Book: The Meaning of Mariah
Author: Mariah Carey with Michaela Angele Davis
Published: September 29, 2020
Wine Choice: Champagne Darling! De Margerie Grand Cru Brut or a Classic Martini
Stand Alone, Series, or Other: Stand Alone
Genre: Autobiography/Memoir
How long did it take me to read this book: One Week
Audible/Google audiobooks: One Week p.s. Get the Audible, you will not be disappointed. Also, it is an Audible exclusive.
Overall rating: 🥂🥂🥂🥂; and a 🍸.
It took me so long to post this blog, my goal was to post it Monday but things happen.
I blame TikTok for how I ended up reading Mariah Carey’s memoir. I was scrolling TikTok one day when I came across a content creator who was reading the book and talked about her time with Derek Jeter à https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTM2M2B6n/
My eyes widened👀 , and I said, “What?!!?!?” verbally. My coworker looked over at me, and I smiled. Giving a sorry smile with an apologetic wave. I listened to the content creator’s entire series about Mariah Carey’s memoir and decided to read the book. As soon as I got paid, I purchased the book and used my Audible monthly credit to download the audiobook.
Mariah Carey’s Memoir is a deep dive into what made the majestic superstar. Mariah Carey’s life is marked by tremendous highs and lows that can truly break anyone spiritually. The fact that, like her song “Fly Like a Bird,” she soared above all her valleys to reach a pinnacle of greatness that only a few entertainers have achieved. Ms. Carey takes a deep dive into her past family history, which laid the groundwork for her creative outlet and made her realize that sometimes found family is better than blood family. Things I did not know about Mariah Carey before reading this book about her love affair with Derek Jeter. Although it was a small lover’s tryst, you can tell it held significant meaning in her life and unlocked another level of creativity.
Ms. Carey, recounting the height of music in the nineties, was top-tier, working with legends, including Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Her personal moments with icons, such as Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross. The fact that she had a personal moment with the legendary Prince and never revealed a word of his encouragement. Can we all agree that Prince only talked to and encouraged the baddest, most creative women in the music industry? (Sidenote: I want to be shady and say except for one, but I will leave it alone.) Her retelling of working with Diddy, Ol’ Dirty Bastard, and Jermaine Dupree was both funny and professional. Mariah Carey, recounting her experience speeding through Harlem with Cam’ron for fun, had me looking at Mariah like she was a true around-the-way girl. Reliving parts of the 1990s through Mariah’s life made me realize that the 1990s and early 2000s were a golden age of music.
I think my top three saddest moments while reading Ms. Carey’s book were each time her family broke her trust and used her for personal gain. It was not worth it, and you can tell it broke Mariah in a way that only a relationship with God could repair. An accident that involved her brother and mother made me realize she was so close to being put in a conservatorship if their plan had worked. I can say each time her family tried to break her spirit, it seemed like God sent an angel to lift her, protect her, or provide the strength she needed to choose herself. Even when she was going through the divorce with Tommy Motolla, it was as if God sent her Derek Jeter to remind her how to love. The moments that I cheered for Mariah Carey in her book were when she connected more deeply with God, had the opportunity to make amends with her father, and the tender moment she shared about how having her children healed her and allowed her to create the family she had constantly desired.
When I think of all the memoirs I read over the years, Mariah Carey is the right balance of awe, trauma, redemption, and honesty. If you choose to read this book, consider purchasing both the paperback and audiobook versions. In the audiobook, you get to hear Carey recite lines from her iconic songs, poems, and sing. I love it when she adds clips of audio from other artists who have sung on a Mariah Carey song. This book offers a glimpse into the elusive life of a chanteuse, with a vibe reminiscent of talking to an old friend you haven’t seen since college, and you never want to stop the conversation.
I suggest while reading this book darling, you break open a bottle of De Margerie Grand Cru Brut champagne; it is clean and crisp with fruit-forward aromas. I tasted a bit of citrus with a creamy undertone. It felt dreamlike and added to the dreamy quality of Mariah’s life when things were going well. Moments like singing with the legends. The happiness she felt being around Derek Jeter. Now if Champagne is not your vibe, you can also do a classic Martini made with Vermouth or even a Gin Martini when she had to deal with the sour notes of life. As I finish typing this blog, also go check out how to make a martini here à https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-a-classic-martini-240334
Go listen to Mariah Carey’s new album here “Here For It All” at this link à https://open.spotify.com/album/6MljmKZLh52AUR1v5WpWst?si=PPq02NSHQz2CpWPpLoC5Qg
Until Next Time,
Che Michelle
Che-Michelle Tales 
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