Irving Berlin: A Daughter's Memoir

A Fascinating Subject, But, Finally, A Missed Opportunity:
A memoir by the daughter of Irving Berlin, arguably the best of all American composers and indisputably its premiere songwriter. I read this book hoping that certain nagging mysteries would be solved, especially about Irving Berlin's compositional/creative processes. For who could but wonder how a musically "illiterate" man (he could neither read or write music, hadn't studied harmony, etc.) could create so many timeless masterpieces, so many miracles of musical invention? And who would better be able to answer these questions than the songwriters first born? Unfortunately, I was disappointed by the absence of any insights into these matters. Instead, Ms. Barrett deals with the mundane, the day-to-day stuff. We learn what it's like to be a rich seven year old in New York City instead of how "How Deep Is The Ocean?" came into the world. The book is about her, not about its title character, and that was a disappointment.

God Bless Irving Berling:
This is a beautifully written remembrance of one of the world's greatest songwriters. Berlin fans will welcome the personal insight, warmth and vivid detail that author Barrett provides. A recluse for the last 25 years of his life, Berlin has been an enigma to many, and this book provides many of the intimate details so sorely lacking in other biographies of this American treasure