My Extraordinary Ordinary Life

By: Sissy Spacek

Narrated by: Sissy Spacek

Length: 9 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

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 her remarkable parents, who taught her that she could do anything. She also learned fearlessness in the wake of a family tragedy, the grief propelling her "like rocket fuel"; to follow her dreams of becoming a performer.

With a keen sense of humor and a big-hearted voice, she describes how she arrived in New York City one star-struck summer as a 17-year-old carrying a suitcase and two guitars; and how she built a career that has spanned four decades with films such as Carrie, Coal Miner's Daughter, 3 Women, and The Help. She details working with some of the great directors of our time, including Terrence Malick, Robert Altman, David Lynch, and Brian De Palma - who thought of her as a no-talent set decorator until he cast her as the lead in Carrie. She also reveals why, at the height of her fame, she and her family moved away from Los Angeles to a farm in rural Virginia.

Whether she's describing the terrors and joys of raising two talented, independent daughters, taking listeners behind the scenes on Oscar night, or meditating on the thrill of watching a pair of otters frolicking in her pond, Sissy Spacek's memoir is poignant and laugh-out-loud funny, plainspoken and utterly honest. My Extraordinary Ordinary Life is about what matters most: the exquisite worth of ordinary things, the simple pleasures of home and family, and the honest job of being right with the world. "If I get hit by a truck tomorrow," she writes, "I want to know I've returned my neighbor's cake pan."

©2012 Sissy Spacek (P)2012 Hyperion (packaging elements only)

Critic reviews

" My Extraordinary Ordinary Life is the book version of Sissy: warm, heartfelt, and very real. Perhaps most remarkable is that Sissy's life-from the ordinary experiences of growing up in and raising a close-knit family to the extraordinary thrills of starring in some of the most iconic roles in Hollywood-unfolds as gracefully on the page as it does on the big screen and, as all of her readers will soon learn, in everyday life." (Kathryn Stockett, New York Times best-selling author of The Help)
" My Extraordinary Ordinary Life describes a remarkable woman's journey from a baton-twirling East Texas gal to an Academy-Award winning star. Sissy Spacek tells her story with warmth and grace, never straying far from the small-town roots that shaped her." (Jeannette Walls, best-selling author of The Glass Castle and Half Broke Horses)
"[A] warm narrative...Like a folk song, Spacek's storytelling is tender and unhurried." ( Publishers Weekly)

Extraordinary and Ordinary

What a refreshing bio! She tells her story in that familiar Texas accent with no whining and no blaming everyone else for things that went wrong and she takes credit for the things that went right.

So many autobiographies are full of who did what to them and how angry and depressed they are (Sally Field!! Erika Jane!!!) and this was a wonderful listen. I can almost feel the crisp air in VA.

Even the horrible things were teaching tools for Sissy. Loved being on the sets of movies with her. Wish she could have named all of her movies - my favorite, Midwives, was not mentioned.

Loved this book. She has a wonderful voice and I did not know that she started out as a singer/songwriter/musician. I did remember that she did her own singing in Coal Miner's Daughter and was so intrigued that I went out and bought her album. She is one amazing woman!!

Good book

I enjoyed this book very much. Good story and good clear sound. It was a pleasant change to hear of a good childhood and a successful life with struggles and rewards.

Loved this book

I have always been a fan and this book is awesome as is everything she does. While listening to her tell about her life I kept thinking that we could be good friends. She is really down to earth and likable! Highly recommend!

Not what I thought ...

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Have the recording be in better quality.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

No reaction.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Sissy Spacek?

Yes

Was My Extraordinary Ordinary Life worth the listening time?

Not really.

Any additional comments?

Almost Half the book was about her childhood in Texas, wasn't expecting that to be so much of the book. Was hoping for more about her movies career and less about her musical career.

Down home and authentic!

Listening to Sissy Spacek tell her story was like taking a walk with a good friend and hearing about her life. I loved the tales of her early childhood, the complete love and support she always received from her parents, and the journey her life became as she chased her dream of being a country artist and her surprise in becoming a movie actress. I always find it fascinating to hear about the people upcoming stars meet in their life and who end up becoming just as or even more famous than the person telling the story. Sissy certainly met a lot of wonderful people in the business and many of them became treasured and real friends. Sissy's voice was easy to listen to and I still think she could be Loretta Lynn's twin!!

Recommend? If you have enjoyed Sissy's work in the past and are curious about her life growing up and the simple way she lives today, then this is one to add to your audio list for sure!!

Source: Purchased from Audible.com
Narrator: Sissy Spacek
Length: 9 hrs an 49 mins


Six Sentence Bookish Thoughts #123
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Loved it!

Sissy Spacek is one of my favorate actresses. I enjoyed her honest humble portrayal of her life.

Loved It

Even though I rarely read autobiographies, especially those of celebrities, there was something that called to me from this one. Texas Gal Makes it Big time could be a subtitle. Sissy's narration fit so well. The only part she omitted that I miss is that of her playing Sarah Jane Simmons. Nostalgic, authentic, funny, sad, hopeful.

Growing up Texan

If you could sum up My Extraordinary Ordinary Life in three words, what would they be?

Fun and uplifting

What did you like best about this story?

The upbeat, happy tone of it.

What about Sissy Spacek’s performance did you like?

Listening to Sissy, it's easy to see her in your mind's eye, growing up in Texas.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The younger days growing up in Quitman. I'm a Texan and grew up in a small town, as well. Her stories brought back alot of good memories for me that I had forgotten.

Any additional comments?

This book is baby boomer heaven. I could listen to Sissy's lovely, soothing voice and funny stories all day.

The Title Says It All

What made the experience of listening to My Extraordinary Ordinary Life the most enjoyable?

Sissy Spacek telling her own story in her own voice. Like listening to a friend tell the story of their life late at night over a couple of drinks, and discovering all sorts of adventures you'd never imagined.

What other book might you compare My Extraordinary Ordinary Life to and why?

Then Again, by Diane Keaton; Inside Inside, by James Lipton; My Life in France, by Julia Child. Although Lipton & Child are more colorful, what these books have in common is people whose lives have had much more interesting twists than you might have imagined.

Have you listened to any of Sissy Spacek’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Only her movies. But look forward to hearing her read To Kill a Mockingbird. Can't imagine a better fit.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I could have, because it was so pleasant. But it wasn't so urgent and compelling that I could hardly wait for the next chapter.

Any additional comments?

The world is dark and getting more so. My taste in books is pretty dark also. This book was a pleasant respite from all of that. Positive, uplifting and... nice.

A Truly Enjoyable Memoir

The story of Sissy Spacek's life is so genuine, loving, and warm that the listener feels as if you're a close personal friend. Her imagery and descriptions provide the perfect touch to a great story. I highly recommend this book.