NONFICTION

Wildflower

by Drew Barrymore
Dutton. Oct. 2015. 288p. illus. ISBN 9781101983799. $28; ebk. ISBN 9781101983805. FILM
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In her new collection of essays, actress Barrymore cautiously avoids the idea that these vignettes collectively compose a memoir. She hopes that readers will "dip into when you need to or when you like to," and the stories work well in that way. Brief segments of the 40-year-old performer's life provide a small window into her enviably giddy attitude. Turning her emancipation at the age of 14 into a tale of learning to live as a strong, independent woman and bouncing through her film career and motherhood, each story becomes a little more relatable. At one point she describes rowdily crashing her car through a fence because she felt young and invincible; however ill-conceived the idea, this may cause readers to recall their own youthful idiotic mistakes.
VERDICT This is not a collection for those looking to remain negative and dour. At times, Barrymore's recollections seem unbelievable—is it really possible that she has memories of being 11 months old? Still, they are heartwarming. Fans of the actress, her production company, makeup line, or girl-next-door demeanor, or anyone looking for a companion in book form, will enjoy. [See Prepub Alert, 4/27/15.]
Reviewed by Kaitlin Connors, Virginia Beach P.L. , Oct 01, 2015
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