Beauty in the Breakdown: Choosing to Overcome by Julie Roberts Book Review

In Beauty in the Breakdown, Julie Roberts opened up about her music career and how she dealt with the highs and the lows she faced. Julie grew up in Lancaster, South Carolina with her two other sisters, Marie and Lorie. Julie was the middle child. Her dad was an nuclear engineer and he was a strong man who believed his money was his money. Julie shared countless stories about them having to escape and run to her granny’s house when her dad become violent from his drunkenness. Her mother was abused and had bruises and black eyes many times. He was also cheating on his wife but her mom stayed with him for years because of the stigma of divorce. Julie shared how she started singing in her childhood and how one of her biggest influences was the style of Barbara Mandrell. Her mother would spend her own money on her daughters and she would buy music tracks for Julie where she could perform at different events. She even played at nursing homes where she met Carol a young girl who was in there because she had MS. She opened up about how this girl changed her life and influenced her. Julie shared some stories about going to college and how she eventually landed a job at Mercury Records in Nashville as a receptionist. She was promoted to Luke Lewis’s assistant. Luke was very vocal about how he would fire anyone who wanted to be a singer so Julie vowed to keep her singing a secret. During this time, she mother finally divorced her father and she made the move to Nashville. Julie revealed how she met a producer named Brent Rowen. They recorded one of Julie’s hit songs, “Break Down Here” together. Eventually, he took it to Lewis and a few other top label makers listened to it and Julie was signed to Mercury Records and had a deal for 7 albums. She opened up about touring with Rascal Flatts and Chris Cagle. Julie also shared the highs and lows of eventually being dropped after two albums. She shared the struggles of trying to make a comeback in her music career and what she learnt along the way. She also opened up about how she found out she has MS and legions on her brain and how she has chosen to use her voice to raise awareness on the disease. 

I would recommend this awesome book about Julie Robert’s life story. I haven’t heard most of her story before reading this book. I wasn’t aware of all of her hardships and challenges. I was shocked about some of the secrets she shared about touring and the music industry. I didn’t realize that many opening acts don’t get paid by the labels that many times they have to paid the headliner to allow them to join the tour. And I personally think there should be some changes to that. She also shared how hard it is for a female to get radio time which, I agree they should play them more. I remember in the 90’s growing up listening to Shania Twain, Jo Dee Messina, Faith Hill, Martina McBride, Dixie Chicks, and SheDaisy. I do feel like they have stopped playing females as much as they used too. One of my favorite songs, that she sings is called, “Somebody Does” and this one talks about when we are at our lowest point and we feel like we aren’t love and nobody cares it reminds us that somebody does. I immensely connected with Julie Robert’s story and I believe many readers will enjoy reading this book. I highly recommend this book if you’re feeling lost and need some encouragement in your own life! 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Beauty in the Breakdown, then check it out on Amazon.com: 

https://www.amazon.com/Beauty-Breakdown-Choosing-Julie-Roberts/dp/0785219595/ 

Walk to Beautiful: The Power of Love and a Homeless Kid Who Found the Way by Jimmy Wayne with Ken Abraham Book Review

In Walk to Beautiful, Jimmy Wayne shared about his life story and how he became a country music singer. Jimmy Wayne was born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina. Jimmy, his mother, and his sister, Patricia moved around a lot. He never really knew his own father growing up. His mother had a number of different men throughout his childhood. He saw countless fights and he experienced and saw frightening events when he was a young boy. His mother hung out with the wrong crowd and many of the people were deeply troubled. When his mother worked at a textile mill, a neighbor would watch them and this event was anything but pleasant. One of the neighbor’s adult sons laid down naked while he thought Jimmy was asleep and he took his hand and made him touch him. He eventually faked being asleep and the son left. He told him mother and she wouldn’t believe him and she told him to simply “behave”. Often times the only meals Jimmy and Patricia would ever receive would be the free lunches from school and they were both hungry most of the weekends. His mother would often at times reply on government for support and she didn’t have a job. 

He also shared how he found God and how he began to trust Him. His mother had a warped view of how we are supposed to fear God and she would beat them if they mispronounced words from the Bible. He finally discovered the love of God. He also revealed how his mother went to jail and how they wound up in DSS system. He described his experiences with being homeless. He also shared how he lived in a group home called, Faith Farm and what this place taught him. Throughout the book, he explored how he was changed and saved by Bea and Russell. He explained how he began his music career and shared details about the behind the music and songs. He also opened up about deciding to walk seventeen hundred miles from Nashville to Phoenix and his journey along the way and even being dropped from his label during the walk. 

I would recommend this life changing book to anyone who is wanting to read an inspiration story. I first start discovered Jimmy Wayne with his hit songs, “Paper Angels” and “I Love You This Much”. The stories behind the songs and music videos were very encouraging and touching. I haven’t heard them before and I imagine many people haven’t. I can say that this is one of the best book I have ever read by an artist and I have read several country artists autobiography. Jimmy Wayne has been through a lot growing up and his childhood was anything but easy. I truly believe that his story will immensely help kids in foster care and kids who feel forgotten and lost. Jimmy Wayne’s story show he has remarkable character and strength in trying to raise awareness about the kids in foster care. I also loved and appreciated how Jimmy Wayne also helped Tennessee and California to pass a bill that raise the age of foster care aging out of the system and funding until the age of twenty-one years of age. This book could easily be a movie and I hope that one day it is! I highly recommend everyone to read this amazing book! 

If you would like to purchase a copy of Walk to Beautiful, the check it out on Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Walk-Beautiful-Power-Homeless-Found/dp/071807730X   

Journey of My Run Week 1 : Day 4

Week 1


Day 4 - Monday, April 19

My journey in running a 5K event was a little strenuous today. Since, I didn’t sleep good last night I had trouble putting out all the energy to run completely and smoothly. I guess the award show got me too pumped up to sleep soundly. I am in love with music. Haha! I enjoyed Carrie Underwood’s and Miranda Lambert’s performance at the show the most. I also liked the new comer girl, Laura Bell Bundy that performance made her look like a country Britney Spears. I loved Reba McEntire’s jokes that she shared. I was a little disappointed that Sugarland didn’t perform and Jo Dee Messina wasn’t asked to perform. But we let some of the newer people with songs, I haven’t heard perform. Some of the performances were good and some were a little boring. Now back to the results, I ran the first lap again. The second I walked and the third I ran a part of it. The fourth I walked yet again. I went a total of 23228 steps in my voyage. I went a total of 1.86 miles, which was a little bit less than the day before. I blazed a total of 1169 calories, which is always a magnificent thing. I worked out for a total of 27 minutes and 13 seconds. I increased in a little bit of time for some reason. Oh, that’s right I had to move to make it back in time for the award ceremony. Well, until next time.