If you think you know The Elusive Chanteuse, even just a little bit, I wholeheartedly recommend this memoir. It not only aims to set the record straight but does so in a way that undoubtedly captures Mariah's inimitable voice.

The collaboration between Mariah Carey and Michaela Angela Davis is one that merits applause and recognition for the ability to delve into such dense topics as racism, personal identity, police brutality, and emotional trauma. However, the work of these co-authors also successfully blends the serious with the fanciful, lighthearted, and more festive memories from Mariah's career and personal life. In essence, their effort resulted in a memoir with the philosophy of a history book yet the pithy wit of a contemporary novel; the best part is that each page carries an authenticity and sincerity that is hard to duplicate.

A rather quick read for my usual pace, this account of MC's life balances constantly between lifting the veil past what glamour shots and music videos put on display and approaching each vignette with some of her patented festive charm. At times, though she remains private about certain periods and events, Mariah does manage to weave a coherent yet stylized retrospective of her life that captures the mind and elicits a smile.

As for the pitfalls of the book, what prevents me from rating higher than 3.5 stars is the fact that the chapters weigh heavily on Mariah's early childhood, adolescence, and first marriage. Meanwhile, the years after her young adulthood are rather nebulous in their depiction across the book's second half. On one hand, she owes us nothing as readers and fans from the outside looking in; on the other hand, the true meaning of Mariah Carey eludes the reader by skirting around some of the most notable anecdotes for fans and Lambs alike.

For the casual fan and the dyed-in-the-wool Lamb, The Meaning of Mariah Carey is a verbal—and partially visual—scrapbook of a life lived against insurmountable odds. If you're not a member of the Lambily from the first page, you'll at least find yourself thumbing through Mimi's discography the same way I was once she begins to weave the tale of her storied career, enveloping each lyric with a tinge of a heavy yet hopeful heart. Whether you love biographies, memoirs, and nonfiction or are simply looking for an entertaining and reflective story, this book is sure to keep you entertained.