Captivating ... The often hilarious, occasionally harrowing Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You is a bracingly candid chronicle of a sui generis character plotting a ramshackle but ultimately triumphant trajectory.
Williams’s memoir is as flinty, earthy and plain-spoken as her songs ... Throughout her book, Williams recognizes her own appetites and mistakes. She writes about suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder and bouts of depression ... Her memoir shows how deep that grit runs.
Throughout the book, she tells you who the songs were about—guys who committed suicide, guys who did her wrong, guys who gave her a little pleasure and a lot of pain—but, really, they’re about you. She wrote songs about desire, about flirtation, about bad behavior that felt so good ... The book has a postscript—she advises readers to read Sexton and Plath and Ferlinghetti and Bukowski, to listen to Nick Drake and Miles Davis and Lou Reed. To go to the desert, ride on a Ferris wheel, protest a war, dance ... You could follow all her instructions and never become Lucinda Williams. That’s a miracle that could happen only once.
Remarkable for its true insight into the author as a person and as an artist ... Woven into Williams’ story, which moves mostly chronologically and discusses family trauma and mental health with openness, are the nitty-gritty of album-making and the lyrics to many of her songs, with the stories behind them.
She weaves a narrative that feels relatable and extraordinary ... Honest and raw, this book serves a slice of an inspiring life that reminds readers to keep trying. Williams’s story will likely appeal to readers interested in music, poetry, literature, or mental health.
Soulful ... Raw and honest, this must-read account soars on the back of Williams’s hard-won wisdom about making art and overcoming struggle. Fans and non-fans will be rapt.
Revealing ... The author writes candidly about dealing with emotional problems and OCD, and she shares personal stories about many of her songs. A poignant, plainspoken life story from a dedicated musician.
