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My Extraordinary Ordinary Life
In her delightful and moving memoir, Sissy Spacek writes about her idyllic, barefoot childhood in a small East Texas town, with the clarity and wisdom that comes from never losing sight of her roots. Descended from industrious Czech immigrants and threadbare southern gentility, she grew up a tomboy, tagging along with two older brothers and absorbing grace and grit from he...more
Hardcover, 288 pages
Published
May 1st 2012
by Hyperion
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I loved this book, particularly Sissy Spacek's account of growing up in small town, Quitman, Texas. As I was reading that portion I kept thinking she reminded me of Scout Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird"--that same spirit, spunk, and streak of integrity. (I may have been disposed to think that way because one of my favorite audio books has Spacek reading Harper Lee's classic.) It didn't surprise me when she commented that "To Kill a Mockingbird" was her favorite book and Scout one of her favorit...more
The word "decent" comes to mind when reading this book, in the sense that the writer and her world is one of strength of character, modesty, morality and the appreciation of the true essence of "success" being that of love of family, friends, nature, community and work. Ms. Spacek seems to have lived a charmed life, not without its sorrows, no one can escape that entirely, but she has lived (and is living) a life of which she can truly be proud. Her professional accomplishments are impressive as...more
Sissy Spacek was born on Christmas Day, 1949, in Texas. She was the third child of Edwin and Virginia Spacek and the only girl joining her older brothers, Ed and Robbie. Born in Tyler, a thirty-eight mile harried drive on a holiday from their small ranch house in Quitman, her parents named her Mary Elizabeth, but her brother's called her "Sissy" and it stuck.
The small town, in the piney woods of East Texas, would have a lasting influence on the Oscar winning actress. Her perspectives came from t...more
The small town, in the piney woods of East Texas, would have a lasting influence on the Oscar winning actress. Her perspectives came from t...more
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In My Extraordinary Ordinary Life Sissy Spacek tells the story of her life from her childhood growing up in Quitman, Texas to her current days spent on her beloved Virginia farm. I have always admired Spacek as an actress and I really enjoyed reading this memoir. Her descriptions of her childhood made me nostalgic for my own youth and I was very touched by some of the personal stories she recounts. I was captivated by the stories of her family and also of her time as a struggling musician and la...more
This was a wonderful book. Sissy tells her story in a very warm, genuinely heartfelt manner. She seems to be a very well-grounded person, having been strongly influenced by the small east Texas town she grew up in and by the loving family she was surrounded by. While she and her set designer husband Jack Fisk stay active in the movie business, they and their two daughters live on a farm in Virginia. She has a real sense of who she is and who she's not. I'd say the book is about half and half rea...more
I have never seen Carrie, Badlands, Coal Miner's Daughter, nor many of the films she references in this book, but I have always admired Sissy Spacek for her integrity and forthrightness. I loved her in The Help, and in Missing (which, if you haven't seen it, please do.) I like this autobiography because it shows a loving family growing up in a small town and doing ordinary things. There is no recovering drug addict storyline, no sexual exploits, just a level head and a powerful love, for family,...more
Sissy Spacek is a long time resident of the central Virginia community where I also reside. We know her as a good neighbor and a person who cares about her community. Almost everyone I know has run into Sissy at some time or other around town and they all have nice things to say about her. For these reasons I was eager to read her book. I loved the descriptions of her childhood in small town Texas and the way she traced her roots back to Moravia. She seems to be a very grounded, sensible person...more
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a lovely memoir by a very genuine down-to-earth person who is in wonderment of the life she has led. She has lived most of her life in Texas and Virginia and is a very family oriented person. It was a treat to share in her reminiscences. I discovered just this year that the singer/songrwiter Skyler Fisk is her daughter. I've heard her music on Pandora and she's very talented. Sissy started out wanting a career in music as well but ended up acting in movies....more
Sissy Spacek is Extraordinarily Ordinary!
It was finally an honor to meet Sissy Spacek and Maryanne Vollers, and it was fitting that they conducted some of their research right here at the Quitman Public Library. I could not help wondering why Sissy would be writing an autobiography at such a young age. I love everything about this book! It is well-written and a pleasure to read. There are little line drawings sprinkled throughout the story that made me smile with recognition. The front cover art...more
It was finally an honor to meet Sissy Spacek and Maryanne Vollers, and it was fitting that they conducted some of their research right here at the Quitman Public Library. I could not help wondering why Sissy would be writing an autobiography at such a young age. I love everything about this book! It is well-written and a pleasure to read. There are little line drawings sprinkled throughout the story that made me smile with recognition. The front cover art...more
Sissy Spacek's autobiography - a down to earth woman's story of growing up in a small town in east Texas, her loving family, the ups and downs of a normal family. Taking off for NYC at 18 as a singer/songwriter, and sort of falling into acting. According to Sissy, she only had a few classes at the Actors' Studio, so she's a natural. Meeting her future husband and their happy, artistic lives together. Her writing is easy-going, flowing, but I found the first part of the book rather slow. This is...more
Sissy Spacek is a likeable narrator and the book is an easy read, but I think the book will appeal more to people of her generation than to younger people. The bulk of the book is reminiscences about her childhood, and those are interesting, but I think people who lived in the sort of small Southern town she grew up in will find a lot more to sympathize with than I did. I was more curious about her acting career, which is discussed, but in less detail.
