Courtney Love

Courtney Love: The Real Story
$13.00
For a woman who claimed she would never have an authorized bio in her house, Courtney certainly seems intent on never allowing anything short of a very edited version of her own life to surface (not that I blame her). For the record, I loved Courtney back in the 90's before she became the fashion freak and Hollywood gadfly. Her music was powerful as was her message that young women should make their own music rather than become groupie trash. For that alone she should be put in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. However, as quickly as she could, she traded in her empowered feminist personna, began to starve, had massive plastic surgery, and abandonned her fans. Sad but true. Now on to the book. If you believe this author, Courtney was basically a modern day female Tom Sawyer. She has rotten parents (reading her mum's autobio might make you think differently), people try to use and abuse her, but Gosh darn it, that Courtney always rises again! One implausible story is how when Courtney was a teen stripping in Japan the owners of the club try to force her into prostitution. Not only does Courtney manage to stay a virgin (if you believe that one, I have a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you), but she also tricks a guy into buying her a fur coat by only using her wit! Sorry, not buying. I liked Rossi's bio better, though it has problems as well. Since Rossi only can get second hand info on Courtney, obviously many to whom she had spoken had an ax to grind. Also, Rossi's own attitude often seems that of a high school journalist who wants so badly to be part of the "cool crowd" and when they reject her, she writes scathing articles about them. Rossi offers a better overview of Love's younger life while Brite (who had the benefit of Courtney's insight into her own life) writes more indepth about Love's years as a member of Hole and as Cobain's wife and widow. Really, you have to read them both to remotely get an idea of who Courtney is.

Her Mother's Daughter: A Memoir of the Mother I Never Knew and of My Daughter, Courtney Love
$19.00
This was an interesting book if you are a fan or curious about Courtney Love. Her mother had an offbeat life, and it is really her story. Entertaining but only a must read if you like Courtney

Kurt and Courtney
$12.95
Pursuing a theory that Courtney Love murdered Kurt Cobain, this Brit filmmaker digs up some strange dudes like El Duce, who says he was offered $50k by Love to whack Cobain. The voice-over narration is a bit smarmy, and the manipulation through editing is obvious to anyone with a sophistication about journalism. I'm not sure if the theory is true, but Love was never charged. She is no longer much heard from, however. Given that she was due to be divorced and lose out on millions, it's possible she could have murdered Cobain. More likely is that she drove him to it.

Dirty Blonde: The Diaries of Courtney Love
$20.00
I've always been a Courtney Love/ Kurt Cobain fan and looked forward to this book. I was VERY disappointed with it. It's supposed to be made like a "scrapbook" and there are handwritten notes, etc. throughout the book which would be nice if Courtney's handwriting were legible. It's terribly messy and the book is put together badly too. Everything is scattered, nothing is in order, pictures and notes are upside down, sideways, etc. having to turn the book every which way just to see things. Nothing makes sense in this book and she even says she didn't see the reason for doing the book at all. A BIG disappointment! :-(