This isn’t my usual reading but the book blurb intrigued me. I wanted to know how a person swings back and forth between such extremes. I don’t have to agree with all of person’s views to find their life interesting. I expected to read this book in chunks but once I started it, I was pulled in and listened to most of the book in one day, finishing it off the following morning. Pfeiffer tells a great story sharing the biggest and most important moments of her life in vivid detail, not shying away from the ugly, life-changing, and privately beautiful.

I’ve never watched the 700 club, though I have heard of it. I found this part of the book particularly fascinating because it seems so very odd to me. While I claim no religion, I do expect those that do to do their best to live up to it. However, with the 700 club there was the public persona (which abided by the 700 club code) and then the private life. Alcoholism was common despite the no alcohol rules. Faith healing, words from God, and the ‘give to get’ belief collided with private marital problems, alcohol abuse, and more. Plus, the 700 club wasn’t really into gender equality though Pfeiffer managed to become a very popular part of the show.

I was shocked to learn that Pat Robertson attempted to gain the Republican ticket to run for president. I was still a kid when this was going on, so I give myself a pass for not knowing this before. Now I’m glad we ended up with Bush instead of Robertson. Of course, Robertson became concerned about Pfeiffer’s private past (her child born out of wedlock during her teen years) while he was campaigning. Because of that painful time in her life, Pfeiffer becomes aware of just how much of a double standard there is for men and women in the 700 club.

By that point, I was ready to yank Pfeiffer away from Robertson and his TV church. You’re better than that! The story continues on and it takes a long while for Pfeiffer to realize that this is true. What followed was a bit of a train wreck and it was also hard for me to put away the book. Pfeiffer struggles with an alcoholic & suicidal husband, a depressed mother, and her own self doubts.

One of the things that helped her during this time was the audio memoirs of her dad. They were a surprise find that a friend of her father’s had been holding onto. Things had not gone well with her dad for years and then he passed away. Through these audio memories, she learns to reconnect with him. Later in the story, there’s a rude awakening about her dad’s past which made the book even more interesting.

It does seem that Pfeiffer is a bit of a hockey puck that gets smacked this way and then that, rarely taking control of her own life or taking ownership for her decisions that added to the situation. During her teen years, I found this completely realistic. Things happened during those years that affect her for life. Then as a young lady, she gets swept up into the 700 club with their positive acceptance of yet another convert to their faith. Still, she allows the 700 club and their parent TV station to make life decisions for her, like her marriage. It’s not until after the 700 club has chewed her up and abandoned her that she tentatively starts making decisions for herself. So I would have liked a bit more reflection along those lines, how sticking your head in the sand and just going with flow is an action that can leave you wanting later.

All told, it’s an interesting memoir even for someone like me who knew nothing of the author prior to picking up this book. 4.5/5 stars.

The Narration: Danuta Pfeiffer narrates her own book and she does a pretty good job. She has a variety of voices for the various people in this book and she gives a passable Polish accent for her dad and his relatives as well as a passable Swedish accent for her husband. Pfeiffer relates the emotional scenes quite well, imbuing the moment with just the right amount of emotions without going over the top. Her pacing is perfect. There were no technical issues with this recording. 4.5/5 stars.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Danuta Pfeiffer. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it. ( )

This book made me very grateful my life isn't interesting enough to write about. It's very readable, heartfelt, and honest, and does a good job telling the story of an interesting life. ( )