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Saved by a Song

The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting

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Saved by a Song

By: Mary Gauthier
Narrated by: Mary Gauthier
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About this listen

This program is read by the author and includes original music and a bonus conversation with Amy Ray of Indigo Girls.

From the Grammy-nominated folk singer and songwriter, an inspiring exploration of creativity and the redemptive power of song.

Mary Gauthier was 12 years old when she was given her Aunt Jenny’s old guitar and taught herself to play with a Mel Bay basic guitar workbook. Music offered her a window to a world where others felt the way she did. Songs became lifelines to her, and she longed to write her own, one day.

Then, for a decade, while struggling with addiction, Gauthier put her dream away and her call to songwriting faded. It wasn’t until she got sober and went to an open mic with a friend did she realize that she not only still wanted to write songs, she needed to. Today, Gauthier is a decorated musical artist, with numerous awards and recognition for her songwriting, including a Grammy nomination.

In Saved by a Song, Mary Gauthier pulls the curtain back on the artistry of songwriting. Part memoir, part philosophy of art, part nuts and bolts of songwriting, her audiobook celebrates the redemptive power of song to inspire and bring seemingly different kinds of people together.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Essentials

"Generous and big-hearted, Gauthier has stories to tell and worthwhile advice to share." (Wally Lamb, author of I Know This Much Is True)

"Gauthier has an uncanny ability to combine songwriting craft with a seeker’s vulnerability and a sage’s wisdom.” (Amy Ray, Indigo Girls)

©2021 Mary Gauthier (P)2021 Macmillan Audio
Creativity Entertainment & Celebrities Instruction & Technique Personal Success Celebrity Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking
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What listeners say about Saved by a Song

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A magnificent, deeply moving, timely read.

From the first sentence to the last, Mary’s wonderful book speaks from and to the fullest reaches of the human heart. She shares, she demonstrates so potently, elegantly and directly how song can indeed speak way beyond words - evoking experience for self and others that can be nothing short of life-changing. Can songs change the world? Yes, they can - of course they can and Mary shows us how and why this is - and why it’s important now more than ever.

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Saved By A Song - with songs included!

This excellent. Often painfully honest. Mary combines autobiography with analysis of how her songs came to be and generously includes audio of the songs as illustration. Definitely recommended!

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Stunning

This audio book is perfect. Mary's voice perfectly matches her writing style, and each chapter includes a performance of the song to which the chapter refers. When I first started listening, I found myself often stopping what I was doing to just listen, and quickly it became my treasured treat to sit and fully engage with the next chapter. Her use of language is exquisite and powerful, her story honest and a profound expression of the strength of the human spirit, of love, understanding and creativity. I loved this reading so much I went and bought the hard back edition of the book, and it has pride of place on my songwriting bible shelf, as my number one most favourite book on songwriting. But I would also recommend it to people who are not songwriters as it is universal in its truth and its inspiration. This book is like no other, in how it weaves her song lyrics, song performance, life story, and self-expression, into a unique audible experience. It is not just an audible book, it is a work of art. Beautiful and moving.

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Inspiring hidden gem

I’m a songwriter of RNB but I always believe if you want to be a great writer you should listen to more than your favourite genre of music. I love the stories and how the songs were created very special moments.

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Sold and sad

After listening to Mary’s combination of memoir and song performance to optimise the audiobook format I’m now completely sold on listening to books. I’m also sad as after ‘Saved by a Song’ surely the only way is down!

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Oh, wow

I suspect that the sight of a grown man looking a bit tearful in the street is not an everyday occurrence. This book accompanied me on my walk to and from work over the course of a week, and all I can say is where’s the advisory? I have not been so emotionally invested in a tale in many years. It literally brought tears to my eyes on several occasions, and I thought that I was familiar with the broader aspects of the story. This is essential listening for anyone interested in the human condition, tragedy and redemption, or just good old folk’n’roll. Get it. You’ll be a better person for the time spent with Mary Gauthier. The accompanying snippets of song really add to the listening experience.

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A life-saving book

This book was calling to me for weeks if not months, and then I finally listened to it, in exactly the right week for me. As a lapsed an underconfident singer-songwriter and someone who shares some of Mary's struggles, but also as a trauma psychology student, this book could not have come at a better time for me. I expect to refer back to it in the future and suggested it for a trauma course reading list. This book is inspiring, healing, beautifully nurturing and hopeful, and will appeal to songwriters, people attempting and/or succeeding in addiction recovery, trauma survivors of many types, those who are lost and lonely, adoptees, veterans, LGBT+ folk, and many others. Thank you, Mary

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exceptional

I am sure the written version of this book is very good, but this story comes alive through Mary's voice and is uniquily suited to the Adubile format

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Stunning

This has to be one of the best syntheses of autobiography and craft - inspiring moving and transformational- a must read not just for songwriters but for anyone who wants their soul to live out loud

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so inspiring, I wrote my first song

there's nothing I didn't enjoy about this book. I couldn't wait to get back to it, desperate to hear more and heartbroken when it ended.

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