Tina Turner (1939–2023)

I dare you to read My Love Story and not admire this woman. Talent, heart, perseverance -- she has true grit and the character many of us lack nowadays. Constantly tested throughout her life, she never gave up her dreams and she never surrendered her Self.

If asked to think about the music from my youth* (ages 9-12), three artists immediately come to mind: Whitney. Janet. Tina. All three women differ greatly from each other in just about every way -- from their upbringing to their voice, show more their sound, their lyrics, their public image. Yet all had a powerful impact on my young mind. These 3 women are quintessential 80s to me. And I also credit all 3 for flaming my young rebel spark.

However, I was unfamiliar with the women behind the artists. That is, until I watched the movie**, What's Love Got to Do With It. I didn't know at the time it was based on Tina Turner's own book, I, Tina. So, I had an idea about her early life, tribulations and triumphs. After reading, My Love Story, it's apparent the movie took creative liberties in delivering their story of Tina Turner.

What you'll read about in My Love Story is Tina's drive to achieve all that she dreamed she can be. She doesn't shy away from her mistakes. She doesn't gloss over her struggles. And she's not afraid to share her deepest vulnerabilities.

Structured around her relationship with Erwin Bach, their wedding, which Tina describes as the happiest day of her life, and the subsequent deterioration of her health. The narrative is pretty much chronological from her childhood to her early romances to meeting Ike Turner to leaving him to having to battle to reclaim her career to the hard work she put in to be the artist she always wanted to be.

She shares the stories behind her so-called comeback (though, she reminds the reader, she was never actually away) to the boosts she received from other artists like Cher and David Bowie.

She also mentions Beyoncé as a young artist much like herself. (I can totally see it!) And I respect Tina's view of her image, one she was quite deliberate about creating, one of being sexy without being threatening to other women. She said she's sexy without being sexual.

And, evidenced in her relationships with people like David Bowie and Oprah, Tina embodies the most valuable aspect of networking: true connection. So much of social media, online communities, and even in-person events are saturated by a gimme, gimme mindset. I really enjoyed reading about a legendary rock star who first and foremost creates relationships based on genuine interest and reciprocity rather than from a "What can this person do for me or my career" place.

Re-reading this "review" I realize I'm gushing, but this is a woman who deserves to be gushed over. I truly regret never getting to see her perform, but I'm thankful for her willingness to share of her personal life, to let us see the woman behind the star. As usual, Tina did not disappoint.

One disclaimer: The final chapter, about her son, is devastating. Be warned. I was a sobbing fool when I closed the book.

5 stars

*Naturally, if given a few more minutes to reminisce, other names also come to mind: Joan Jett, Taylor Dayne, Lisa Lisa and the Cult Jam, Gloria Estefan, Bonnie Tyler, Heart, Pat Benatar. (This does not include my late 80s obsession with a little group known as NKOTB, but that's a whole other thing. lol)

**Or decades later, in 2018, when I watched the documentary Whitney about Whitney Houston's life and death. show less

Everyone has heard of Tina Turner, of course, and we think we know her story, but until her death last year, I never really listened to her albums or wanted to delve deeper into her life. I associated her with Cher and, to a lesser extent, Dolly Parton - talented women who broke free from personal or professional partnerships to forge their own careers and went from strength to strength. Now, after reading her captivating, co-written history of childhood poverty, abusive marriage, 'second show more act' rise to fame, happy second marriage and health battles in later years, I am completely in awe of the powerhouse that was Tina Turner. What an incredible yet level-headed woman, who deserved the very best; I'm glad she got to enjoy life.

People ask me, ‘Where do you get such strength?’ I tell them I was born with it. I’ve always been strong and independent. I had struggles, but I was also given the strength to endure them.

One thing I did know about Tina was that Ike was a hateful man who used Tina - the stage name he gave her (and registered as a trademark!), which was one of the few assets she took away from the marriage - but reading in detail about his treatment of her was painful. In the end, she ran for her life, with a pocketful of change in a strange city, and I'm so glad she did.

