Building a Mystery: Story of Sarah McLachlan: Lilith Fair

This is a beautiful book and an outstanding tribute to Sarah. It tells a very important story of her history and explains about how she got to the top. It is very fair and balanced. It is the best book I have read this year and it is also the best biography of a pop star I have ever read.

I am a journalist working in Canada. One of my assignments was to interview the author of Building A Mystery. Not an easy assignment. She rarely does interviews. I wrote her a letter. She wrote back and politely declined. I wrote again. She called me on the telephone. I knew it was now or never so I asked her about my favourite book of her poems, Given Names. And, then, she warmed up and agreed to answer a few questions. She was funny, gracious, unbelievably fast on her feet, and unfailingly gentle with me. What has this got to do with Building A Mystery? Everything. Fitzgerald's integrity is above reproach in this country. She is neither a dirt digger nor a gold digger. She has received several awards and is a highly respected poet and critic. Believe me, she is far from wealthy and, and as a poet, she doesn't seem to mind, offering that to not honour the gift would be a crime. That's the kind of woman she is. Unforgettable. As is this book. I hear the update's ready for Christmas. I, for one, can hardly wait to read it (and I hope Santa is listening...). Top of the season to all mystery builders.

I recommend this book to everyone who has even a passing interest in Sarah McLachlan because it's filled with basic facts and lots of info and juicy stuff. It starts when Sarah's a little kid playing a ukelale because she's to small to hold a guitar and then, it goes to the place where Sarah went to school to learn piano and singing and explains how she was a honor student but not a rebel. Next is the story of her famous autograph and after that, the obssessed fan who died so sad. All in all, I like the book a lot and would recommend it to anybody who likes Sarah. I don't want to ruin the story but there's a really funny chapter about Sarah's birth mom and how the author found her and there are also great informations about Sarah's boyfriends before she got married and some of Sarah's friends also tell about what Sarah's like and, oh ya, the interview with Mrs. McLachlan? When she says goodbye to Judith, Mrs. McLachlan says to her good enough. LOL! It's a good book and anybody who misses it is missing a great read. Just my two pennies.

After reading Judith Fitzgerald's Building a Mystery, I'm flabbergasted Sarah McLachlan denied her a twenty-minute interview. What was McLachlan thinking? Fitzgerald is one of the best writers on the planet; McLahclan's just a pop singer. Fitzgerald's book's better than any thing McLachlan ever wrote (if she ever did, I mean). I especially loved the way Fitzgerald describes McLachlan's pretense and image-building methods. My favorite chapter is the first one where Fitzgerald explains how she fell in love with Sarah's voice and why Pat of Thorns is such a moving song. Anywys, like I said, I don't blame Judith for turning against Sarah after Sarah turned her down and then, when Sarah told the interviewer it was going to be a book with nothing new in it and how Judith was a parasite!!! (Well, Judith put lots of new stuff in it, like finding Sarah's birth mother and that's pretty new and a scoop for Judith! Buy the book is all I mean. It'll make your year!!!

A good book!!! Not the best Sarah book though, but I have to give it a five because I love Sarah!! It is probably a 4 though...true fans need to get this book, for sure....and make sure to read: From Lilith to Lilith Fair!!!