All Her Heart, Soul and then some...
926331
As I began reading this book I felt like I had been drawn into the elements.  I could visualize that young girl running home when her mama called.  No I felt I was running with her.  I could feel her passion about every word she wrote.  Knowing these words were truth I felt the love run deep, in each chapter.  As she cried, I cried, when she laughed I was laughing.  I have never been drawn into a book like this before.  Teresa has a beautiful soul and when she writes you feel it along with the love and passion for what ever she is writing about.  I suggest if you have the time you read this book.  You won't be sorry.  In fact it will inspire you.  I'm sure by being raised with values and being taught respect for others, gives her the insight to drive herself within her writing with so much passion. God has touched this young writer and I would expect new writing to come about soon.  Be ready for a phenominal read!!
1058944
Soulful and genuine.. this woman is terrific.. should be on The Voice
4059784
A great book, for me, contains and conveys the soul of the book's author. No doubt Ms. Edwards has been told by many of her readers that she writes well. She does indeed write as if she were an angel dipping one of her own wing's feathers into ink. Her narrative flows smooth and as delicate as perfumed oil. But story, above all else, grabs the reader's attention and refuses to relax its grip. Call Ms. Edward's decision to donate an organ an act of altruism. Or call her a selfless hero. Name her courageous, if you will. All of these statements are true. Yet, deep inside any description you apply to Eldonna Edwards is an apparent love for her fellow human beings. My own transplant journey differs in its details from those of Ms. Edwards'. I'm alive to write this paragraph because a family donated a different essential organ to me. I am in awe of being alive. But I am even more in awe of those who interrupted their grieving process to give me a second chance. I honor. I give praise, and i thank Eldonna for writing this book.
1889640
Everything this young lady touches sparkles with class, quality and a voice from the heavens. As sweet and innocent as her voice is  , it's reflected in her beauty....ALWAYS worth the time.
979626
I was literally crying this morning as I read the last few poems in this book. Words I needed to read, that my heart needed to hear and came at the right moment in my life. Since I discovered her writing I've felt such a connection to not only her words, but her as a person. A beautiful human, that is so selfless. Her words are magical and this book that I've wanted from the day it was published got to me when I was and am going through a rough emotional time- where I felt I've lost my magic, and here in this wonderful book with so much insight and heartfelt images painted with words, I found a little hope and can I say- there will be a few times where I will go back and read again to remind me - my magic lies in me and I can reclaim it back. Truly amazing work and beautiful words.
540739
I have known this virtuous woman since high school , playing the piano and organ at All- church fellowship on the First Sunday of each month. We attended college together.  Every since I have known her, she has been nothin but on-fire for God.  I can truly say that I have always been moved by the sound of her voice because it is SO SOUL-STIRRING and unique.  I was truly  moved and  uplifted by  CD Bringing It Back Home,(she mos def brought it) It took me back and it will do the same for you. I strongly urged anyone who doesn't have this CD to go out and bless yourself, your family and friends.  May Barbara, her husband and the remainder of the family bless tremendously

With God's Love

Your Friend from  cold Wisconsin, Kevin Doss
3283110
I am fortunate enough to have to chance to see Ms Streisand in NYC on Sept 28th for her final concert and if it's even one bit as good as what I've heard on this album(which no doubt, it will be) I will be completely captured.
As much as I loved the previous concert recording(and still do) this one towers over it in many avenues.
For one, this album is HEAVY on emotion. In fact, listen carefully for Streisand's performance of "Papa Can You Hear Me" and it almost sounds as if she is weaping while singing it- certainly a side of Barbra we don't see often. Her relationship with the audience is warm and cheerful- esp. their joining Streisand on singing "Auld Land Syne"- very intimate and unforgettable moment. That is among one of the many moments that truly capture the evening as a very personal exploration for Streisand.
The song listing was also extremely favorable and some of the renditions of certain songs sound even better then they were performed on the album. In my opinion, her renditions of "Lover Come Back to Me" and "Cry Me a River" are much better on this record than on her BARBRA STREISAND ALBUM & SECOND ALBUM. Mixed are all of her greatest hits performed with effortless perfection, with a slew of wonderful, extremely overlooked songs. I was extremely impressed by her renditions of "At the Same Time", "Believe", "Being Alive", and "Something Wonderful".
Finally, there is the ultimate performance of "Somewhere", which will knock you out of your seat. At first, you think the song has come to a finish, but never under-estimate Barbra, for right when the song is supposed to end, she(along with an angelic choir) blast out the final line one last time propelling listeners into a new millennium of song and emotional joy.
1917799
WHAT A VOICE THIS WOMAN HAD...MISS HER...THIS CD IS JUST WONDERFUL....FULL OF HEART AND LOVE
1984837
I cannot say enough as to how much I enjoyed this true life story of
a very much loved C/W singer.
It is hard not to feel you are right in there with her
fighting to save her from all the frustration of
her young life being , at times, dictated by a dominating spouse.
The enormous responsibility she felt to fans / and then having so many
children at such young age --all of which --at times tore at her emotionally.
I loved all the happy / sad / emotion that was in the making of this movie
and will keep it on my shelf.
1149673
I can hardly begin to describe what this album means to me.  Her voice is one thing, but her emotion is another.  I believe that this women is up there with the few in the music industry who are really artist.  I believe  that it takes a lot of courage to put your self on the line emotionally the  way Sarah does.  Every song on this cd is one masterpiece after the other.  Intense lyrics, perfectly tuned voice, and incredible emotion all lye  within this brilliant work on musical art.
3246835
This book is a gift, to all of her readers, from the author.  She invites us into her world, and lets us view it from the inside / out...  I felt as though I was beside her through each step of her joy, her pain, her choices... her life.  I found bits of myself reflected in her words, which led me to new and deeper understandings of portions of my own life.  She describes her experiences with insightful precision, infusing them with the newness of each moment.
4103135
I am so glad to be alive to hear this gem!  Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul in her element -- in the studio, creating.  I felt, at times, that I was sitting right next to the piano as she toiled through the original versions of "Dr. Feelgood," "You're All I Need to Get By" and "Sweet Bitter Love."