Still, the book is not without it's charms....more
Still, the book is not without it's charms....more
I enjoyed reading the memoir of one of my favorite actresses. This woman is as down-to-earth and humble as they come - so rare for a Hollywood actress. She tells about her childhood and her wonderful family life growing up. Her family was very stable and happy. She initially wanted to pursue a music career and stumbled upon acting by accident. She and her husband Jack Fisk have been married for over 30 years - another rarity. She talks about life behind the scenes on sets such as Coal-Miners Dau...more
This review originally appeared in the Carbondale Nightlife, Sept. 27-Oct.3, 2012, p. 18.
The difference between an autobiography and a memoir is pretty vague. But I think an autobiography should try to give the causes of the life. A memoir presents just the life as it was lived. Sissy Spacek did the latter. This decision was well-considered, and perhaps even calculated. Her new book won’t fly off the shelves. It also isn’t made for close study. When you are finished, you will know many facts abo...more
The difference between an autobiography and a memoir is pretty vague. But I think an autobiography should try to give the causes of the life. A memoir presents just the life as it was lived. Sissy Spacek did the latter. This decision was well-considered, and perhaps even calculated. Her new book won’t fly off the shelves. It also isn’t made for close study. When you are finished, you will know many facts abo...more
A relaxed and relaxing autobiography of a terrific actress, probably best known for her portrayal of Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner's Daughter, although she's done much, much more. Her normal, happy childhood in small town East Texas is wonderfully described. She's been married to the same man (Jack Fisk) for many years, has two great daughters, and although her journey to stardom was not without its dues-paying times, the author comes across as a good person and less laden with angst than many acto...more
She has an interesting life. I loved the characters in her family, especially the quotes and wisdom from her mother. However, I didn't like the way the book read.. It consisted of a lot of little stories, memories of her past, not really a link between thought to thought or necessarily a reason to why the memory has shaped who she is. I am not quite sure what she wanted the world to understand about her by writing this novel.
I personally was drawn to read it as I live in Charlottesville, her cur...more
I personally was drawn to read it as I live in Charlottesville, her cur...more
The memoir of the actress who played Stephen King's "Carrie", the title role in "Coal-miner's Daughter" and most recently the elderly mother of the villain in "The Help". A lot of nostalgia --almost too much for me, and I love the whole sentimental thing almost as much as Thomas Kinkade. For example, you could tell something is going to happen to a member of her family way before she gets around to telling you about it because she goes on and on about how great they are. This got a little tireso...more
This is a delightful book, and I don't much go for celebrity memoirs. But Spacek is one of my favorite actors, and her memories of growing up in small-town Texas in the '50's & '60's are quite wonderful. Her efforts to build the same kind of life for her own children outside of the glare of her public persona (her husband is also a film maker--they met on one of her first movies) speak of a very grounded human, in love with small moments, shared love and good work.
I listened to the audio, wh...more
I listened to the audio, wh...more
an almost five. I have always been a fan of Sissy Spacek. Not only is she a terrific actress, she has always struck me as being a nice down to earth person. her autobiography did not disappoint. she gave us a peek into her years growing up in a small town in Texas. the start of her career, meeting her future husband Jack Fisk. she included some nice pictures. she did write about some of her movie experiences. My only disappointment is I wish she could have talked more about some of the movies sh...more
I have always been fascinated with Sissy Spacek. Maybe because my first date with my husband was to see the movie "Coal Miner's Daughter".
Sissy always seemed so down to earth to me, and after reading this memoir I know that is a truth about her. She has worked incredibly hard to keep her life relatively normal, and out of gossip headlines. She has had the same husband since she was in her early twenties, and raised two daughters mostly on a farm in Virginia. She considers her biggest complimen...more
As a reader, I feel a special connection to the author of a memoir, especially one written by a celebrity who is as down to earth as Sissy Spacek.
I still recall her first movies and how she seemingly inhabited her roles. Almost as if they were made for her.
In "My Extraordinary Ordinary Life," I discover why this is true. Reading about how she grew up in a small town in Texas in the 1950s, I could totally feel connected to her life. Even though I grew up in a small California town, the similariti...more
I still recall her first movies and how she seemingly inhabited her roles. Almost as if they were made for her.
