Wildflower
Written by Drew Barrymore
Narrated by Drew Barrymore
4/5
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Currently unavailable
Currently unavailable
About this audiobook
Award-winning actress Drew Barrymore shares funny, insightful, and profound stories from her past and present told from the place of happiness she's achieved today.
Wildflower is a portrait of Drew's life in stories as she looks back on the adventures, challenges, and incredible experiences of her earlier years. It includes tales of living on her own at 14 (and how laundry may have saved her life), getting stuck in a gas station overhang on a cross country road trip, saying goodbye to her father in a way only he could have understood, and many more adventures and lessons that have led her to the successful, happy, and healthy place she is today. It is the first book Drew has written about her life since the age of 14.
Editor's Note
Fun flowerchild…
Drew Barrymore’s memoir chronicling her rise from rebellious alt-girl flowerchild to America’s sweetheart (well, America’s sweetheart/flowerchild) is funny, touching, and full of behind-the-scenes fun.
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Reviews for Wildflower
270 ratings30 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I've always liked Drew Barrymore and thought she was a quirky person. I'm glad I got to listen to this book with Drew reading it. I learned so much about her and the struggles she went through as a child actor, becoming an emancipated adult at the age of 14 and not knowing how to do anything including laundry and now as a Mom. She is a beautiful soul and I like her even more knowing what kind of person she is, is the person I thought she might be. I think she would be a lot of fun to hang out with and swap stories.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5This was a nice collection of stories about Drew Barrymore's life. I wouldn't call it a typical memoir, simply because it doesn't seem to flow from beginning of life to current state, like most memoirs I've read do. This jumps around all over the place. However, it's light and cheery, and it's very easy to follow. If you're a fan of Barrymore's at all, you'll appreciate this book. It's the quintessential Drew!
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Here's a thing I'm going to attempt to not do again: buy an audio book written and read by an author who is not a humorist or comedian. This is not a slam on Ms. Barrymore's writing skills; it’s just that I think that this wasn't in a format that was conducive to really getting a lot out of this totally fine selection of memoir-esque essays.
I appreciate that Ms. Barrymore didn't spend a lot of time in the book focused on the aspects of her childhood that those of us who remember it would consider 'salacious.' She mentions in passing the reason her mother sent her away, and expressed profound understanding of her mother's strengths and weaknesses in raising her, and she speaks of her years as a child actor, but that isn’t the primary focus of the book.
In fact, nothing in the book was really bad and nothing was really good. At times the audio version felt a bit like listening to a novel or a radio play, and that wasn't always a good thing. Some of the stories were very cute, and I get the sense that Ms. Barrymore is very self-aware. Yes, she does come across as a bit of a hippie, and there's a whole lot of sincerity, but there's also a bit more ... wit (that seems mean)? Sarcasm? I'm not sure. But more of whatever that is than I was expecting. It's not just loads of flower language and talk of the healing power of crystals.
I genuinely feel that I would have enjoyed the book much more if I had read it and not listened to it. Reading it would allow me to absorb each essay and hopefully get more out of it than the audio version. Yes, it was at times funny to hear the voices (and screams) punctuating some of her stories, but it didn't have enough to really keep me engaged. So, audio book: 2 stars. But I'm betting that the visual version would get at least three. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I just love this book! This gives you the feeling that you personally know Drew. It is so authentic and real and down to earth....growing up and starting school in West Hollywood; her close relationship with Steven Spielberg, who was a father figure to Drew; the birth and joys of her Olive and Frankie, her two children. It is personal but she is so open about her life and her feelings, you feel as if your talking with a personal friend. She enjoys gardening and cooking and making mix tapes and her love of dogs.I love Drew Barrymore, and this book is a very fun worthwhile peek into her life.Highly Recommended
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What an enjoyable read. Very bouncy and fluffy and everyone has a happy ending but I did find it uplifting and inspirational.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Cute easy read. Lots of exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was given this book as a gift for my birthday on audio and was able to finish it pretty quickly. Drew is not really a writer and she will state that in the beginning of the book, so I was not expecting a masterpiece of literary genius, but it was a fun book to listen to and very fast pace. I just love Drew's sense of humor when it comes to her family and I love she can laugh at her past and move on from all the bad that happened in her life at a very young age.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Drew Barrymore describes some of her deepest learning experiences in her new memoir, "Wildflower". Spanning from her early childhood living with her single mother to the recent birth of her two girls, Drew talks about the people in her life that have taught her to trust, love, and become resourceful. I really enjoyed hearing of her memories working on the set of ET, becoming emancipated as a young teen, and launching her adult career as a movie producer and entrepreneur. An enjoyable read for anyone who has admired Drew and her lifelong career in the public eye.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Drew is a delightful storyteller who conveys a strong sense of self. More importantly she shares stories from her life that show her growth and development from a scarred and scared childhood to adulthood and eventually motherhood. Good for you, Drew. I've always liked your movies and your sense of humor.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Loved hearing Drew tell her story. loads of passion and energy. Authentic story telling, although a bit light this was a good read.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I'm always hesitant with reading memoirs, especially celebrities memoirs. However, I have always liked Drew Barrymore so I figured that I would give her book a go. I was not disappointed at all. This book made me love her even more. The book jumps around a little bit as it touches on different topics. Obviously she goes into how hard her life as a child actress was and it gave an insight to how money is only coming in to actor's lives when they are filming movies. She also talked about her starting a production, wine, and cosmetic companies.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wise and refreshing, Drew’s capturing of the recollection of time has been a great “read”. Kudos Drew!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I just fucking love her. She's great. This book is every little bit of her told in a true drew kind of fashion. It's quirky, lighthearted (even though it touches on some heavy stuff) with a touch of sass.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Wow! I totally respect Drew and her views of motherhood and life! We are truly more than the sum of our parts! Living in abundance and joy is truly the way to go!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Drew Barrymore is so amazing and her philosophy on life truly inspires me!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This book was interesting, but it was so all over the place it was sometimes hard to follow. With each chapter Drew bounced back and forth throughout her life and it didn't really seem like there was a rhyme or reason for the flopping around. It just didn't seem to flow like I assume most books should.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5She’s my forever hero. This represents a new and colorfully inspiring focus on life’s progression. Loved it.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Beautifully written! She tackled things in a very fun, lite, and drewbarrymore way but at the same time, thru words, she lets you understand all the emotion she has gone through- heavy,sad, ecstatic, etc.
