Blood

A Memoir

By: Allison Moorer

Narrated by: Allison Moorer, Shelby Lynne

The Grammy and Academy Award-nominated singer-songwriter's haunting, lyrical memoir, sharing the story of an unthinkable act of violence and ultimate healing through art

1986, Mobile, Alabama. A 14-year-old girl is awakened by the unmistakable sound of gunfire. On the front lawn, her father has shot and killed her mother before turning the gun on himself. Allison Moorer would grow up to be an award-winning musician, with her songs likened to "a Southern accent: eight miles an hour, deliberate, and very dangerous to underestimate" (Rolling Stone). Now, Allison turns her lyrical storytelling powers to recount the events leading up to the moment that forever altered her own life and that of her older sister, Shelby, with whom she shares an unbreakable bond. Gorgeously written, Blood delves into the meaning of inheritance and destiny, shame and trauma - and how it is possible to carve out a safe place in the world despite it all.

With a foreword by Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, Blood is a familial Just Kids that reads like an intimate journal - vivid, haunting, and, ultimately, life-affirming.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Allison Moorer (P)2019 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Written with brave, clear-eyed compassion for all involved, Allison Moorer's Blood is an astonishing and moving meditation on family inheritance and acceptance. Despite her family's singularly tragic circumstances, Blood tells a universal story about the things our parents pass down to us - what we learn to be grateful for, what we release ourselves from, and what we simply leave alone." (Jennifer Palmieri, author of Dear Madame President)

"Grit and grace, beauty and pain, on every wise page. Allison Moorer has given us a memoir as bloody, rich, and complex as red Alabama clay." (Alice Randall, author of The Wind Done Gone)

"Like her songwriting, Moorer's prose is steeped in a rich sense of place, vivid characterization, and a story you will never forget. Not since Joan Didion's Blue Nights has grief been explored with so much beauty and complexity." (Silas House, author of Southernmost)

Actions....

Loved it, Just sad to know what one persons actions can do to two peoples lives.

Try not to cry

I try not to cry. It was very touching. I love the fact that the
Sister did the forwarding for the book. It would be nice for the sister to do a book too. Be prepared to cry....

Honest true life story

This book moved smoothly and quickly as the story unfolded and brought me to tears at times. What a true and painful image of child abuse and domestic abuse by a father and husband. The narrator did an excellent job of keeping the reader involved and the author has presented the type of memoir that informs and entertains. I have recommended this book to others.

Page Turner

The story was straight to the point from the beginning, which I ABSOLUTELY loved! I listened to it in one sitting, couldn't wait to find out what was said next.

Impressive

Excellent.

Well written.

Extraordinarily delivered.

Gut wrenching.

This should be required reading, hearing for everyone with a heartbeat.

Deeply Emotional

This book talked about many of my own experiences in life. It opened my mind to understanding why I am who I am. I’m glad I read it. I’m so sorry she went through so much tragedy. My heart hurts for her and her family. But still… she teaches about forgiveness and unconditional love.

Incredibly moving

A beautifully written memoir of how a horrific childhood and catastrophic family tragedy reverberates through a life, all told with sensitivity and a yearning for understanding. This book will stay with me forever.

Heart to Heart like only Sisters could know.

It's heart warming, heart breaking truth about a families story. I bought a Shelby Lynn cd years ago because her voice was so unique. I loved her rendition of an old love song and had no idea of her upbringing or her past history. I also love Allison's voice, she did a wonderful job and she draws you in to listen like few narrators can do. I've listened to more than 150 audible books and her voice is a one of a kind.

Familiar

So many stories I could relate too. One funny memory was the half stick of gum... yes, my mother would do that too! Most memories were sad... I’d summarize it as sad survival

The lose of parents, the insights learned, by this author were so precisely expressed.

My parents didn’t kill each other . I had a good childhood. Only child. My parents died young, Dad at 49, cancer, Mom at 54 massive coronary. I was 19 when Dad died, 24 when Mom died. Yet ,there were so many small spots of connection I experienced that were expressed in this book. Wow. I would have to write a book to tell them all. This I cannot do Read this book with an open mind and recognize the words that jump out at you. It’s amazing how this woman writes and expresses
Her understanding of her family dynamic and her ability to rise above the horrors of her dysfunctional family.