Britney: The Unauthorized Biography

Everybody knows all about the pop princess, Britney Spears -- we all know her life and her loves, her songs and her dance moves, her hits and her misses. Reading this book was like reading thru a series of tabloid magazine articles but it was still highly engaging. This unauthorized biography of course starts in Kentwood Louisiana where the young Britney Jean Spears took her first dance lessons at 2 years old which was followed by gymnastics then singing lessons, then talent competitions. At a young age, Britney was already a performer and a perfectionist. Where her friends and cousins who would join her in performances, auditions and contests would still have time to have a childish giggle, she was already so focused and had her eye on the prize. From the time she landed a spot on the Mickey Mouse Club at the age of 11 to the time she signed a record deal with Jive Records at the age of 15, Britney Spears has been a product that has been fashioned and honed under very watchful eyes.

First, there was the Disney group which trained all the Mouseketeers to behave a certain way, not allowing them to be unsupervised in public on the off-chance that they do something to tarnish the wholesome Disney brand. Then, came the production of her first album where her Lolita-esque persona was carefully developed from her preppy albeit midriff-baring shirt and short school-girl skirt costume to her testament of maintaining virginity. And it’s been a roller-coaster ride for her. This book details her ups and downs career-wise and love-wise, how she dealt with the exposure of all her dirty laundry -- every misstep, fashion faux pas, and chance of misbehavior is out on the tabloids -- and reading this biography you get the sense that she didn’t really sign up for this. The biography ends with a positive note as the author says that people have an affinity for the pop princess and there is a genuine desire for her to do better. Despite her ups and downs the Britney Spears will not disappoint her adoring masses.