Book Review | Heartbreak is the National Anthem: How Taylor Swift Reinvented Pop Music

Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This surprisingly slim volume packs in a ton of information for Swifties and music fans in general. Rob Sheffield is one of the great music journalists of our time and is 100% a Swiftie. Those who love Taylor will enjoy the many Easter Eggs and jokes he drops along the way, as well as the whole catalog of knowledge he possesses, and music fans will enjoy his professionalism for this deep-dive into one of the greatest pop icons of all time.

Sheffield has been there from the very beginning, back when Taylor was just another young girl with her guitar and a dream, landing her first record deal in Nashville. He is Taylor's preferred journalist and he's had much more contact with her throughout her career than any other music journalist, period. He knows her work inside and out, and that knowledge is on full display here. With his unique perspective, he is able to chronicle Taylor's career and connect with fans in ways other journalists only dream of.

Taylor is at once both one of the most loved icons of all time, as well as the most heavily criticized. For the most die-hard fo fans, she can do no wrong. For the biggest haters, she can do no right. It's a battle that I don't think anyone is particularly intersted in winning, and that's fine. Like it or not, what Taylor has done for pop music, and music in general, will echo for generations to come.

One of my most favorite things Sheffield does is rank every single Taylor song, currently sitting at 274 entries. He updates the list with each new album and I highly recommend Swifties check it out if you haven't already. While I wildly disagree with some of his rankings, I love seeing what songs other Swifties love and hate. It's crazy how ten randon fans could come up with ten wildly different lists, but that's due in part to the many genres of music Taylor dabbles in - from country, to pop country, to pure synth pop, indie, back to pop, and more. She does it all.

While Swifties will catch many inside jokes and Easter Eggs, that should not dissuade a casual fan from picking this one up. It is a fantastic look at everything that makes Taylor, Taylor. He gets to the heart of the albums and eras, writes of specific songs and what they've meant to him at various stages of his life, and so much more.

Taylor has inspired two generations of young girls now (Gen Z and Gen Alpha) to pick up their pens (glitter gel, quill, and/or fountain - the three ways Taylor has categorized her own music) and guitars and write their own songs. When Eleanor had to stop dancing in the fall of 2023, she had been messing around with a hand-me-down accoustic from one of our cousins. Within a couple weeks, she was at a music school for guitar lessons, determined to learn every single Taylor song ("Our Song" was the first one and she nailed it within just a couple lessons). She's since expanded to take vocal lessons and a performance class, as well as recently adding drum lessons. I am so, so thankful to Taylor for inspiring this in her. Even as Eleanor discovers new artists that she loves even more, Taylor is where it all started.

Though it is obvious that Sheffield loves Taylor, he does not shy away from the times where she has made some serious errors in judgment, nor does he overlook her flaws. But, she's human just like the rest of us. Those issues along the way make her even more relatable, just as her songs do.

This book was not written simply to make a buck off of Taylor's name. In the end, this volume is a love letter - to Taylor, to Swifties, and to music.

Highly, highly recommended.

Book Review | Into the Taylor-Verse: Taylor Swift's Song-Writing Eras

Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This would be a great gift for the Swiftie in your life, or the new listener who wants to know more about one of the greatest music icons of all time.

The book gives an overview of both her life and her work, accompanied by illustrations from each era.

Time and again, those who are not fans are dismissive of her song-writing, claiming all Taylor writes about are her exes. This could not be further from the truth, and that's what makes her so universally appealing. Are there numerous break-up songs? Of course. But what artist doesn't use their personal life to make music? Taylor touches on so many more topics than that though, and this book showcases her talent beautifully. From Debut through Midnights, Taylor captures the feelings of growing up, young adulthood, and the real world - and all the highs and lows that come with each stage of life she's experienced thus far.

Beyond a detailed dive into Taylor's skills as a songwriter, the author looks at her discography as a whole (except for Tortured Poets, which must have come out after the book went through final editing or went to print?), the showmanship and creativity she pours into her tours and live performances, and so much more.

I'm not sure I can truly describe how much Taylor's music has impacted me. Prior to the Eras Tour, I only owned Fearless, which came out in 2008. But Eleanor was a massive fan and begged me to really listen to Taylor. I resisted for months, but finally gave in, and nothing has been the same since then. The emotion that Taylor puts into all her work is absolutely captivating. She can have me in tears as I scream-sing a song that has not been applicable to my life in twenty years. But that is her gift. She taps into these deep wells of emotion and truly heals, long after the cuts have scabbed over but never gone away.

