Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

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 child—and yet. I’m 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 me—just 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 I’m 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 I’m in danger. I hold my face deep in the shag. Hide in the carpet. Not to be at all anymore—and yet. And yet… This man’s focus is totally on me; at this moment, I’ve won him. I am flypaper, the sweet sticky temptation, and he’s 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.