Gloria Feldt

Send Yourself Roses: Thoughts on My Life, Love and Leading Roles by Kathleen Turner is a worthwhile read. The gossip is fun and her thoughts on life are pertinent. Ms Turner's honest and straight forward style is easy to read and easy to trust and believe. She laid bare her challenges with rheumatoid arthritis and alcoholism and her observations are insightful and honest. As she points out, it is far more forgivable in our society to live and work with the disease of alcoholism than with a show more disease that most folks know very little about such as rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis or autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

One thought the author shared that I will hold on to and hopefully find a way to incorporate it into my own life is when she talks about volunteering and activism. Kathleen tells of her father's belief that "just living in a community is like paying rent in that you have shelter and services like water and electricity but you make no improvement on the property. To improve a community, to make it better, is like buying a house. You can invest in a community by giving time or other resources towards things that need improvement. When you invest in a house or community you have a higher stake in its future." I have thus far lived my life as a responsible "renter" and from time to time I have volunteered but not nearly enough. From this point on I hope to invest in the world around me more. Thanks for that Ms Turner. show less

I loved that this book was like sitting down and dishing with a slightly naught y woman who thinks a lot of herself. I thought Kathleen Turner's descriptions of her struggles with rheumatoid arthritis were very moving. I watched my mother struggle with this disease and would have said I had a good u nderstanding of the pain she had. I clearly didn't. Ms turner brought me to tears when I thought of my Mom. This was a very enjoyable read, breezy and touching and very honest. She's to be show more commended for doing such a great job of opening this reader's eyes about RA. show less

Note: This review is of an early release version in the Early Reviewer program.

I liked Kathleen Turner a whole lot more before I read her autobiography. Turner was powerful in “Body Heat.” She was amazing in John Waters’ “Serial Mom,” and I loved her performance in “Romancing the Stone.” However, “Send Yourself Roses” portrays Turner as arrogant and egocentric, which colors the entire story.

Turner’s autobiography should have been entertaining and interesting due to her show more varied experiences and famous friends and acquaintances. Instead, it became boring due to overuse of “I,” as in I’m so sexy, I’m so attractive, I’m so talented, I’m so funny, ad nauseam.

Turner complains of the burden of starting her career “as a younger beautiful woman known for sexuality” that creates “an inherent dismissal of her as an individual.” Chapter 3 has the subheadings: “Finding My Talent Early,” “Awakening to My Passions,” and “I Owned the World.”

“Send Yourself Roses” has lots of interesting substantive content. Unfortunately, its “in your face” attitude detracts from the actual story. The foul language feels out of place and unnecessary. The book opens with: “I am f****** exhausted. Wonderfully, joyfully exhausted, and filled with such extraordinary happiness and gratitude.” Turner refers to the reader as “babe,” “honey,” and “baby,” which simply feels offensive.

Turner’s autobiography compares unfavorably to “My Life So Far,” by Jane Fonda, and “Me, Stories of My Life,” by Katherine Hepburn. Fonda and Hepburn demonstrate that it is possible for an actress to write a literate, interesting autobiography without the overriding egotism that mars “Send Yourself Roses.” Perhaps this major flaw is attributable to Gloria Feldt, coauthor of the book, but Turner certainly would have approved the text prior to publication.

In short, the Kathleen Turner movies are far more enjoyable than her unfortunate book.

Note: the first thing I noticed about this book was the cheap, thin, paper used by the publisher. A minor matter, yes, but it just reduces my enjoyment of the reading experience. show less

Send Yourself Roses:Thoughts on my Life, Live and Leading Roles
by Kathleen Turner & Gloria Feldt
2007
Springboard
4.0/5.0

Courageous and witty, Kathlern Turners' memoir follows her acting career from her film debut in 'Body Heat' to her stage role as Martha in ' Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'.

Sharing her childhood, living in many countries around the world and her great sense of loss after her father's sudden death. Her marriage and separation from Jay, and stories of her daughter. Rachel, are show more so heart felt, and honest. She also shares Kathleen's diagnosis and treatment of Rhumatoid Arthritis, something that changed her life, but not her spirit. She is a spokeswoman for RI, now.

Some of the best parts of this memoir, to me, were when Kathleen shared how playing certain roles has shaped how so many people see her, as if the role was her actual life, not a part she played. And how her sultry voice has been so recognizable and pivotal in her career.

I have always admired her as a woman, and enjoyed her wild spirit, humor and her guts. Her film roles are always engaging, and I hope she will share another memoir, soon. show less