“Lady Sings the Blues” — An Interesting Biography of Billie Holiday This book, published in 1956, is a must for any jazz lover. Written by Billie Holiday herself and William Dufty, it covers the difficult life of Lady Day in the first person from her birth to the fifties, immersing the reader in the musical ambiance and lifestyle of jazz musicians of three decades. This hard/gritty/difficult story teaches us about coping, perseverance, and resilience. Since her childhood, Holiday faced discrimination, fear, poverty, substance abuse, and all kinds/sorts/various other of difficulties. That didn't prevent her from becoming the most creative and emotional jazz singer of all time. “Lady Sings the Blues” not only teaches us about jazz history, but also entertains us with a bitter sense of humor and a writing style that makes reading it pleasant/a joy/a pleasant experience. Since this book is autobiographical and was published during Billie’s lifetime, some facts may have been altered or embellished. Some of them are different from the ones I've studied in other sources, but I don’t know which ones to believe. You can't expect the rawness of Sylvia Plath Diaries, to whom death came so soon making it impossible for her to make changes later, or the accuracy of a historian. However, the relevant storyline sustains. In conclusion, this biography is an interesting approach/examination/narrative of/ to Billie Holiday's life that will surely increase/improve/enhance your understanding of her songs and interpretation. I personally enjoyed it so much and I strongly believe that it is worth a read if you like jazz as much as I do.