“In Pieces” By Sally Field

I met Sally Field a few years ago at a party in Los Angeles, and I remember thinking instantly upon meeting her, “My goodness. No wonder she is an actress. Her skin is so beautiful!” Little did I know then that her skin is not only lovely, but also tough as nails. Her recently released memoir “In Pieces,” which she wrote over seven years without a ghostwriter, is a deeply moving account of her life from child star to Oscar-winning actress. In a nutshell, her life was filled with men who disappointed her, and woman who supported her. A delinquent father, a sexually abusive step-father, a slew of bad boyfriends and toxic producers later, she is a proven survivor. It is quite amazing, I think, that she has turned out as seemingly sane as she is. She is able to find charming moments throughout her life that might leave other people running from Hollywood. Take for example, when she was starring in “Gidget,” she and her mom had to go on press junkets. Throughout the day her mom would gather in her large purse snacks, sandwiches and tiny booze bottles meant for the press. When Sally and her mom got back to their motel room at night, they would empty out her mom’s purse to survey their bounty before eating it for dinner. She was on a top rated TV show yet didn’t have enough money for dinner. Then later when she finally had money, producers would buy her fancy cars. She had no interest in cars, and didn’t even like driving very much. She worked her way through two husbands, a long relationship with Burt Reynolds, and a series of hit television shows and award winning movies. The story is bittersweet, insightful, charming and triumphant. I think for those who have enjoyed her performances, this book help you get to know Sally on a much deeper level. I was a “Flying Nun” fan, so I loved this book from page 1. To purchase this book on Amazon click here.