Face It

Face It is the memoir of Debbie Harry, lead singer of the pioneering new wave band Blondie. The book traces her path from adoption through her early years in New Jersey to becoming an icon of New York City's punk and new wave scenes. Harry recounts the formation and rise of Blondie, including their breakthrough success and international stardom in the 1970s and 80s. She provides an insider's view of the music industry and New York's cultural landscape during a transformative era. The narrative covers Harry's experiences beyond music, including her acting career, artistic collaborations, and personal relationships. She addresses challenges she faced as a female performer in a male-dominated industry while maintaining creative control of her image and career. This memoir explores themes of identity, reinvention, and perseverance in the entertainment industry. Through Harry's perspective, readers gain insight into the intersection of punk, pop culture, and feminism that shaped an era of American music.

Readers found Face It to be a straightforward memoir that focuses more on Harry's public persona than deep personal revelations. Many noted it reads like casual conversations rather than a traditional autobiography. Readers appreciated: - The visual elements and art throughout the book - Harry's frank discussion of the NYC punk scene - Her matter-of-fact approach to discussing difficult topics - Behind-the-scenes stories about Blondie's music Common criticisms: - Lack of emotional depth and self-reflection - Jumps between topics without clear transitions - Too much focus on her image/looks rather than music - Several readers wanted more details about songwriting and the band Ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (2,000+ ratings) "More like a scrapbook of memories than a memoir," noted one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads user commented: "She tells you what happened but rarely how she felt about it."

Just Kids by Patti Smith This memoir chronicles New York City's 1970s punk scene through Smith's relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe and their rise in music and art.

Girls Like Us by Sheila Weller The parallel stories of Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Carly Simon reveal how three women navigated the male-dominated music industry of the 1960s and 70s.

I'm With the Band by Pamela Des Barres A firsthand account of Los Angeles' rock scene in the 1960s and 70s presents the culture through the lens of rock's most famous groupie.

Coal Miner's Daughter by Loretta Lynn The life story of a country music icon traces her path from poverty in Kentucky to becoming one of music's groundbreaking female performers.

Lady Sings the Blues by Billie Holiday Holiday's autobiography presents her journey through the jazz era while confronting racism, addiction, and the music business.

🎸 In "Face It," Debbie Harry reveals she was once offered a ride by a man she believes was serial killer Ted Bundy, managing to escape by forcing open the car door from the inside. 🎨 The memoir features fan art collected by Harry throughout her career, with pieces ranging from paintings to handmade dolls, showcasing her impact on popular culture. 🎼 Harry discloses that David Bowie once showed her his famous "equipment" as a thank you after Blondie's first show in London, though she maintains it was done in a playful, non-threatening way. 💫 The book details how Andy Warhol was instrumental in helping launch Blondie's career, featuring the band in his magazine Interview and introducing them to the New York art scene. 🎭 Despite her iconic blonde bombshell image, Harry reveals she was actually quite shy and developed her stage persona as a form of armor, naming it "Blondie" to separate her public and private selves.