In Sinéad O’Connor: The Last Interview, we are offered a compact but in depth aggregation of interviews with O’Connor spanning different eras of her life and work. All of the obvious topics are covered: the SNL protest, her hair, her spirituality. The interviews range from 1986-2021 and O’Connor contradicts herself from one to the other, as is her right. Her earlier interviews are more intense and career-focused, while the ones nearing the end of her life have her discussing her connection to God (always God, never religion) and detail her life as a mother. These are my favorite as they show a tenderness to O’Connor that wasn’t really usually afforded her in mainstream media. As a fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this collection, especially the opening essay by Kristin Hersh, detailing a night in 2005 where she and O’Connor were brought together at some event they didn’t seem to want to be at and “chatted like women on a bus.” I have to admit I hated that the book ends with an interview Sinéad did on The View. I understand it was necessary due to chronology but think it makes the collection end on a dud note. Sinéad O’Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations is brimming with thoughtful and sometimes rambling insights that the inclusion of a daytime talk show interview felt like a disservice to her legacy. The hosts are respectful and compassionate but don’t offer much other than surface level commentary and questions. The interviews by Deirdre Mulrooney, Nicholas Jennings, Jody Denberg, and Bob Guuccione, Jr., offer a more deep, warm, and introspective look at such a staunchly independent and iconoclastic artist.

Series of interviews with Sinead in chronological order. Interesting, and heart-breaking. What a talent! Thank you to # NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

As a fan of Sinead O'Connor's music ever since her first album dropped, I was heartbroken to hear that she passed away so young. It's so awesome that the Last Interview series chose to put together a book of her interviews. That said, if you've followed Sinead O'Connor at all over the many years, even vaguely, you know that she's not always coming across as the most stable or sympathetic person and that definitely is the case in these interviews, unfortunately. But that's one-hundred percent her so I appreciate that they didn't try to edit anything and turn her into someone else. It's an interesting read, although uncomfortable at times.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review the ARC of this book.

Sinéad O'Connor: The Last Interview and Other Conversations by Melville House.
A gripping compilation of interviews spans years and years of her life, hows the mind and mindset of this outstanding artist. Her haunted soul, the tragic circunstances of her death and abova all else, the love for her music and her son.
A gripping raw and gritty read.