There Was a Little Girl
The Real Story of My Mother and Me
Failed to add items
Sorry, we are unable to add the item because your shopping cart is already at capacity.
Add to basket failed.
Please try again later
Add to Wish List failed.
Please try again later
Remove from Wish List failed.
Please try again later
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
1 credit a month to buy any audiobook in our entire collection.
Access to thousands of additional audiobooks and Originals from the Plus Catalogue.
Member-only deals & discounts.
Auto-renews at $16.45/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
There Was a Little Girl
Narrated by:
Brooke Shields
Buy Now for $26.99
-
Narrated by:
-
Brooke Shields
-
By:
-
Brooke Shields
About this listen
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 eleven 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.
Critic Reviews
“Shields writes with considerable reflection; she's done the hard work of making sense of the contradictions in her mother, and now we get the benefit of her sharing what she's learned.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Shields writes vividly and humorously about her mother's life growing up in Depression-era Newark; her days as a flirtatious coat-check girl and her short-lived marriage to Brooke's father, Frank Shields, who came from aristocratic stock…. The book reads like a parent's heartfelt and exasperated lament—but the irony here is that her mother is the one behaving like the problem child.”—The Independent (London)
“A brutally frank recollection of Shields' career path, romances, marriages and entry into motherhood, but the basic thesis of the book is a deep examination of her intense relationship with her own mother, Teri Schmon Shields—a woman who molded Brooke's life, both personal and professional, for decades.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“An emotionally raw memoir.”—USA Today
“Shields writes vividly and humorously about her mother's life growing up in Depression-era Newark; her days as a flirtatious coat-check girl and her short-lived marriage to Brooke's father, Frank Shields, who came from aristocratic stock…. The book reads like a parent's heartfelt and exasperated lament—but the irony here is that her mother is the one behaving like the problem child.”—The Independent (London)
“A brutally frank recollection of Shields' career path, romances, marriages and entry into motherhood, but the basic thesis of the book is a deep examination of her intense relationship with her own mother, Teri Schmon Shields—a woman who molded Brooke's life, both personal and professional, for decades.”—Chicago Sun-Times
“An emotionally raw memoir.”—USA Today
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.
Not bad
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Honesty & frankness of her life
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Okay
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Not that interesting.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Recommended to anyone who enjoyed Brooke’s other book, loves an interesting story well told or who has lost their Mum.
Incredible
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.