Through her music, we see Taylor's personal growth as well and her development as a songwriter and performer. Her stories are universal, and that's why her music evokes such powerful responses from fans; she is just like us.

In addition to looking at the music, the author also drops in other content that I enjoyed. There's a playlist of songs that are not about exes, mini-bios of her beloved cats, and why the number thirteen matters so much in the Taylor-verse.

This was a thorough journey through Taylor's career, calling attention to the themes that flow from song to song, album to album. Each era is given its time to shine, from her beginnings as the darling of country music (she won her first Grammy awards for only her second album, Fearless - Best Female Country Vocal Performance, Best Country Album, Best Country Song [White Horse], and Album of the Year), through her complete genre shift and the dizzying heights she achieved with 1989 (one of the greatest pop albums of all time - and what's crazy is that it isn't even her best album), to her "comback" after disappearing in the aftermath and of Kim and Kanye's bullshit and lies, to her surprise Covid albums, to where she is now, the undisputed icon she is today.

Highly, highly recommended.

Book Review | Stars Around My Scars: The Annotated Poetry of Taylor Swift

Rating | ⭐⭐⭐1/2 

I really had to argue with myself about how to rate this one. The cover and the title are both so gorgeous, but there were some issues I can't ignore. Some of the annotations didn't fit with what we already know about the songs and the deep Taylor-lore that comes along with a nearly 20-year career. Some of the notes were also a bit of a stretch, but there was enough that made sense to keep me going.

The author does a deep dive into the poetry of Taylor Swift - at this point, let's call it what it is. She takes us line-by-line througha massive amount of songs - forty-six total, spanning all eleven albums. These songs are chosen carefully; they are among the most-loved and also the ones that cause Swifties the most grief in never-ending debates about the content and subject.

Each song is given its space to shine as the author takes us through the development and structure of each. The notes in the margins indicate literary references (TayTay LOVES literature. Check out this review on her many, many inspirations) and poetic techniques. Unfortunately poetry is not really my thing, so I had a crash-course in what some of the terms meant because certain ones were unfamiliar to me. She touches on the numerous easter eggs that we've come to know and love from Taylor, as well as cross-song connections and themes that flow from one song or album to the next.

Following the text of the song itself and notes, the author provides an in-depth analysis on the meaning and symbolism of each, and this is where I disagreed with some of the interpretations.

I loved the format, but felt the text was too small and the colors too light for those who may have issues with sight. Editing is one of my favorite things, so I loved the chaotic scribbles in the margins, the arrows connecting concepts, etc. I could see though how it would be overwhelming for some readers.

Overall, depsite some of the issues I found, I think this book is still of great value to Swifties - and weirdos like me who just love words. The text is impressive and the author clearly knows what she is talking about in terms of analysis of Taylor's songs as poetry. Taylor's work truly is deep and thoughtful in so many instances, and it is art. What she has created in the last twenty years is incredible and I am so eager to see what kind of album she will create next.

Highly recommended for Swifties, also recommeneded for those with open minds who want to see what the big deal is about Taylor's lyrical genius.

Book Review | Taylor Swift by the Book: The Literature Behind the Lyrics, From Fairy Tales to Tortured Poets

Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I don't think non-fans truly understand the depth and complexity of the stories that Taylor tells through her music, or the recurring themes from album to album. This is probably the book I would recommend to those who are not fans, but don't hate her just to say they hate her. It breaks down so many literary references that Taylor brings to life, even ones that I missed because I was scream-singing or ugly crying to some of my most favorite songs.

One author is a lit prof and the other an actor in musical theatre, so each have their area of expertise and absolutely know what they are talking about. I always go into these Taylor books cautiously, because you never know what might end up just being a cash-grab with no real substance that rehashes basic entry-level info that any casual fan might know.

Luckily, that is not the case here.

Anyone who has a remote interest in literature will catch the numerous references to The Great Gatsby and Alice in Wonderland (beyond the obviously titled 'Wonderland' from 1989, one of the greatest pure synth pop albums of all time). However, Taylor is also inspired by the Romantics, Gothic fiction, Postmodernism, and more. She is Dr. Swift after all (has an honorary PhD from NYU), so Taylor knows her stuff.

While Feder is a lit professor, the book remains an easier read and explains things in an academic way without being too dense. This is definitely important for younger readers and those who are not super familiar with literary eras but want to know how those informed Taylor's eras.

