Ordinary Girl: The Journey

by Donna Summer and Marc Eliot

Ordinary Girl is legendary singer-songwriter Donna Summer's delightfully candid memoir about her journey from signing in a Boston church to her unexpected reign as the Queen of Disco, and the tragedy and spiritual rebirth that followed.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400060311
• ISBN13: 9781400060313
• Release Date: October 2003
• Publisher: Villard
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 6.4"

Customer Reviews

The real Donna Summer

Ordinary Girl is Donna Summer's long awaited autobiography, after years of unauthorized biographies. It's the inspiring tale of her journey from a little girl in Boston, through her days in the rock group The Crow, to New York, to Germany where she first found success in musicals, to her music career. If you're looking for sensationalism, dirt being dished, this isn't the book for you. What you get is a joyous, triumphant story of hope. Full of loads of beautiful photos too which tell a tale of their own. A beautiful read.

Extra ordinary girl!

A very candid look at the life of Disco queen, Donna Summer. Very sensitively and well written, and with lots of previously unseen photos too. I came out of reading this book with a deeper love and respect for this class act. If you're looking for dirt being dished, this isn't the book for you. What you get is almost an adventure along the journey of this extra ordinary woman's life. Highly reccommended!

A Wonderful Book

I enjoyed Donna Summer's book immensely. It took the reader on a journey from the difficult days of her childhood to her years in Europe and eventually back to the USA as a disco star and also on her fascinating spiritual journey throughout her entire life.I have always been touched deeply by Donna's singing regardless of the musical genre as there is something that resonates from within her that comes from her soul and stirs the soul of this listener as I am sure with millions of her other fans.I feel the same way about her writing and about this book. It is very much a book written from the heart and it is truly a spiritual journey throughout. I felt it gave a good overview of her disco days without getting overly hungup on conflicts with her record companies, producers, etc. She told what happened but didn't feel the need to go on any tirades. She pretty much considered everything a learning experience along the way and presented it as such which was pleasing to this reader.I appreciated the depth of information about her family life which seems most precious to her. She has overcome many tragedies and losses in her life. I also her appreciated her only devoting a couple sentences to the anti-gay urban legend.Donna always handled that with dignity, denied it, and felt there was no more she could do. It was proven to be untrue.As much as it hurt her career, she had the class to carry on in the face of slander and libel and just keep going. Some reviewers seems to feel she should devote many pages to this item. As evidenced by her still large gay fanbase, it's old news, it was untrue, and everyone has moved on.Some reviewers also seem to want to accuse Donna of making up stories of events in her life. On what basis? Where's the reviewer's proof? I find accusatory reviews offensive and unfair. Donna's story is one of a faith journey from childhood through the present. I personally found her autobiography to be very interesting, very moving, and left me with alot to think about as to what is important in life especially where family is concerned.The book is an honest effort to share her life story with the world in a way that takes all experiences, both negative and positive, as a learning experience and as part of the journey.Her respect for all people including those who she didn't always see eye to eye with is evidenced in the way the book is written. It is a very positive book in it's tone and I for one, can enjoy that much more than most celebrity autobiographies which are usually "oh woe is me" and playing the victim.Donna Summer is a class act in all respects. Her book is further evidence of that. For anyone who wishes to read a thought-provoking life story that will not only entertain you but touch you on a spiritual level - Ordinary Girl is most recommended.

This is the book that SUMMER wanted to write!

Some reviewers have been highly critical of Summer's bio because she doesn't dwell on the making of her legendary disco hits. Others claim that the singer doesn't titillate enough on the "seamier" sides of the music biz. To those critics, I say, to quote from one the singer's seminal hits, "Enough is Enough". Summer has written a fascinating book that combines a "how-to" for recording success along with a primer for having constructive familial and spousal relationships. Throughout the book, Summer cites much of her achievements as the result of Divine Intervention; such references are clear testaments of the singer's unbending faith. She never comes across as preachy but as one who has weathered many personal and professional storms and never lost her faith. She mentions the many that have had a major impact on her development as a performer, wife, mother, and woman. Summer remains faithful to those that contributed to her ascension to the top of popular music, offering revealing anecdotes on Casablanca Records president Neil Bogart, her husband Bruce, her three daughters, and one-time neighbor and lifelong friend Sophia Loren. The abundance of pics from her collection is a welcome addition to a truly inspiring work. And the fact that Miss Summer revels in her Christianity makes her far from "ordinary" in the entertainment industry. Perhaps, she should've called the book "Heavenly Girl".

Great Book. Go Summer Go.

I personally loved the book. I have been a Donna Summer fan for the last twenty five years. I found the book to be very interesting and spell binding. It did not take me very long to read it, even with a busy schedule. I was touched about her honesty concerning her career and family life. Most artists try to sugar coat their lives, but not Donna. She has always been the tell it like it is kind of person.Several of the reviews pointed out she did not elaborate on the Disco era. I feel she talked about it, as much as, she could without drudging up alot of bad memories. That was a very difficult time for Donna, she had a nervous break down and almost ended her life. She was betrayed by many people she trusted and worked hard for. The last twenty plus years have been both beneficial and disappointing for her. She is a great talent and has shown great tenacity by crossing over into performing different types of music. She does not want to be known only as a Disco Queen, but as a musical artist. Those of you, who hated the book, are those who are not willing accept change. You all want to keep Donna Summer in the past, and she is breaking away at all cost. I have alot of respect for Donna Summer for having the guts to write this book. I will always be a fan. I love you, Donna.