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  • There Was a Little Girl

  • The Real Story of My Mother and Me
  • By: Brooke Shields
  • Narrated by: Brooke Shields
  • Length: 12 hrs and 56 mins
  • 4.0 out of 5 stars (28 ratings)

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There Was a Little Girl

By: Brooke Shields
Narrated by: Brooke Shields
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Publisher's Summary

The perfect gift for Brooke Shields fans, There Was a Little Girl explores Brooke's relationship with her unforgettable mother, Teri, in this extraordinary, heartfelt memoir that became a New York Times best-seller.  

Brooke Shields never had what anyone would consider an ordinary life. She was raised by her Newark-tough single mom, Teri, a woman who loved the world of show business and was often a media sensation all by herself. Brooke's iconic modeling career began by chance when she was only 11 months old, and Teri's skills as both Brooke's mother and her manager were formidable. But in private she was troubled and drank heavily. 

As Brooke became an adult the pair made choices and sacrifices that would affect their relationship forever. And when Brooke's own daughters were born she found that her experience as a mother was shaped in every way by the woman who raised her. But despite the many ups and downs, Brooke was by Teri's side when she died in 2012, a loving daughter until the end. 

Only Brooke knows the truth of the remarkable, difficult, complicated woman who was her mother. And now, in an honest, open memoir about her life growing up, Brooke will reveal stories and feelings that are relatable to anyone who has been a mother or daughter. 

©2014 Brooke Shields (P)2014 Penguin

What listeners say about There Was a Little Girl

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A really interesting story and great narration

This was a really good story - I knew snippets about Brooke Shields's life and had a vague idea that her mother was a stage mother and alcoholic. This book tells the story of Brooke, her life and is focussed on her relationship with her mother. She had an unusual and colourful upbringing and did well to turn out how she did when she had to grow up quikcly. Despite her mother's faults or personality, Brooke narrates this story with humour and honesty. Her mother certainly was an interesting quirky character! Despite admitting some obvious faults she does not criticise or sully her memory - if I were Terry Shields I would be proud to read this. If only she lived in a different time or had different opportunities (or some therapy) life could have been different for her. This was a fascinating read/listen and hearing it in Brooke's own voice gave it authenticity - I didn't know she could be funny! overall a very interesting story and portrayal of her life, and growing up in a different era of showbiz. I didn't want it to end.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Okay

This is an interesting book if you are a fan of Shields or interested in the inner workings of maternal relationships in the context of show business. To me, the relationship between Shields and her mother seemed very unhealthy and I was surprised Shields seemed to come through it all relatively unscathed. Considering she is an actress and actually wrote the book, I thought she would have sounded more comfortable reading it for Audible. Her sentence spacing is erratic and tends towards rising inflection, which I always find annoying.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not that interesting.

This book was a underwhelming. Do not recommend. It felt too long and not that interesting.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not bad

It's been awhile since I finished this book so my thoughts might be a little bit scattered. This was an interesting way to write a memoir. I find whenever I read a celebrity memoir there's always some sort of lens. Lens of surviving alcoholism, lens of being a child star, lens of surviving abuse etc.. The lens of this book was the tumultuous relationship between Brooke Shields and her mother.

I think the relationship between Brooke and her mother was very interesting, and I don't think even Brooke fully understands the relationship. I think Brooke was very open with the stories that she shared about their relationship and the flaws in their relationship. Brooke is very open about how codependent their relationship was and how reliant the pair were during Brooks formative years. I think it's very interesting when Brooke compares her relationship with her children to her relationship with her mother and the difference between those two relationships.

This isn't a tell all story with all of the stories of Brooks fame and lovers, we do hear a little bit about Brooke Andre Agassi and a few of her other beaus, but that is only a very small part of this memoir. Most of these anecdotes are about Brooke and her mother.

Personally I think the most interesting parts of the story were when Brooke was breaking out as an actress and her first a few movies, particular because this is what Teri gets a lot of hate for. Brooke was sexualised in movies from a very early age and her mother- rightly or wrongly- received a lot of hate for this. It's interesting that Brooke doesn't really blame her mother for this and doesn't see anything wrong with what happened, but then juxtaposes is this with saying she would never let her daughters do what her mother let her do.

As someone who has also lost their mother, I think what was the most moving part of this book for me was the epilogue where Brooke wrote a letter to her late mother expressing how she truly felt

While not the best celebrity memoir I have read it, is still an interesting and very easy read.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Honesty & frankness of her life

Was interesting & spoke from heart about family and different issues. Thanks Brooke Shields, glad i listened

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Repetitive and uninteresting

Got through 5 hours but didn’t finish. The stories are mostly boring but told as if they are the most fascinating and original stories ever told.
Does not appear very self aware.

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