I am torn on the book's organization, which is why I rated four stars instead of five. The authors chose to go chronologically, which makes sense because then over time you see how themes developed and which references she continued to draw on. The downside to this is that there is some repetition from album to album, which would have made grouping songs thematically make more sense. But then the reader would miss out on the chronilogical growth, so really there are pros and cons to each.

Each album is accompanied by a reading list, which I found really cool. I like that the authors really dug into authors of each era and did not recommend titles or authors that many might already know. Of course we get Shakespeare and Greek mythology, but there is so much more that they offer up that keep with the themes Taylor was exploring on a particular album. The authors also did the reverse, offering playlists of Taylor's songs that matched up with different novels. The attention to detail and type of information offered here truly is far-reaching.

Highly recommended.

Book Review | Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras

Rating | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This book is stunning.

Whether you're a fan of Taylor or not, this book is gorgeous and those who enjoy reading about fashion may very well like it as well.

I was unfamiliar with the author prior to reading this one; she has been blogging about Taylor's fashion ensembles for over a decade and has a massive following.

Here she not only details the designers who dress Taylor, but provides commentary and analysis on signature looks, daily wear, and concert costumes. She documents Taylor's entire career, from the cowboy boots and dresses of Taylor's early days, to the dazzling choices she displays on red carpets.

Understanding Taylor's clothing choices play a huge role in the narrative of each era. Nothing Taylor does is accidental. Fans know that ANYTHING can be an easter egg and she truly is a Mastermind. Taylor herself has said she typically has things planned two years in advance, so much of what she is showing us now even as she enjoys well-deserved time off after the greatest tour in music history could indicate what is to come.

The author dives into the specifics of each album, detailing a selection of looks that Taylor wore in that particular era. The author connects various outfits to certain songs and lyrics, and why she thinks Taylor and her stylist chose certain pieces. The commentary is subjective of course, but much of the analysis makes sense. The chapter dedicated to what the author calls 'bloopers' is a perfect example - outfits she personally did not think worked for Taylor.

It's almost impossible to not recognize these looks, even if one is not a fan. Through over 200 photos, I found I recognized most of them, despite being a newer fan. I loved seeing the evolution of Taylor's style from her start in Nashville to now being literally the most famous woman on the planet.

Despite being 'unauthorized', I don't feel lke this book was just a chas-grab, unlike much of the other nonsense currently being published. It is clear from start to finish that the author is a fan who loves Taylor so much. Her dedication is apparent throughout, because she is one of us.

Highly recommended.

Book Review | Taylor Swift Is Life: A Superfan’s Guide to All Things We Love About Taylor Swift

Rating | ⭐⭐

Continuing with my celebration of Taylor finally owning her life's work, here is one book you can absolutely skip. Giving it two stars was extremely generous.

The first issue is that the author clearly is not even a Taylor Swift fan. That would be fine if the author wrote factual and correct information, but she didn't. If she were, there's no way she would have made such massive, glaring errors throughout the entire book. In looking at her other writing, this is actually from a whole series about several artists - Harry, Gaga, Rhianna, etc. It reads like the author went through other books about Taylor, looked at Swiftie TikTok accounts, rounded up more info on Twitter, and STILL managed to get a lot wrong.

Secondly, Taylor would absolutely HATE the cover. She opened up about her eating disorder in the 1989-days, and the choice for the cover image is a supremely emaciated, elongated version of Taylor? Gross. Like, Taylor is tall, but not that tall. And she's healthy, not stick-thin with no muscle.

Now for the content. It will be easiest to just bullet point all the ways this book got everything SO, SO wrong.

• Author states that Red only references Jake and Conor. No Harry? Are you kidding me? Some of the best songs on the album are about Mr. Harry Styles (The Very First Night, Trecherous, Come Back...Be Here, Run, Begin Again, I Almost Do, Everything Has Changed, and obviously I Knew You Were Trouble).

• Song titles in the wrong sections for whatever she was talking about

• About folkore, the author says the love triange is between Betty, Inez, and James and he cheats on Betty with Inez. NO. Inez is the only who likes to gossip. He cheats with Augusta/Augustine.

• The song is called You're on Your Own, Kid, NOT You're on Your Own Now, Kid.

• Book claimed to include all eras, but did not include The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. TTPD dropped at midnight on April 19th, 2024 and The Anthology dropped two hours later. It's a double album, 31 amazing songs. The book was published way after the albums came out, so why exclude some of the best songs she's ever written?

