In Pieces

 

In Pieces by Sally Field
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Perhaps as much of an exploration as a memoir, Field recalls her childhood and her early acting days. At one point she asks "Why is it easier for me to write about the times in my life that felt humiliating or shameful?...Do I hold on to those dark times as a badge of honor, or are they my identity?" And indeed, this is a much darker book than what I'd expected from Gidget. I had never followed Sally Field as a fan, but do enjoy her acting and was surprised to find that she had been through so much. She does have a lot of painful, raw experiences in here--and this book feels like a way for her to maybe make sense of them, figure out what part she had to play in them, and what responsibility she should shoulder as opposed to her mother (and others). She also shares how acting was also a passion, ambition, and escape. Her desire to be better is admirable. Although we get a lot of details about her early life, she races through most of her time as a bona fide star, the focus being her relationship with her mother and the resolution she was able to come to at the end of her mother's life. More interesting and insightful than simply a tell-all, this a beautiful odyssey of self-discovery.

View all my reviews