Three times, I was brought to tears as I listened to the sadness and desperation of "Heavenly Father."  I just wish that she'd had the Sweet Inpirations backing her instead of her sisters and the Sweethearts of Soul.  Their sound was too agressive and churchy for this one -- the Sweets would have been just right.  Aretha was like a young girl deeply in love with a man who had been called to war, begging God to "please bring that man home to me..."

"Tree of Life" was another song that knocked me off my feet.  It makes you literally think about "the last days" in a serious way.  Aretha's piano is in the forefront throughout the album and it will be a treat for those who have dreamed, for decades, that Franklin would sit down and play more. Hers is in the same class as Ray Charles, Valerie Simpson and Billy Preston in the realm of gospel/soul piano.  Just wait 'till you hear her play on the raw version of You're All...to Get By." Her take on Mabel John''s "Taking Up Another Man's Place" was wonderful, but I must recognize Jean DuShon's cover of Little Willie John's "Talk To Me, Talk To Me," (also recorded at Atlantic Records and produced by Phil Spector) closer to the bullseye. Aretha's "Talk" was slightly over-produced -- just my take.

I was surprise to hear her singing mainly in falsetto on the moving, "Are You Leaving Me?"  It certainly sounded much better than Aretha's recent swing in that direction on her current recordings. Boy, is it nice to hear some REAL SOUL as opposed to the hip/hop, dum de dum stuff that's being pumped out today.

All of the songs are not perfect.  Some were in the stage of development, so there are some false starts, talking, experimenting at times.  I didn't mind that at all. I loved hearing Aretha stop, talk to Jerry Wexler and then make little "asides."

Aretha was in wonderful voice and even in rehearsal, would take her voice to the very top.  Yes, she does some hollering and screaming and we love it.  I was disappointed, however, that they included the finished product of "My Way" here, with strings, guitars, etc. The raw version with Aretha's piano out front, which is on the "Atlantic Unearthed Soul Sisters" CD, is much better.  Here, Franklin nearly gets lost in the frey.

I highly recommend this, especially for Aretha's fans and those of you who want to hear a genius at work.  One thing that surprised me was that several of the songs had "songwriter unknown."

The big plus about this event is that there is a WHOLE LOT of music here - 2 discs!  This collection emphasizes what's lacking in today's "music."  This represents the age of GREAT SOUL SINGERS: David Ruffin, Levi Stubbs, Gladys Knight, Bettye LaVette, Marvin Gaye, Patti LaBelle, Wilson Pickett, James Brown, etc., when it was ALL about the singers. I remember the days when a TRUE soul singer could BRING-THE-HOUSE-DOWN!!!!

Long live THE QUEEN OF SOUL.
1567757
Ms. Brown singing is from the heart, mind and soul. She sing about life?  I pray she keep on singing with a feeling, because if she can feel it I can feel I can feel it.
2984475
I enjoyed every word of this story that was so touching.  What a amazing story of her life and how she touched so many people from her heart and soul.
1365137
This female character exemplifies honor, courage, kindness and honesty. It's a pleasure reading her journey despite all her hardships such as the betrayal of her father, the loss of her mother and the fact that she is barred from experiencing the beauty of kissing the man she loves, she greets the day. She moves on. This story is heart wrenching and you want so much for Maia to get her just desserts, at all costs. I rooted for her to rebel against her father and take him down.

Like many, including myself, she believes it's best to let the universe handle the wretched souls who cheat, lie and steal. She must concern herself with her success through personal achievement. Faith is good and honor always wins in the end. Karma. What's awesome is how Wheeler developed her, creating this young woman who despite her heartache remains pure of heart and honorable. It makes sense. If she chooses to harm, she is no better than her enemies. If she's to be Queen, her followers will remember her kindness and fairness. Leaders must lead by example.
965802
Rochelle bares her soul in an honest and unflinching way. I too, felt as if I had seen inside her heart.
4650505
Oh the angst of love!.... no one does it better than Adele. She gives voice to every person who has been dumped, excluded, rejected, dismissed and has made millions expressing human heartache on a grand scale. She is like a sad, beautiful human bell ringing mournfully in the night. IN all seriousness, what a set of pipes this lady has. The songs are nearly all exquisite; there really isn't a dud track on the whole album. Were I to quibble I would say there are a few too many references to getting older; my goodness, Adele, I hope you are not as obsessed with youth and aging as you sometimes sound in these songs. There is time for that much later... go to Paris, see the world, and enjoy being the impossibly rich woman you are! There is more to life than romantic anguish hopefully; as one of your sounds astutely observes, one can be quite lonely within the confines of a relationship as well as on one's own. This is a beautifully produced work of art; I like it much better than her last album, but that one was no slouch either. She will need a bus to take home all her Grammys.