She knows how to tell a story. She has a beautiful heart. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5drew... you are lovely!
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❤ - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I absolutely loved this book and finished it in two days.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5listening to this on audio was the best! Drew puts so much into it! She laughs with the book, she puts all the emphasis and inflection in to know exactly what she meant. and sometimes, she gets choked up as she's reading. This isn't a tell all book, but it is very revealing and I have to admit, I cried right along with her at a few points. And those pancake stories made me love her even more.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Not a bad book and it was great to hear Drew read and share her feelings. But it felt a little long and drawn out at points.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I read this a couple years ago, not a lot of in depth revelations about her famous family, but enjoyed reading about this woman's childhood, how she survived, thrived, and learned to keep positive and sane while growing up in Hollywood and how she has reinvented her life along the way.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Now, I didn't realize she had written a book a long time ago, so when I read this I thought things were going to be mentioned that weren't. I was kind of disappointed, but oh well.
It was a nice book, some funny chapters some boring. The part I liked the most was about her charity work in Africa. I wish there was more about that.
Overall, it's alright. - Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I didn’t really like the organization of it. It wasn’t in chronological order and sort of made it hard to follow. I didn’t like that she was narrating it either and usually I like that. But I was just finding her obnoxious :/
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Cute! Exactly as i imagined she is. Great job Drew!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Genuine, thoughtful, and emotional. Loved it and
A must read - Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I love celebrity memoirs and this is more of a celebrity story collection, but listening to it in audio form made it all the better!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Drew Barrymore takes a look back on her life, sharing the funny, the sad, the intimate, the beautiful with her readers. She talks about the events and people that helped shape her into the positive, healthy person she is today.I won a copy of this book from Penguin Audio on a faceboook giveaway and decided to give it a listen. I have seen several of Barrymore’s movies over the years but have not followed her private life at all. So there was plenty here for me to learn. The book is not laid out chronologically, but jumps around. I didn’t find this to be a problem as this is a book comprised of anecdotes from a person’s life.So here are a few of the things I didn’t know about Drew Barrymore before reading this book. She was emancipated at age 14. Yep. On her own and legal at 14. But of course she had been working in TV and movies since she was 5, so this probably wasn’t as big a leap for her as it would have been for me at 14. I didn’t know that she and the other stars of E. T. had done a world tour. Her business, Wildflower, has branched out from movies to cosmetics and wine. That’s just a few things. I am sure each reader will find plenty to enjoy.Barrymore speaks most eloquently about the relationships that have made her a better person. I especially liked these stories. Her father was a mostly absent man in her life though she did get to know him somewhat when he was passing away from cancer. She made the most of an awkward and strained relationship. She has a chapter to each daughter in which she is talking directly to them about what makes them unique and how they make her more than she could ever be without them. Normally, I shy away from such gushiness, but Barrymore’s motherly love hits home because she grew up with so little in the way of parental love. In some ways, this book is a kind of big thank you to friends and family that had these positive influences on her over the years.Barrymore also speaks candidly of her wild child days. She reflects on her mind set at the time and other experiences she had (or didn’t have) to compare her behavior to. While many encouraged her exhibitionistic behavior, only a few close friends encouraged her to channel that sexy behavior into a more wholesome outlet. As she has gotten older, she’s added in modesty clauses to movie contracts while also holding onto that sweet girl next door appeal.Then she talks about her dogs. Honestly, I found these to be the most touching. Her first three pups helped shaped the human she would become as much or more than the people in her life. I was a little surprised that she took the cremated remains of one of her dogs to spread at various locations in India. Still, if I had the wherewithall and inclination, perhaps I would do the same. Overall, this was a thoughtful look into Barrymore’s life. And it’s OK to be short. Plenty of the female population of the world is. The Narration: Drew Barrymore did a really good job narrating her own book. She never sounded bored or hesitant in reading her own work. She imbued many scenes with a touch of emotion, whether it be pleasure, sadness, happiness, sorrow, etc. Her volume does vary a bit – not greatly – but if you are listening on ear buds there are some scenes (such as the parachuting scene) where she is screaming. Sometimes she screams cuss words (which I find amusing, but perhaps not everyone would in certain locations).
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Really enjoyed hearing these stories about Drew's life from her point of view. Love her laugh, her soulful perspective and just the emotion she let be seen in narrating this book. Really enjoyed finding out a little more behind some of her movies and how her friendship with Adam Sandler started. She has always seemed brave to me, a role model as I was born the same year. And hearing the story of how she finally found love & family with her husband and girls is heartwarming. Thanks for sharing your gift Drew!
1 person found this helpful