In "My Extraordinary Ordinary Life," I discover why this is true. Reading about how she grew up in a small town in Texas in the 1950s, I could totally feel connected to her life. Even though I grew up in a small California town, the similariti...more
This vacillated between 3 and 4 stars. There was one really special chapter in it about her brother Robbie that peaked right up to 5+ stars, very powerful. But most of the book was a relaxing, lazy stroll through her life with some very funny pieces here and there. I have a great respect for her personal character, very nice. But it did not seem that there was enough here for a memoir. Great values, though, and she never seemed to let the LA Hollywood thing ruin the good ole country girl she had...more
An incredibly warm, sincere story of a very simple life from one of our finest actresses. The movie nerd in me was hopin for more stories about working on-set, but hearing her experiences meeting and workin with her husband Jack Fisk on various films was a joy to discover. She's beautifully down-to-earth and tells wonderful tales of growing up and settling down. Giving this a read after watching her mesmerizing performance in 3 Women was a really pleasant experience during the summer.
I didn't know a whole lot about Sissy Spacek before reading this book. I just knew that she was amazing in Coal Miner's Daughter, so I wanted to read about the woman who played Loretta Lynn so well. I now love & admire this woman she is such a simple & free spirit. She isn't a typical Hollywood movie star but is an amazing actress. I loved that it wasn't gossipy & that she wasn't name dropping in the book. She just sat down & wrote about growing up in a small town, finding succes...more
As an actress, Sissy Spacek sparkles in her roles as she took Hollywood by storm in the 1970's. She is a "Real Person" in many of her characters. She describes her "Extraordinary Life" in a plain first person narrative. Its full of good times, sadness and situations that will make you laugh and identify Life's ups and downs as normal people go through. It was a delightful read by my favorite actress.If you have not seen a movie she stars in see: Carrie, Coal Miner's Daughter and The Help.
What a good ol' Texas girl from Quitman (near Tyler). She's now 62 and tells wonderful stories about growing up in a small town, how she met Loretta Lynn who convinced Sissy to play her in Coal Miner's Daughter...what a neat lady, still married to her sweetheart for all these years. They have two well-adjusted daughters, love their family and their horse farm life in Virginia, and some of her stories will make you laugh out loud.
Carrie, 3 Women and Welcome to LA were some of my favorite films of the 70's so naturally I would enjoy knowing more about Sissy Spacek. I loved this book. I was surprised to find out that Sissy's husband Jack Fisk was best friends with David Lynch. Great detail is revealed on the productions of Badlands, Carrie, Coalminer's Daughter, The Straight Story and The Help. I highly recommend this book.
I've always really liked Sissy Spacek as an actress, and after having read her book, I like her even more. She's as down-to-earth as she appears to be--absolutely no pretention at all with this woman! I really liked reading about her upbringing in a small east Texas town, and it was refreshing to see that even after she became famous, she stayed very normal. A nice, enjoyable book for sure!
This was the second in a trio of books about women in showbiz I've chosen to read this summer. I found it a light and uplifting read. I was delighted to read about her childhood. It was a treat to read about such a decent, strong up-bringing. Glad I read it after Carole King's autobiography, because Sissy's marriage and family life seems so stable. My next book is by Diane Keaton.
A gift from a friend whose favorite actress Sissy is. I was pleasantly surprised by the book. I don't have feelings one way or the other about Sissy's acting abilities, although I did enjoy her in Coal Miner's Daughter. I was intrigued by Sissy's happy childhood, her entry into acting through the back door (she began as a singer/guitarist), and her family life. An easy read.
This was one of the best bios I have read this year - Spacek does a great job of telling the tale of her life and I especially loved the retro referneces and drawings of items (done by her hubby Jack!) - some of these items I do remember but have not thought of in a long time.
I admire Sissy for living her life in her terms and staying true to herself and her family.
Don't hesitate to read this one - very well written and held my interest throughout.
I admire Sissy for living her life in her terms and staying true to herself and her family.
Don't hesitate to read this one - very well written and held my interest throughout.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| The Book Addicts!: My Extraordinary Ordinary Life by Sissy Spacek | 1 | 13 | Jun 27, 2012 09:33am | |
| Constant Reader: My Extraordinary Ordinary Life by Sissy Spacek | 1 | 16 | Jun 27, 2012 09:32am | |
| Memoirs and Biogr...: My Extraordinary Ordinary Life by Sissy Spacek | 1 | 12 | Jun 27, 2012 09:29am |
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“I couldn't think of anything I wanted to do or any place I wanted to be more than home. Where I can walk around the yard, sweeping leaves off the slate paths to my heart's content. Where I can spend all day in my pajamas puttering around the house, or curled up in my favorite chair in the family room next to the big stone fireplace. The walls are papered deep red, hung with Madison's paintings and lined with our favorite books. The furniture is comfortable and inviting. Our house is made to be lived in; we use every inch of it and don't mind the signs of wear and tear. There's a deep dent in the floor next to the hearth ... It's part of the story of this house, where a family has left its mark, and where it continues to grow and evolve.”
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Apr 26, 2012 01:17pm