only one.”
— Booklist
Room Full of Mirrors Listener Reviews
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" Very well written a must for any Hendrix fan "
— terry playle, 12/28/2017 -
" I liked this one. It gives an insight into Hendrix's birth up until his last hours of life. A great music bio, for his fans and non-fans. "
— Ola, 2/16/2014 -
" This is a well researched bio! And very informative. I heart Hendrix "
— Jessicat, 2/13/2014 -
" Meticulous research makes for a clear look at this man who became a legend in his own brief time. Cross does not employ flashy prose to bring this flashy artist to life but is able to put us there in each phase of his life so that we understand (his take on) Jimi and the prevailing atmosphere in which he found himself. Written at the perfect moment (2005) when passions and legal wrangling had mostly subsided yet many of the protagonist were still around to be interviewed, Cross is the perfect writer, a fan but never a fanatic, to write Jimi's biography. "
— Lemar, 2/7/2014 -
" I don't normally enjoy biographies, but this one is incredible. "
— Karen, 2/6/2014 -
" really detailed & well written. will make you want to listen to Jimi Hendrix! "
— Shelby, 1/31/2014 -
" Many intimate details of Jimi's domestic life interspersed with the music. A must read for Hendrix fans. Jimi was such a gentle soul.....misunderstood would be an understatement. "
— Jonathan, 1/23/2014 -
" Read about the life and times of Jimi Hendrix. good so far! I am done. "
— Max, 1/15/2014 -
" The music of the 60's and 70's has always been a great time in history, but almost all of it is thanks to Jimi Hendrix's legendary guitar playing. No guitarist will ever come close to matching his influence. Some may be better technical players, others better songwriters, but they all fail in comparison to the way Hendrix changed the sound of the electric guitar. A bit graphic like most biographies, Room Full of Mirrors is a deeply personal look at Hendrix's upbringing, lifestyle, and eventual tragic death. Well not the definitive biography on his character, Cross's work is entertaining and trustworthy. Anyone interested in Jimi Hendrix's life or the music of his time period should check this out. "
— Jonathan, 1/7/2014 -
" If you don't like Jimi Hendrix, read this book anyway....You will like him once you've read it. nuff said "
— Terry, 1/4/2014 -
" I have to agree with most of these reviews. The book is rather elongated and contains a number of small details, many of which do not further the book much. However, in general, Room Full of Mirrors is an excellent account of the rather crazy life of one of the most famous guitarists of all time. "
— Will, 1/2/2014 -
" For any Hendrix fan this book was great. Lots of details about his early life, without any fluff and treated him as a musician, albeit a very gifted one. Lot's of great information I never knew. "
— Jeff, 11/15/2013 -
" Excellent read. Charles R. Cross known his shit. Extremely in depth look at Jimi's life, death and legacy. "
— Michael, 11/12/2013 -
" READ THIS BOOK! AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! "
— Joe, 10/18/2013 -
" takes u back to the 60's ...well researched ...fast read "
— Coni, 10/14/2013 -
" I really liked how the author described Hendrix's past and how it shaped him towards his subsequent lifestyle and work ethic. Really good bio. "
— Glenn, 7/25/2013 -
" An amazing biography. For anyone who has any interest whatsoever in the music or life of Jimi Hendrix, this is a must read. "
— Greg, 6/30/2013 -
" AWESOME read for any of you Hendrix fans out there! "
— Crystal, 12/11/2012 -
" Came as a gift... one of my fav musicians... the book does thorough justice to the man.... must read if you are a hendrix fan "
— Suraj, 8/18/2012 -
" The only Hendrix biography I've read, but it seemed like a decent one. Intriguing glimpse into his musical and personal history. I never realized just how many bands and other artists he played with before getting famous. Lots of fun stories, like Jimi getting blazed with Paul McCartney haha. "
— Tarik, 7/4/2012 -
" It was a great book i liked it alot because it tells all about Jimi Hendrix and how he was in real life. "
— Dustin, 6/6/2012 -
" This book I had a hard time to put down. It was filled with lots of information about him that I didn't even know. It was great to learn that he was part Canadian and had joined the army. This is a must read for anyone! "
— Tamra, 6/5/2012 -
" Well-balanced. Paints a sympathetic portrait of a sad life. Does a good job with themes of family and race. Essential piece of Seattle history! "
— Anne, 2/22/2012 -
" a pretty in-depth accounting of Jimi..though he really was in the Army 101st Airborne, never did he actually do any jumps before bailing out of the service...his fragmented and dysfunctional childhood in Seattle was heartbreaking, though he was much in tune with himself and the world about him ... "
— Andy, 1/22/2012 -
" Started in 2005, finished in 2011. Liked it alot, just got busy with life so was delayed in finishing it. "
— Florence, 6/5/2011 -
" One of the biggest musical influences of my life! Great book.<br/><br/>"You might be listening to Jimi, but you're not hearing Jimi!" --Wesley Snipes in <em>White Men Can't Jump.</em><br/> --From <em>A Reader's Journal,</em> by d r melbie. "
— David, 12/6/2010 -
" i think its a great book. We realize how messed up he is and how we shouldnt end up like him. "
— Jonny, 10/27/2010 -
" I learned where the music I love so much came from, what created the inspiration for this man to do what he did so extraordinarily well. Would recommend this to any and every Hendrix fan "
— Sergeeo0o, 7/24/2010 -
" This is a well researched bio! And very informative. I heart Hendrix "
— Jessicat, 6/15/2010 -
" A book supposedly revealing startling facts about the guitar wonder. It was interesting but I'm not sure I'm convinced that the authors conclusions are the truth. "
— Linda, 4/2/2010 -
" a pretty in-depth accounting of Jimi..though he really was in the Army 101st Airborne, never did he actually do any jumps before bailing out of the service...his fragmented and dysfunctional childhood in Seattle was heartbreaking, though he was much in tune with himself and the world about him ... "
— Andy, 3/27/2010 -
" It was a great book i liked it alot because it tells all about Jimi Hendrix and how he was in real life. "
— Dustin, 3/19/2010 -
" Good look into Jimi's life from birth to death and what happend before and after he made it, last few chapters are a little boring but over all a good book. "
— Rob, 2/27/2010
About Charles R. Cross
Charles R. Cross, author of the bestseller Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain and three previous books, was editor of The Rocket, a Northwest music and entertainment magazine, from 1986–2000. He lives near Seattle, where he writes for numerous newspapers and magazines.
About Lloyd James
Lloyd James (a.k.a. Sean Pratt) has been a working professional actor in theater, film, television, and voice-overs for more than thirty years. He has narrated over one thousand audiobooks and won numerous Earphones Awards and nominations for the Audie Award and the Voice Arts Award. He holds a BFA degree in acting from Santa Fe University, New Mexico.