In Pieces

Before proceeding with this review, I want to share this:

Honesty is the first chapter in the book of wisdom. – Thomas Jefferson

Demakis, Joseph. The Ultimate Book of Quotations (p. 506). Unknown. Kindle Edition.

Why did I use the above quote? Well, the word honesty sums up my reaction after reading (and listening) to Sally Field share her life with us, the word honesty comes to mind, front and center.

Let me interject this: I got this book largely because the star of Gidget was my standard for gauging every woman I dated. Yes, I realize how naiive and chauvinistic this sounds. But it is honest.

See, even though Gidget lasted only a year, I fell just as in love with that actress as my older brother loved Annette Funicello. Funny thing is, Ms. Funicello really was the wholesome, God-loving angel she came across as, while Ms. Field was more identical to Sybil, the fictional character she starred as. THAT is the beauty and worth of Fields autobiography, In Pieces.

BLUSH FACTOR: Be forewarned, you will not be wanting to read this to your prayer group due to the number of f-words and honest language. I do heartily recommend discussing it with others though, especially in AA or similar settings. Note also there is frank discussion of child abuse she suffered and other similar issues. As I stated, you probably will not want to read this aloud to young ears.

Despite, or perhaps because of, my learning who the real Sally Field was, I loved this book. I woke up early to download it today and read it for an hour or so. Then, went back to sleep. Then resumed reading, and listening to the Audible edition as I readied for, and drove to work. This is THAT engaging.

Excerpt

To avoid any spoilers, I have kept this excerpt extremely short.

But I wanted to be a childand yet.

Im naked. How did I get naked? Did I do that? Did he? He pulled the plastic bags off the dry cleaning that hung in the closet with the sliding doors, the sliding doors with big mirrors on them. He wraps the plastic bags around mejust so. Through my legs, around my chest. He lays me down on the white shag carpeting in the big bathroom and gets into the adjacent shower.

Okay, Doodle, let me see. Move.

The merengue. I am learning to do the merengue. The dance he showed me one night in the den with everyone watching as he instructed. I practiced in the den and now Im practicing here.

Come on, let me see.

I push my face down into the carpet that smells of dust, trying hard to thrust my butt high in the air and down and side to side. I want to be good, but more than anything I want it to be over. And some part of me feels Im in danger. I hold my face deep in the shag. Hide in the carpet. Not to be at all anymoreand yet. And yet

This mans focus is totally on me; at this moment, Ive won him. I am flypaper, the sweet sticky temptation, and hes caught

Field, Sally. In Pieces (Kindle Locations 838-847). Grand Central Publishing. Kindle Edition.

BOTTOM LINE

A definite eye-opener. Five stars. Do yourself a favor and buy add the Audible edition to your purchase. This autobiography is beautiful, sometimes hilarious, and haunting all at the same time.

Five stars out of five.

I am striving to produce reviews that help you find books that you want, or avoid books that you wish to avoid. With your help, my improvement will help you and me improve book reviews on Amazon. Together, you and I can build a great customer review process that helps everybody. Will you join me? It is people such as you who have helped me improve over the years. I’m still learning, and I have a great deal yet to learn. With your help, I’ll improve every day.

One request: Be respectful and courteous in your comments and emails to me. I will do likewise with you.

Thank you so much for indicating if this review helped you, or for your comment.

OK let’s start off with a frank admission… I don’t read books to feel bad. I read for entertainment and when I read about actors it’s typically to hear interesting, insightful and often humorous back stories about their work and career.

THIS IS NOT THAT TYPE OF BOOK.

Ms Fields is a splendid actress obviously had a very challenging childhood. I won’t go into details but this book is really about her family and personal problems. She seems to have never had a thought or feeling that she doesn’t want to spend copious amounts of time analyzing. I felt like I was sitting in on a session with her shrink. I’m sorry to be so insensive but there has to be a point where you stop dwelling on the past and …. move the hell on. She doesn’t seem to celebrate the amazing good fortune she has enjoyed. Just a haze of regret and pain.

Anyway, I really wanted to know more about her relationship with Burt Reynolds (of whom she does not paint a pretty picture) and the many fine actors and directors she has been privleged to work with. No mention of Paul Newman or Robin Williams as costars. Not even much about Daniel Day-Lewis. Lots about Mom and Dad and Jocko and… so on.

So if you’re looking for a good cry this one’s for you. If you’re looking to feel better later – go elsewhere.

Wow! I actually read this engaging, honest and illuminating memoir in one sitting. The brutal honesty and objectivity that Ms Field displays in openly discovering and relating her life-long battle with self-esteem and why she’s the person that she is is refreshing and helped me to see some of the same traps I’ve also fallen into in my own life. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has come from a family that hides it’s secrets or where abuse was present. I really admire Ms Field’s life-long struggle to become the person she always knew was in there somewhere.

Never can imagine what people have gone through until you hear their story. I had a horrible childhood,five sister’s that got through it too,without them I don’t think I could have made it out sane,maybe I haven’t! This book opened my eyes to lots of angels to see life’s problems,I guess we all have crosses to bare. I want to thank Sally for writing this,so talented but not without problems herself,love her!

Sally Fields memoir IN PIECES was seven years in the making. She wrote it without the help of a ghostwriter. The book is quite revealing, intimate, and depicts incredibly haunting childhood memories that are revealed for the first time publicly. My guess, she must have taken one deep breath before she decided to come forward about whats in the pages. Shes indicated, that she wasnt sure she would be able to proceed with it. It is upsetting to know that this successful woman who clearly took the reins and made a career for herself from a very young age and has maintained it, which is no easy feat in this world and especially in Hollywood, but that something as horrific as childhood sexual abuse was considered so shameful that she had to keep it a secret from her own mother until so late into her adult life. Given that one of the most prominent news stories today is up for debate, perhaps, not so surprising, that it is still a challenge for a young woman to be able to come forward without fear of backlash.

Fields book is remarkable. How she handles herself, despite numerous setbacks, her ability to take care of herself and navigate a male-dominated profession, and most of all, to go after what she wanted without the assistance of two reliable parents. Now that I know her full story, I greatly admire her, not only for her shiny awards but for her personal triumphs.

Galaxyaudiobook Member Benefit

- Able to comment

- List watched audiobooks

- List favorite audiobooks

- Bookmark will only available for Galaxyaudiobook member