Book Review: Me by Ricky Martin

4/5 starsRicky Martin has had a career unlike most that started from an early age. From the moment he knew that being in a specific pop band was what he wanted, there was no hesitation in his pursuit. The book is of a journey that far surpassed the expectations of a young boy born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The family was a surrounding influence where he spent so much time deep in the backdrop of what would always draw him home but often kept him at arm's length.This is not a cry-me-a-river biography where the theme is "life was so horrible, I want my readers to feel sorry for the crap life dealt my way". It is the most inspiring biography in that through all of his ups and downs he would look at the brighter side of everything that happened to him. Martin's involvement in charity work would be some of his defining character moments. When he saw firsthand the situations that children were living in, he did his own research to find out why and how to help make it bet
ter.His spiritual being is evident in the writing as well as visible in his interviews. He is a soft spoken man who comes across as knowledgeable in the things he is involved in. This book is written with some negative spots but from his words he finds reasons to push forward in a positive light. The are opportunities where he seems to be a bit guarded but this is not a tell-all about the people you hate and the ones who did you wrong. He eliminates names to protect the innocent, which can include children and family members of those that have at one time or another crossed paths with him.Honestly, I am tired of the "life gave me a lemon" story and "now I want to hit back" book. I want to know that the music I love came from artists who are not in the back alley smoking crack getting shot at or have overdosed because it is what rock stars do. I want an artist who can express pain, pleasure and life experiences through lyrics with a high quality of music to make me sit up and
take notice. Ricky gives the reader a full story of how he was influenced and eventually took that message to his fans.His personal partner choice is really his own and just because he is famous does not mean he has to exploit this part of himself to the public. The sad concept is that when first asked, he felt it more appropriate to steer the conversation away from the answer. This is shows how we are still in the process of taking baby steps. The fans will still like you or hate you depending on who you sleep with. No matter how many various versions of "Glee" exist or how many daytime talk show hosts live an alternative lifestyle, the up-and-coming stars will never allow their fans into the truth about their sexuality preference.The pages are full of his life through his eyes and how he felt and handled a variety of circumstances. I was never a huge Menudo fan, but when Ricky Martin replaced Ricky Melendez in 1984 there was no getting around his appeal. He talks of how h
e was the one member who was multi-lingual and was often used to interpret during interviews of the rest of the band. This was an exhausting added workload, as he would be called day or night even after he had completed his own interviews and performed then would have to be the interpreter. The record company really squeezed every ounce out of him at a very young age. The fact that he had been so close to his family but then was miles away daily was a difficult experience. The love of performing definitely impacted his decision at one point to quit and go home.Having to be guarded over the years was the style from which he wrote "Me" but do not let that dissuade you from picking up a copy because he fills the pages with his honest life story.

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