A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK OF 2018In this intimate, haunting literary memoir, an American icon tells her own story for the first time–about a challenging and lonely childhood, the craft that helped her find her voice, and a powerful emotional legacy that shaped her journey as a daughter and a mother.
One of the most celebrated, beloved, and enduring actors of our time, Sally Field has an … 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. From Gidget’s sweet-faced “girl next door” to the dazzling complexity of Sybil to the Academy Award-worthy ferocity and depth of Norma Rae and Mary Todd Lincoln, Field has stunned audiences time and time again with her artistic range and emotional acuity. Yet there is one character who always remained hidden: the shy and anxious little girl within.
In Pieces
By sallyfield
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An immensely readable memoir about a remarkable life!Sally Field
I recently listened to my first audiobook—In Pieces by Sally Field. I’ve always been a fan of Sally Field, but I wasn’t sure if I would be a fan of audiobooks. I’m happy to report that listening to In Pieces captivated me, and in this particular case, I believe that listening to the author’s memoir in her own voice is the best way to go.
If you are looking for a fluff piece about Field’s time as the Flying Nun or her romantic relationship with Burt Reynolds, this isn’t the book for you. Those subjects are covered, but are only a small part of the story. Sally Field is up close and personal in this raw portrayal of a scared and timid child who carries her fears and vulnerabilities into adulthood. While the focus is largely on Field’s pursuit of a career, it is also an intimate look at the relationships in her life and how they molded (and sometimes tore down) her resolve. I listened to the end of the epilogue with a whole new admiration for Sally Field. She didn’t put herself on a pedestal—quite the opposite. I don’t think I could have put myself out there the way she did, revealing her flaws as a mother, admitting her extreme insecurities, and confessing the mistakes she made along the way. Yes, she had negative things to say about those who wronged her, but reading about her life felt like a case study of one woman’s psyche, a woman brave enough to share her story with the world. Seven years in the making, Field gives us this inside look at her life (often traumatic and hard to hear), but manages to keep it entertaining and uplifting in the right places. Highly recommended.
DISCLAIMER—There are language and situations in this memoir that might offend some listeners/readers.
I loved this book. It read like a wonderful novel. It was sincere, poignant, and well-written. I got up at 4 a.m. this morning and read it in one sitting. She brings all her family members, and Burt Reynolds, ie the incredible hunk on the rug, to life.
Loved it!
A beautifully written account of Sally Field’s early life and career. It’s very honest, touching on difficult childhood memories, family relationships and romantic relationships. Eloquent yet frank, the writing gives you a real sense of the authenticity she brings to her acting roles and the challenges of being equally as authentic in real life.
Well written. I admire Sally Field’s talent and past works. She laments not having a “formal” education, but her body of work in films alone would certainly earn her at least four Masters of Fine Arts degrees from any university.
One of my favorite actresses!! How can you not love reading about her!!
This is not your usual movie star biography. It was a fascinating story of mother-daughter love and a honest look at how real Sally is. I enjoyed this from start to finish and even cried at the end.
An incredibly honest telling of the life behind the dimples. Proof once again that you never know another person’s story, no matter what you read in the media or think you know from a (rare) tv late-night show appearance. The story of her relationship with Burt Reynolds, for example, was a real surprise. And her ability to look honestly at herself and her relationships helps to make this one of the better memoirs. A mother-daughter love story.
so interesting. A favorite actress of mine but sad to hear of her tragic live and all the difficulties she overcame.
I’m not much for celebrity biographies, but I picked this one up on sale and didn’t regret it. Field had an interesting journey to stardom. I found out a lot I didn’t know about her and found this thoroughly enjoyable.
I listened to this book on audio.
Totally engrossing
I could not turn it off!
I cried, I’ve left I felt so sorry for her and yet kind of jealous too. I have always loved Sally Fields acting, from Gidget, to the Flying Nun, Sybil and Norma Rae, I have enjoyed them all.
Thank you for opening up your life to see what has been a long road for you.
This was really intense! Sally Field has certainly been through a lot in her life…
Wonderfully open, honest and surprising in every way! I just couldn’t put it down.
Sally Field writes very well. She is very honest and open. This is an interesting book. It made me curious to learn more about her movies and TV series too.
Sally Field’s memoir, In Pieces, is a fun, funny and sometimes tragically revealing look at one of Hollywood’s most successful actors. Born in 1946 to an actress, her step-father was also a stunt-man and later an actor.
Sally Field shares honest appraisals of the often unglamourous side of acting. When she starred in her first television series, Gidget, at the age of eighteen, the shallowness of the storyline troubled her, but the series did last for two seasons. Another popular series, The Flying Nun followed for three seasons. Although the costuming as a flying nun was uncomfortable with wires poking her, the series had favorable reviews and firmly launched her career. Soon to come were widely popular movies such as Smokey and the Bandit, Sybil, Norma Rae, Places in the Heart, and a TV series, Brothers & Sisters, to name only a few big-screen and television productions. She has won numerous awards including the Academy Award, Emmy, and Golden Globe. Along the way, Field shares fun tidbits about her fellow actors and the incongruous side of movie-making.
The memoir delves into Field’s rocky childhood with an abusive step-father, her early marriage to her childhood sweetheart, and later, a long-standing and revealing relationship with actor Burt Reynolds.
I found Field’s writing unflinchingly honest and courageous, both in discussing her personal life and as an actor. She has the ability to laugh at herself, though her dedication to her craft is serious business. Sally Field has long been one of my favorite actors, and In Pieces has cemented my opinion.
Her response to sexual abuse is interesting to me. Her response is very well documented – the way she explained her mind (in pieces, compartmentalized), but there seems to be no anger there. Unusual. No drama.
I love reading about lives of entertainers because they have unique experiences contrasted with everyday living. She’s a good writer.
In Pieces is Sally Field’s life story, as she has chosen to share it. I have always liked Sally Field, and while some of her career predated my life, her performances in later projects, such as Sybil, Smokey and the Bandit, etc. were definitely a part of my teenage years (Sybil was quite influential to me and my career choice). She’s a wonderful and accomplished actress. The book tells her story including her great grandparents, grandparents, mother, stepfather, etc. I actually almost put the book down after the first 25 pages or so (snoozer) and several times kept looking back at these reviews to assure myself that it would get better. I didn’t need such detail, and while it came together — sort of — later, the book did not immediately grab me. Fields’ childhood was challenging and she shares some experiences with her screen personas. The book became more interesting as she got into the movies/shows she made and her techniques and motivations. She leaves out any mention of Robin Williams, surprisingly, or some of her costars, which would have been interesting. All and all I did enjoy the book after a very slow start, and ended up with more respect for her as a person and star. I’d recommend this book if you are curious about her life.
I am ambivalent. I don’t know whether I am ambivalent about the memoir or about Sally Field . . Probably both. The writing is well-done for the most part. I think I understand her “You like me, you really like me!” statement at the Oscars because she exposes her vulnerabilities of living in dysfunctional relationships in her personal life and how she transforms them as an actress.
I enjoyed learning about Sally Fields and her life! She’s a remarkable woman!
I think Sally Field is a very good
actress but I could not finish the book
I felt so depressed learning about her
background. I hope and pray that she
has a happy life.
I could not finish this book. I have always
thought she is an excellent actress but I
did find that the way she was treated was
very sad, I also pray that she will be happy.