The English Roses admonishing her older provocative self. Madonna's narration was described by Ginny Dougary as "bossy". She also found parallels with the singer's childhood in "The English Roses". "Slate"s Polly Shulman found the book to be "charmless, didactic" and egoistic since she felt it revolved around Madonna and her daughter. Shulman added that ""The English Roses" is a dull little thing, though not incompetent. Madonna does understand the basic structure of storytelling—perhaps too well", with multiple cliches present while making the titular characters "so passive that they might as well be good." David Kipen of the "San Francisco Chronicle" humorously said that
Blue Roses from the Moons critic Thom Owens wrote, "Though the slick sound is a little disarming for longtime fans, Griffith's songwriting remains skilled and assured, and while there aren't as many standout numbers as before, her graceful melodicism and lyricism and the professional production makes Blue Roses From the Moons a very pleasant listen." All tracks composed by Nanci Griffith except where indicated. Blue Roses from the Moons Blue Roses from the Moons is a studio album by Nanci Griffith, released in March 1997. The album was recorded from live takes in the studio, with her band "The Blue Moon Orchestra" and Jerry Allison,