The Cocaine Diaries: A Venezuelan Prison Nightmare (Paperback) by Paul Keany with Jeff Farrell

 

If you have a good sense of humour and a few hours to kill, the narration alone makes this audiobook enjoyable. Quite frankly, it's that bad, it becomes funny. Written by Irish plumber come drug mule, Paul Keany, you’d expect the writing to be a little ropey, yet this was written with the help of an actual journalist, so Im unsure why it is this bad - but that's not the only thing bad about this book.  At the start, I thought ‘If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime’, which sounds unsympathetic, but Paul's character does little to enable the reader to sympathise or understand this nightmare predicament. 

The book starts with Paul's trip to Venezuela, explaining that he lost his plumbing business in the recession, which sounds dreadful, but I can't understand how you'd think becoming a drug mule (knowingly) would ease the issue, or that you'd get away with it? idiot. Paul mentions recreational cocaine use as part of his weekend lifestyle choices, so I expect he knew dealers already.  

Having failed to smuggle a suitcase with 6 kilos of cocaine out of Venezuela, and being busted at the airport, our hero (he really thinks he is) smuggles cocaine INTO the Venezuelan jail, Los Teques,  so he can deal for prison cash. He also brews illicit alcohol, gets into fights, snorts cocaine daily (his words) and befriends a band of fellow criminals, which at times, makes this nightmare prison sound like a holiday camp (this is where the audiobook narration becomes laugh out loud funny). 

Throughout this book, Paul Keany talks about morality, choices and karma, and having based this book on his prison diaries, his real-life ending is karma all on its own. Paul Keany died of a cocaine and alcohol induced heart attack in 2021 at age 58, which is karma in its purest form, I'd guess, quite like that cocaine he tried to smuggle into Ireland. No sympathy whatsoever. 

If you want a good drug mule, true crime story (with a hint of the Irish), I'd suggest 'You'll never see daylight again' by Michaela McCollum. instead.

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com 

Book Review: Ronnie Spector - "Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness"

Words By Ryan Oxley

A recent charity shop find of mine was a music memoir of incredible revelations. One of my all-time favourite songs is 'Be My Baby' by The Ronettes and upon picking up  Ronnie Spector's memoir, Be My Baby: How I Survived Mascara, Miniskirts, and Madness for a bargain £2.00, I was looking forward to finding out more. The real surprise was how utterly compelling her life story was (she died in 2022) and even features a story or two about my other favourites: The Beatles. 

This is a fascinating account of Ronnie's life in the limelight as the lead singer of the iconic girl group, The Ronettes, and her tumultuous marriage to the infamous producer Phil Spector. First published in 1990 and later expanded with a new edition, the book offers an unvarnished glimpse into the highs and lows of a music career intertwined with personal struggles and survival.

From the outset, Spector’s voice in the book is candid, energetic, and conversational. She invites readers into her world with warmth, reliving the glory days of her youth growing up in New York's Spanish Harlem and the meteoric rise of The Ronettes. With their signature beehive hairdos, thick eyeliner, and unforgettable harmonies, The Ronettes became one of the most influential girl groups of the 1960s. Their hits, including the famous "Be My Baby," were characterized by Phil Spector’s "Wall of Sound" production style, and the group enjoyed international success. Ronnie Spector’s recollections of this period capture the excitement and pressures of fame, but her anecdotes are what truly bring the story to life. From hanging out with The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to performing on television and world tours, the first half of the memoir is a thrilling journey through the heart of 1960s pop culture.

However, the book takes a darker turn when it delves into her troubled marriage to genius/madness record producer, (later, convicted murderer) Phil Spector. While he was an undoubted musical genius, the book paints him as an incredibly controlling and abusive husband. Ronnie describes in vivid detail the emotional and psychological torment she endured while living with Phil, including being locked inside their mansion for days on end and having her career nearly destroyed by his obsessive control over her. These revelations are chilling, and they shed light on the dark undercurrents of an industry that often allows powerful men to manipulate and silence women.

Despite these harrowing experiences, what makes Be My Baby so compelling is Ronnie’s resilience. She openly discusses her battles with alcoholism and depression, but also her determination to regain control of her life and career. After years of abuse, she finally managed to escape her marriage in the early 1970s, and the latter half of the book focuses on her attempts to rebuild her life as an independent artist and a mother. Her tone is never bitter but rather one of strength and hope. A stark comparison to that other famous beehive/tragedy- Amy Winehouse. 

Beyond the personal drama, Be My Baby is a treasure trove of anecdotes for music lovers. Spector's reflections on her peers, the changing landscape of the music industry, and the evolution of pop and rock music add depth to the memoir, offering readers a backstage pass to some of the most pivotal moments in music history. The in-depth analysis of the recording of the Christmas Album is worth £2 on it own! 

Be My Baby is a deeply personal and inspiring memoir that chronicles the journey of a woman who, despite facing overwhelming challenges, emerged as a symbol of strength and survival. Ronnie Spector's voice — both on the page and in music — is unforgettable, and her story is a must-read for anyone interested in the world of music, celebrity, and the complexities of personal resilience.

www.ryanoxleywriter.blogspot.com