I thought I knew Sally Field. To me, she was the Flying Nun, Sister Bertrille. All those other roles that followed…Norma Rae, Sybil, Mary Todd Lincoln…were departures or outliers from the perky and adorable actress I’ve known most of my life. So I believed.
If Ms. Fields accomplished nothing else with her story, she’s forever convinced people like me that she’s never been Sister Bertrille. She’s always been the actress who’s a two-time Oscar winner and a three-time Emmy winner. And, we now know that so much of her unfortunate childhood gave her the insights to portray those complicated characters. It’s a childhood framed by strong but flawed women and men who abused, used or abandoned her. As I listened to her tell her own story, I was consumed with sadness for the little girl who learned early that she need to deliver a performance in order to please the people around her so she could feel worthy, liked and to survive, masking her true feelings and nature. I never understood her now infamous Oscar acceptance speech where she stated, “…you like me! Right now, you like me!” I get it now and her reasoning behind it saddens me even more.
While Field tells her story pretty much in a chronological fashion, it’s definitely in pieces, those events throughout her life that either shaped or deeply impacted her psyche or illustrated her nature. By the end, I felt all those pieces came together to reshape my image of her, giving me a more correct portrait of this complicated and talented woman. She still sells herself short but that’s just who she is. You’ll be surprised at the relationships she entered throughout her life, including her five-year emotionally destructive one with Burt Reynolds, some shocking and others inevitable. I’m so glad I listened to her story. It’s taken decades but I finally feel like I know the true Sally Field and I’ll never look at her the same way again. And, I see the haunting cover of this book, her self portrait, with fresh eyes.
Book Info
- Release Date: September 18, 2018
- Narrator: Sally Field
- Audio Length: 10 hours, 41 minutes
- Publisher: Hachette Audio
Blue Mood Café 
People are amazingly complex and our stories, those underneath the protective armor, are often poignant. Sally is no different. Thanks for a compassionate synopsis.
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True words, especially in this case. Thank you, JeanneMarie💜
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Loved your review, Jonetta. I can’t wait to read this one. She’s always been a favorite since I was a young child. I’ve seen so many other positive reviews too. ♥️
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Thank you, Mischenko💜 Ms. Field touched my heart.
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Wonderful review!!
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Thank you, Nicki💜
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Excellent review, Jonetta. 🙂 I don’t know who Sally Fields is, but after reading your review, I’m curious to know about her. Definitely going into my TBR.
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Thank you, Debjani💜 Sally Field is an iconic actress who came into fame in the late ‘60s as a teen in some lightweight roles and then struggled to be taken seriously for the rest of her career despite turning in Oscar-winning performances.
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That’s tragic. Why do people revel so much in bringing other people down.
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It was just so hard for her to overcome the popularity of that series.
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This just sounds amazing. I’ve read really glowing reviews of it, I’m glad to hear you liked it so much too. It really seems like it changes your perception of her entirely. Great review!
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Thank you💜 Ren, it is absolutely mind boggling how in one book I’ve completely changed my opinion and perspective of who she is. The book is aptly titled as she shattered what I thought I knew and left it in pieces.
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This book is high on my want to read list. Glad you found it so worthwhile, Jonetta. Wonderful compassionate review!
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Thank you, Marialyce💜 I am curious as to your reaction after reading this as we probably shared the same image of her based on our history. I’ll forever be haunted by her story.
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Going to request it at the library and see if Jan wants to read it as well. Reading Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson now.
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This sounds so interesting! I’m working on getting into more auto biographies and memoirs!
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It is SO interesting, Christina! This is one I highly recommend.
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This sounds like a must read (or, listen) Jonetta for more than, as you say, understanding the life behind the actress and woman who gave so much of herself, on screen. How heartbreaking to hear it’s because she too is an abuse survivor. And thank you for your heartfelt review as well. Adding this one to my list.
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Thank you, Alexandra💜 This is one where reading would also be impactful, though there was something about Field telling her own story that broke my heart. She didn’t add drama, just authentic emotion in the tough parts. I’m so very, very glad I read this book.
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Just reading your review gave me a lot more insight to her life. And yes, I can imagine listening to Sally doing her own narration adds so much more to what she has to say.
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Lovely review, Jonetta! You captured her complexity so well, and I completely agree about her selling herself short. I definitely need to listen to the audio of this some day because I loved the book too.
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Thank you SO much for recommending this book, Jennifer and your kind sentiments💜 I’m not sure I would have listened to it without your review. I opted for the audio version when I discovered she was the narrator. Obviously, I loved it, too.
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It was a compelling, insightful, and sad read. I love her honesty and the hard work she’s done to put the pieces of herself back together. I wish I had listened to the audio . Nice review Jonetta!
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Thank you, Carol💜 I adored her honesty and courage in revealing her story.
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Me too! 🙌
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I love biographies of interesting people. For some reason, I always connect Sally Field with the mother in Not Without My Daughter, but you are right, she does have an impressive back catalogue. Amazing review – heartfelt and to the point! Now, I want to read this.
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Thank you, Stargazer💜 I’m glad your association was better than mine.
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Thanks! Adding to my TBR!
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I hope you enjoy!
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Brilliant review! I am sure there are lessons to take from her story! x
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Thank you, Meggy💜 Oh, there were many pieces of myself in her story.
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Wonderful review Jonetta. Your first line is exactly what I thought about Sally Field until I listened to this book. She is a very strong woman, molded by all that she experienced in life. I felt for her as I listened to this book and totally changed my view of this talented actress.
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Thanks, Carla💜 We are of that generation that formed our opinion of her from that early role and for some reason could never let it go.
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Wonderful review Jonetta! I saw it earlier on GR and sounds interesting.
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Thanks, Holly💜 I was riveted!
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I’m on the waiting list for the audiobook. Thanks for the review
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Thank you, Ezi💜 I hope you find it interesting, too.
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I find her a fascinating woman. I’m also on hold for Demi Moore’s book
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I’m on hold for that one, too!
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I’d like this. It is always interesting to me when a book is narrated by the author. Outstanding review!
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Thank you, Anne💜 You’d very much appreciate her story.
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Reblogged this on pearladapridham.com and commented:
It’s always interesting to learn about the lives of famous people. Here’s a post by a fellow bookblogger, bluemoodcafe.com/20, an audiobook autobiography of Sally Fields. Thank you for the opportunity of reposting your review. I think some of my friends may like to listen to this audiobook while driving or cooking, or walking on the seawall or even just relaxing.
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Thanks for the reboot, Pearl💜 I hope you enjoy, too!
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