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List Price: $15.00 | | Publisher: Scribner
Salesrank: 71924
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| Media: Paperback |
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Editorial Review:
I Walked the Line is a chronicle of first love, long-kept secrets, betrayal, forgiveness, and the truth--told at last by Johnny Cash's first wife, the mother of his four daughters. It is a book that had the full support of Johnny Cash, who insisted it was time for their story to be told, despite any painful revelations that might come to light as a result.
Many myths and contradictions regarding the life of Johnny and his family have been perpetuated for decades in film and literature. Vivian exposes previously untold stories involving Johnny's drug addiction, his fraught family life, and their divorce in 1968, as well as the truth behind the writing of two of Johnny's most famous songs, "I Walk the Line" and "Ring of Fire."
Supplemented by a never-before-published archive of love letters and family photos, I Walked the Line offers a deeper look at one of the most sig- nificant artists in music history. Here, fans and readers can experience the extraordinary account of love and heartbreak between Johnny and Vivian, and come to understand Vivian's dignified silence over the years. Through this elegant, revealing, and powerful memoir, Vivian Cash's voice is finally heard.
I Walked the Line: My Life with Johnny Reviews:
honey NY 
2009-08-28 - I just received this book. I haven't read it! Looking at it, I'm disappointed to see so many letters. I believed the book to be more of her story, her autobiography. I don't want to read all those letters from John Cash to her.
I don't really think I'll even bother with it - a waste of money. It will be on its way to a garage sale.
Interesting Book, but too much emphasis on letters & not enough facts. 
2009-08-03 - I found parts of this book very interesting. However, the many letters from Johnny Cash to his first wife soon became boring. Some of the letters were very revealing -- they showed a deeply religious man, with strict moral standards, desperately in love, but one who could not maintain the strict standards he had set for himself. They also reveal an intolerance of other people's weaknesses as well as his own. But the letters were so repetitious and so many, I soon became bored and barely skimmed over half of them. I would have liked to see fewer letters and more facts. I also wondered why the author didn't include any of her letters to him?
getting the book "I Walk The Line." 
2009-07-08 - Getting the book was just the beginning of the excitement in getting I Walked The Line" by Vivian Cash. The Packaging and professional way it was delivered convinced me this was the way I wanted to get books online that are correctly advertised, professionally handled and delivered as promised. I would buy from this seller again. I liked their style: advertise, packaging, delivering the book as promised. Well satisfied with the reading of the book and its presentation by the seller.Thank you for introducing me to your book selections.
It lived up to what I thought it would be
2009-03-13 - I found this book to be nothing but the rantings of a woman scorned.
I picked it up while I was having coffee at B&N; and read it there. Most of the book is made up of love letters from John to her. The last chapters are Vivian's accounts of her life with John.
For the most part, all she talks about is how June did her wrong. June this, and June that.
One line that really stuck out to me was something along the lines of "Folsom prison went number one after we separated-Just my luck!"
That line really stuck out to me. It really answered my questions on Vivian's motivations for writing this book.
She bashes June to no end; and by the closing chapter, you're envisioning a two year old throwing a temper tantrum.
She says towards the end of the book, that she never read Cash's autobiography that he sent her. I whole heartily believe this;because if she had, she would have known that HIS account of his OWN life differs from hers.
I do believe she loved him. I really do. But I think she was mad because a huge meal ticket got away...and she was VERY jealous of June.
And her accounts on how Ring of fire was written....don't even get me started.
And why is she listed as Vivian Cash? She got remarried.
Don't waste your money.
A lot of people loved Johnny Cash; but did anyone love him more than did Vivian?
2009-03-05 - This is a wonderful book and shows a different side of Johnny Cash that was not seen by his many fans. The marriage between Johnny and Vivian had a lot more to it and lasted a lot longer than many realize. First of all there were three years ,while Johnny was in Europe in the Air Force that they were deeply in love ,communicated almost daily,developing and expanding their love before they were married.This was before Johnny's career in music even started or had they any idea of what a famous life was ahead for them. Through the letters we see the deep convictions Johnny had about life in general,his extremely deep faith,and deep love for Vivian.We also see the deep love that Vivian had for Johnny.Then came marriage and the unbelieveably rapid rise to music fame,the endless days away on the road,the lifestyle that came with it ,including the drinking and drugs,the raising of four children during thirteen years of marriage.
Although Vivian continued to love Johnny through these years,and remained faithful to him,she was unable to keep him from falling in love with June . She continued to love him all through the years and ,unbelievably never really seemed to allow hatred to consume her or even develop a hatred for June. It is hard to believe that Johnny would walk away from her,and there seems to be little reason that he ever had any hate for her ,even till the last years of his life.
What this book really shows, is that these people who make their living in entertainment world,lead such a complicated and driven lifestyle that few of us fans can even imagine.They give all,body and soul for the things that fame brings and in many,many cases lives are wrecked along the way.The price of fame comes very high and there is often heartache for themselves and family. Yes,there is also a lot of happiness as well.But in many ways their lives get taken over by the "legend".
It is easy to criticize others,but until one walks in their shoes,we shouldn't.The people who bring us so much happiness with their art deserve all the wealth and happiness they are able to get out of their fame;and instead of criticizing anyone or anything they do;we should just stop and think what a price they pay,and what a dull world it would be without them.
When I finished this book a couple of thoughts came to mind.Kris Kristofferson once said something to the effect about Johnny Cash that went something like this"He was a walking contradiction-partly truth and partly fiction".Then there's George Jones's song "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes"?.
A special thanks to Ann Sharpsteen for helping Vivian getting her story out to us ;and it just goes to prove that Superstars and Legends are real people too;and like the rest of us go through life's trials and tribulations,but even on a much greater scale.
