Mariah Carey Is Telling Her Own Story (and Recommending Books)

Goodreads: Summarize your new book in a couple of sentences.

Mariah Carey: This is the definitive Mariah Carey story. My life has always been told through the lenses of others, and for the first time, I’m sharing my truth unfiltered.

GR: What was it like for you writing this book? What surprised you about the process?

MC: For years, I’ve shared snippets of my story through my songs in lyrics that my fans know well. To now put pen to paper and fully tell these stories and share my life experiences was challenging, but ultimately cathartic. I wouldn’t say I was surprised by anything in particular, but revisiting so many moments in my life that I rarely discuss was certainly a rollercoaster!

GR: What are some books you’ve been enjoying recently and recommending to friends? What are some of your all-time favorite books and authors?

MC: Ms. Oprah Winfrey herself recommended Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste to me, and I have been absolutely enthralled. This book explores and examines the systems of oppression that affected me so much as a child, a topic I detail in my own memoir. I’m on my second read and truly think this is such an important book that should be considered required reading for all!
 
I was often ostracized and belittled growing up, so when I first read Push, I was captivated by the character that Sapphire had written. It’s one of the few books that, upon finishing it, I turned back to the first page to read again. I was thrilled when my friend Lee Daniels asked me to be a part of the film adaptation.
 
Anyone who knows me knows that I love a moment of levity, and Tina Fey has supplied us with so many! When I wasn’t rewatching Mean Girls for the eight hundredth time, Bossypants really kept me laughing during my pregnancy. Her humor is so smart and graceful—“You let it out, honey. Put it in the book!"

GR: What’s a book you wish you could read again for the very first time?

MC: Marilyn by Norman Mailer. I was very young when I first read the book (probably too young!), but I was fascinated by Marilyn Monroe’s story. I studied the glossy photos for hours, and I am still so inspired by her beauty, elegance, and impeccable fashion sense. I felt a kinship with her as I read about her difficulties growing up. Knowing that she had been able to rise above and triumph over her obstacles helped to solidify my belief that I could do the same.

GR: Is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

MC: I hope that readers come away from my memoir with not only a deeper understanding of who I am, but also a testament to how one can prevail over obstacles with perseverance and faith in oneself. In addition to reading the memoir, I hope that readers enjoy the expanded experience of listening to the audiobook; being able to interweave my words with songs is exactly how I envisioned the piece when writing it.