I've always thought I understood and appreciated Steve Van Zandt's talent. This memoir exposed how little I knew about the depth of his talent and intelligence; let alone his strong character. This memoir is not just an autobiography of one of Bruce Springteen's closest friends and artistic partners; it is a memoir of an artist.
I previously read this novel under its original title Rosie Dunne and recently listened to the audio version. I felt compelled to write a review of this sweet little novel that has stayed with me over the years.
This epistolary novel tells the story of friends through emails, cards, and letters between Rosie and her best friend Alex as well as communications with other friends, relatives, and other people encountered in their lives. It ended up being a love story, with several twists and turns and I really enjoyed returning to this story.
I found this book so moving. Knowing that the suffering endured by Pheby Brown and her family was not unique makes this novel a very emotional book to read. Sadeqa Johnson's telling of this story documents the brutality that slaves endured, while still representing the strength of the human spirit. Knowing that Pheby endured all of this cruelty only for the love of her children will stick with me for a long time.