by Cher
- Autobiography
- Singer
- Songwriter
- Actress
- Performer
Cher: The Memoir (Part One) explores the early life of singer, songwriter, and actress Cher—an icon whose influence has spanned generations. Autobiographies aren’t usually my first choice, but since this was picked by one of my book clubs, I was curious to give it a try.
This first instalment focuses heavily on Cher’s mother and Cher’s her own childhood and early twenties. Presumably, the next book will cover the rest of her extraordinary life and career.
Going in, I didn’t know much about Cher beyond her larger-than-life image—after all, who hasn’t heard of her? But as I learned more through this memoir, I found myself feeling that perhaps I preferred not knowing.
The beginning of the book, which delves into her mother’s story, was genuinely engaging and even emotional. Unfortunately, the rest of the narrative quickly lost that depth. Much of it reads like a list of events—“this happened, then that happened”—without exploring the emotions or personal impact behind them. This made it difficult to connect with Cher as a person.
Cher herself acknowledges her struggles with dyslexia, and I wouldn’t expect her to have written every word of the memoir unaided. Still, the book often feels as if snippets of her life were taken and inflated by a ghostwriter, leaving me uncertain about how much to believe.
Stylistically, it’s straightforward and chronological, though occasionally confusing. People are mentioned without context, sometimes even before they’ve entered her life, which disrupts the flow. Perhaps these gaps will be filled in Part Two.
At my book club, reactions were mixed. Some readers who weren’t Cher fans actually enjoyed the memoir, while others who admired her beforehand came away feeling disconnected, even disillusioned. We all agreed, however, that the book leaned too heavily on facts and name-dropping, with very little emotional weight. Cher repeatedly mentions people who wronged her, only to say she forgave them and remains in touch, which felt more like a diplomatic move than an honest reflection.
Overall, I’m not sure who I’d recommend this memoir to. Hardcore fans might appreciate it—or they might come away feeling less connected to her. If you’re genuinely intrigued by Cher’s life story, it may be worth reading. If not, you’re unlikely to get much from it.
Personally, I don’t plan to pick up Part Two, as this first volume didn’t work for me. That said, I’ll be interested to hear whether others feel the continuation improves.
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