Sinéad O’Connor penned a candid and self-reflective autobiography, Rememberings, in 2021, showcasing her life before her untimely death on July 26, 2023. However, more books detailing the acclaimed singer’s life are expected to follow. It should be noted, though, that there might be a large divide between the dramatic portrayal of her life and the genuine person away from the limelight.
Ariane Sherine aspires for her book to highlight O’Connor’s courageous and revolutionary side. However, it often comes off as a stark rundown of O’Connor’s mishaps, with short entries that could hardly be called chapters. There are headings like Support for the IRA, A Confrontation with Madonna, A Physical Altercation with Prince, Her Initial Attempt at Suicide, The Rivalry in Love and Fourth Child, and her Battle with Grief. Despite the wealth of research, the book fails to provide ample context, thus being short on profound insight, with the only exception being Neil McCormick’s recollection of visiting O’Connor’s Co Wicklow residence in 2014.
In contrast, Sinéad O’Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations counteracts Sherine’s sensationalist style with thoughtful substance. The book, introduced by American singer Kristin Hersh, contains nine interviews featuring O’Connor, including two with Irish papers, one with the UK’s New Musical Express (NME), and several with US-based platforms (Rolling Stone, Spin, Inside Entertainment magazine, Texas radio station KUTX, and ABC’s The View television talk show).
O’Connor’s assertive voice shines through in the interviews, often reflecting painful honesty. Her statements range from perceptive (“I am a constant reminder to people that they are in pain” – Spin, 1991) to brazenly candid about her feud with Prince (“I told him how he could take a long walk down a short pier” – The View). As a result, the interviews present a more comprehensive perspective of O’Connor, who has been unfairly labelled and maligned all too often.