Slim, strongly felt, and delightful ... We look to a critic like this one for the critic’s own feels, for his reactions and judgments and personal experience of Swift’s nearly 300 songs. This is what we came for, whether his prose is matter-of-fact or bejeweled: and he can make the whole place shimmer.
He treats the enduring relationship between Swift and her audience with the respect it deserves ... Sheffield approaches Swift with a winking sort of affection. He’s less a scholar than an admirer and a fellow music nerd, but few have written about her with such inside-out understanding.
With a breathless pace and a panoptic view of Swift’s life, lore and legacy, Heartbreak is the National Anthem proves Swift is a pioneering musician and cultural lightning rod. The paradox of Swift – her ability to trade confessions so openly while remaining such an elusive public figure – makes her one divisive yet incredibly influential musician sharing stories that allure and enchant many.
Die-hard Swifties will know the biographical details, but given their endless love for analyzing her music, there will be plenty here for long-time fans, newcomers, and those curious about Swift’s appeal in this accessible, thoughtful, and entertaining tour of Swift’s career, music, and impact.
The book takes detours into particular anecdotes that will satisfy both deeply devoted fans and those newer to this raging cultural phenomenon ... Sheffield’s expansive, expressive biography will inspire you to tune in to the superstar’s hits and deep cuts.
Spirited ... Readers will revel in the unrestrained delight with which Sheffield captures his subject, mixing a fan’s exuberance with a music critic’s nuanced analysis. Swifties won’t be able to put this down.
