Through the Storm: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World

by Lynne Spears and Lorilee Craker

Book Overview

We all want our children to succeed. What happens when they do? Britney Spears wanted to sing ever since she was a little girl. But the years of sacrifices, auditions, performances, albums, fame, and paparazzi left the little Louisiana family swept up and spun around, and nothing turned out the way anyone ever imagined or wanted. Now Lynne shares the inside story of the Spears family as only a mother can. "Through the Storm" takes readers outside...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595551565
• ISBN13: 9781595551566
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson Publishers
• Length: 211 Pages
• Weight: 1.02 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

Worth Reading

There cannot be anyone in America who walks by the magazine racks to check out at the grocery story or who watches even a modicum of TV who isn't aware of the ups and downs of Britney Spears in recent years. As a mother, I can only imagine the agony of her parents during the worst of those times. When this book was first announced, there was a lot of buzz on the Internet and in magazines that went something like, "Who wants to read parenting advice from a mother who has so obviously failed with her daughters?" Which, of course, isn't what this book is about at all. This isn't a book offering parenting advice to others but a look inside the lives of one particular family who found themselves in the cross hairs of the media. For any parent whose child has dreams of fame, this is definitely a book that shouldn't be missed. And for anyone, adult or child, who thinks life gets easier when fame and fortune come calling, reading it is a reality check. Life is messy, whether you're of interest to the tabloids or not. But if the media is interested, you get to live your messy life with all the details -- and a good share of lies and half-truths -- printed for all the world to see.

The truth has finally been told by Lynne Spears

I completely agree with the last few reviews of this book. As a mother, I can relate to Lynne's struggle with trying to let your children follow their dreams not knowing what is going to happen in the end. WE must all learn from her mistakes and her growth. It can only get better. Well done memoir by Lynne Spears. I highly recommend that all Mothers read this book when they get a chance to sit down!

Proof that you Can't Believe Everything you See or Hear

Surprisingly this was a great read. I finished it in one sitting. If you watch television or skim headlines at all you MUST be aware of the sad downfall of Britney Spears. We all have our assumptions based on the flashes across the TV screen, magazine covers, countless websites and newspaper headlines. Lynne Spears sets the record straight. This book is NOT a tell-all book of gossip on her daughter, nor is it a parenting manual. Rather it is a memoir of her life and the truth behind the scandal, which is far from what the public has been told up to this point. If you're looking for scoop though, you won't be disappointed either. Lynne reveals what was happening in their world the day Britney shaved her head, attacked the paparazzi with an umbrella, was forced from her home by police and paremedics and more. Lynne also addresses the pregnancy of her daughter Jamie Lynn. All in all, you come to learn (if you haven't been smart enough to know already) that there is dangerous power in the press and paparazzi. No celebrities do NOT sign up for this kind of attention nor do they deserve it. Adoration is one thing, assault so extreme you can't even literally walk out your front door is another. No one signs up for that, no matter WHAT you tell me about them choosing fame. The craziness and obsession that drives photographers to that extreme is a relatively new phenomenon that must be controlled before we have another celebrity death, ala Princess Diana. What will be the turning point? I don't know. What I do know is that Lynne Spears paints a real, heartfelt, non-glamorous picture of the world she and her children were thrust into all because her daughters LOVE to sing and dance. I was impressed with Lynne Spears faith, vulnerability and willingness to let it all hang out. Both Lynne's daughters and her son will be proud of this book. Unlike other celebrity moms who have destroyed their mother/daughter relationship by writing tell-alls, Lynne Spears has written a book that honors them without glorifying or excusing any of their failures, as well as encourage us all to have strength in the storm, no matter what storm we face. Pick up this book and find out for yourself. You'll find yourself not judging Britney so harshly, rather you'll actually start praying for her! (Something she and her family would appreciate I'm sure).

The story of Lynne Portell Bridges

When I heard Lynne Spears was gonna release a book as her autobiography, I thought "Why would she do that? She's already got two messed up daughters!" And of course the curiosity was there... I don't regret buying this book...it was really good! While reading it, I felt compassion and sadness from this lady who was just an Elementary school teacher, a mom, a daughter, a sister and a victim. YES, victim! I read this book in ONE day...actually in a few hours! I couldn't put it down. If you're asking, am I a Britney Spears fan, then the answer is yes. Though there's was an instant in time where I was disillusioned with what Britney had become and often, I blamed Lynne for it. Boy, was I wrong! This book isn't about Lynne being a "stage mom" because she wasn't! This book isn't about Lynne rewriting her history or her family's history, it isn't a tell-all book! What you WILL find here is her truth, her story...and her path. Her father was Barney Bridges and her mother was the lovey and beautiful British, Lillian Portell Bridges. She had an older sister, Sandra Bridges Convington (whom many know has passed away) and an older brother, Sonny. She was the youngest of them all. She adored her parents...and she adored her sister. She met Jamie Spears at a Football game...he was married before...and soon after they got married, she found out he was an alcoholic. As a daughter of an ex-alcoholic, I could relate to her story. It's a sad one... She's a mother who just adores her children: Bryan, Britney and Jamie Lynn. She didn't push her daughters to stardom, Britney pushed her. Along the way, there came heartache...(lots of it) and confusion. She talks about how Britney won competitions and talent shows...and how she got to record her first album. Her first photo-shoot in Rolling Stones, where she explains how she felt "she lost her daughter" at that very moment to fame. Lynne also talks about the cruelty of the paparazzi. How one simple "hello" can end up in a magazine as an "exclusive interview" by her. It's ridiculous! She talks about Justin Timberlake and Kevin Federline...and Britney's children. She talks about how she find out Jamie Lynn was pregnant and her reaction. She talks about Britney's meltdown... This book is a wonderful, simple, book anyone will enjoy. I felt as if I was sitting with Lynne while drinking coffee with her as she was telling me all of this. I'm not a huge Britney Spears fan...but I do enjoy her music...even if you're not a Britney fan...I recommend this book!