• There's a section called 'Who's the Muse' and man, did she fuck this up, too. The author says Jake, John, and Calvin can breathe a sigh of relief for not being referenced on TTPD (and Calvin can, but he's the only one. She literally wrote a song about him for Lover called 'I Forgot That You Existed'). Yet anyone who has half a brain can listen to this amazing collection of songs and realize that it is Taylor looking back on her entire career, all of those relationships, friendships, situations, and people. Almost everyone is included here somehow - Jake/John, Harry, Kim and Kanye, Joe, and even Ratty fucking Healy. To reduce this album to a break-up album only about Joe is incredibly insulting.

• The color theme for folklore is gray, not brown.

Quite simply, there are way better books about Taylor Swift and her music. In-depth break-downs of literary references, her work as poetry, etc. This is a cash-grab by an author who probably doesn't know much about ANY of the musicians she writes about.

Not recommended.

Book Review | The ERAS Tour Book

Rating | All the stars forever and ever and ever

Eleanor and I were lucky enough to attend The ERAS Tour twice - in June of 2023 (Minneapolis N1) and November of 2024 (Indianapolis N2). It was pure magic and I miss it so much. I miss making and trading friendship bracelets, I miss watching grainey and laggy TikTok livestreams "with" my cousin as we shout at each other via text, I miss eagerly awaiting the surprise songs, I even miss the post-concert come-down and exhaustion.

TikTok is full of Taylor fans lamenting the fact that it has been MONTHS since anyone asked us if we know the lyrics to this bridge (Cruel Summer), if we're ready to go back to high school (Fearless set), if we have ten minutes to spare (All Too Well Taylor's Version Ten-Minute Version From the Vault), or if we have one more song to give (Karma, the very last song of the three hour and 15 minute show).

This book was the perfect way to relive all of it.

Captured within these 250+ pages are personal reflections written by Taylor, hundreds of photos from every Era, plus rehearsal photos, design and costume sketches, costume/instrument/equipment photos, and so much more.

Like it or not, Barbara Walters was not lying in 2014 when she said, "Taylor Swift IS the music industry." That was eleven years ago when 1989 came out and Taylor is bigger than ever. 1989 marked Taylor's complete genre-shift that went from country to pop-country to full-on pop. The album is one of the greatest pure synth pop albums of all time, and what's crazy is that it's not even Taylor's best album. There is no one who comes even close to doing what she does.

I was late to the party, not going to lie. I bought Fearless back in 2008, but was not a Swiftie by any means. For a while there she even annoyed me, and I don't have a particularly good reason why. But Eleanor was hooked and she begged me for MONTHS to listen to Taylor. I refused, despite having liked 1989 when it came out, but not really listening to anything else by her in those following years. But seeing how sad my girl was when the tour sold out so fast was hard.

So, we went through it all to get tickets. The shows had long-since sold out when I came to the realization that Taylor's music is fantastic, so StubHub was the next stop. I snagged what I thought were pricey tickets at the time ($450 a piece and worth every penny) and off we went to Minneapolis Night 1.

THEN TayTay announced MORE US dates. My cousin and I both tried for presale, because why not? We wouldn't go if we didn't get presale, because resale tickets would be astronomical this time around. (Resale tickets in our section at the top level were going for $2500. We paid $140 for face value. Don't ever let anyone tell you that it was Taylor who made the tickets so expensive). 

Neither of us expected to get a code, but I did. So in August of 2023, sitting in a first-teacher-day of the school year meeting, my phone was clutched tightly in my hand as I watched the minutes tick by until the sale began. My friends couldn't stop laughing at me as my knee bounced nervously, watching me continue to look back and forth from my phone, to the principal, to the clock on the wall, over and over. With minutes to spare we were released for lunch and I bolted outside as fast as I could to make sure that the cement walls of our building would not be the reason my connection lagged or kicked me out of the queue.

But I did it, I got the tickets, and off we went to Indianapolis fourteen months later.

My mom drove my cousin from Minnesota, and I spent mannnnny hours in the car with two eleven year olds. Eleanor's BFF had never been to a concert EVER, and I loved being part of that experience for her. Back when the Eras Tour movie was released, we'd gone a couple times to the drive-in to see it. The first time we did, Eleanor's BFF looked at me with wide eyes during the opening set of Lover and asked, "This is what we're going to see???" Magical is the only way to describe it.

Highly, highly recommended for the Swiftie in your life.