I cannot tell you how important these books that are written by driven women who are coming of age during the dawn of feminism are to me. With all of the sensitivity and emotional intelligence she’s known for in her acting, Sally Field, adeptly shares her life and insights in her memoir, In Pieces.

Trigger warning, Field shares a good deal of trauma in this book, which she experiences throughout her childhood. However, there’s a deep sense of honesty and insight in the book that makes the message feel important for a broad audience.

With the wisdom of hindsight, Field is able to see how she repeatedly lost herself to men–to her intimate relationships with men and to her sometimes troubled relationships with movie makers. I felt that in my bones. But, Field ends triumphant. It seems she is self-possessed. She knows herself now. She is the main character in her life. That change and realization is possible.

Her relationship with her mother (and the other women in her family) is also interesting. I’m finding that familial relationships and friendships are so rich with emotional fodder and context and potential for story, and Field’s insights here are so moving!

Selfishly, I wanted this book to be more about her role in Forrest Gump, which I found to be stunning and immaculate, but it barely gets mentioned. Instead, more attention goes to her role as Mary Todd Lincoln, which was of course a role that was more recent and seemed more consequential. I guess now I should watch it!

Overall, this is a tough book, but a good one. The reader watches Field gain self awareness and confidence over the course of her career, and it’s really inspiring!