I grew up watching teenage Sally Field in The Flying Nun (Amazon) and Gidget (Amazon) and loved her so much that I own both series on DVD. In the 1970’s, I watched her in the Burt Reynolds movies, in the 1980’s I watched her in movies like Steel Magnolias (Amazon) (AbeBooks), in the 1990’s it was Forrest Gump (Amazon) (AbeBooks). As I discovered when I picked up In Pieces (Amazon) (AbeBooks) Sally Field’s early life was nothing like a fairytale.

From the publisher:

“One of the most celebrated, beloved, and enduring actors of our time, Sally Field has an infectious charm that has captivated the nation for more than five decades, beginning with her first TV role at the age of seventeen.

With raw honesty and with all the humility and authenticity her fans have come to expect, Field brings readers behind-the-scenes for not only the highs and lows of her star-studded early career in Hollywood, but deep into the truth of her lifelong relationships–including her complicated love for her own mother. Powerful and unforgettable, In Pieces is an inspiring account of life as a woman in the second half of the twentieth century.”

I’m a sucker for Hollywood biographies and autobiographies. Usually I walk away with just an okay feeling about the book and slightly disappointed in the subject. In Pieces (Amazon) (AbeBooks) was different. It was fairly well-written from a Hollywood standpoint. Field spends half the book exploring her childhood, with good cause. It was pretty rough.

In Pieces is chronological, but it is also thematic. Field’s relationship with her mother is the focus of the book throughout. To say there was a complicated dynamic is an understatement. I can understand why it took her seven years to write this book, because it was not an easy life to write about.

The reason I didn’t give the book 5 stars was because I wanted to hear more about her adult life and the why she chose certain roles. I wanted to know more about the actress. I also thought the section on Burt Reynolds was confusing and poorly done, clearly because she is embarrassed by her behavior when with him.

As far as celebrity memoirs goes, this is a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

For more reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

Never miss a post! Subscribe to our email list below.

Join our Facebook page Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews or join our book group here.

We are also on Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter and Tumblr. Check us out!

This post contains affiliate links.