I love that Tina's idol was Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, 'for her ability to project grace and control in any situation', and that she had a fangirl moment when she ran into the former First Lady in a hotel! I respect both women for the same reasons. Tina's love of Europe, especially after marrying German record exec Erwin Bach, is also another reason to love her - the woman had great taste!

Tina Turner's life was truly a roller coaster of extreme lows and incredible highs, right to the very end, but performed with great style and independence. Lots of famous names, from Mick Jagger and David Bowie to Beyoncé, but never any arrogance or boastfulness. Love her. Now I'm going to listen to her entire back catalogue! show less

Tina Turner was many things. She was a survivor. She was a role model. She was an artist. She was resilient. All of these traits come through in her final work, a book that is part spirituality, part memoir, peppered with a serving of self-help. Though Tina is frequently clear that she encourages everyone to pursue the path that works for them, her blueprint was her deep commitment to Nichiren Buddhism.

She devotes a sizable portion of the book to what her practice has done for her, mapping show more out some of the basic teachings. As a Buddhist myself, though more of a Tibetan & Zen hybrid, it was helpful to learn more about Nichiren beliefs, a strain of Buddhist practice that came out of Japan, post-Zen.

The foundational belief that chanting a mantra steeped in the Lotus Sutra ("Nam Myoho Ringe Kyo") can bring about good karma is a somewhat untested notion for me. While I've sometimes used mantras and chants to lead into meditation practice, I didn't really imbue them with the power to create lasting change. The Soka Gakkai (Nichiren) school of Buddhism leans hard into this belief, though Tina indicates it's more about stirring unconditional confidence than any kind of magical incantation. It's food for thought, and something I will remain open to as I learn more.

Meanwhile, Tina makes a case for all faith traditions having validity if they lead to harmony, both internal and external. She tells a lot of stories about how she navigated her challenging years with Ike and forging her own solo career in the aftermath of that wreckage. She shares what made her happy in her subsequent years - again, mainly a firm spiritual foundation, but also an appreciation for daily living and a partner who proved himself to be the person Ike could never be. She speaks of forgiveness, of what true success means, and how she found peace. She never presumes to proselytize, but encourages everyone to pursue a path that works for them.

While not completely revelatory as self-help books go, it was akin to having a cup of tea with Tina Turner and talking about the things that matter most, listening to and learning from her wisdom and experience. That alone is worth four stars. show less

Growing up in a home filled with music it’s no surprise that I grew up with Tina Turner. With her strong voice and vivacious attitude I always admired her talent, her style, that amazing smile, and those amazing legs! I fell in love with her and her music first but when I saw What’s Love Got To Do With It that admiration went through the roof. What she endured at the hands of Ike was beyond horrifying and I am so thankful that she was able to escape, and just down the street from where I show more grew up too!

Though I felt like I knew Tina after listening to her music and watching a movie based on her life, it wasn’t until I was able to listen to My Love Story on audiobook that I truly feel that connection on a deep, visceral level. I loved that this was Tina telling her story. There is no better authority of a tale than ones own voice and though I know the narrator’s voice did not sound like Tina’s I still felt like it was her speaking much of the time. The narrator’s inflection and overall vibe while telling Tina’s story was spot on, so I must give a huge shoutout to the narrator.

When I pressed play I pretty much didn’t stop until I had listened to the entire story in one day. I felt a sense of nostalgia when Tina talked about her various collaborations with 80’s rockers as the music landscape during that time was a huge part of my childhood. In many ways I feel like I grew up with Tina Turner and her going back in time also sent me back in time. I am thankful that she didn’t overly embellish when she was talking about her years with Ike, but listening to what she went through was still so incredibly hard to hear. She was such a strong and loving woman and it hurt so much to hear about everything she had to endure.

I wish Tina didn’t have to have such a hard life but I am so grateful that her last years were filled with love and everything her heart desired. I cried when I heard that she had passed away like I had lost a dear friend. She will be forever missed as I don’t think there will ever be another like her. I am thankful that she poured her heart out on these pages and I am glad I finally got a chance to hear it. show less