Rating: 
Summary: Everyone Can Learn Something From This Book
Review: At first I thought it was rather pretentious for any 31-year-old to be writing their autobiography, but after having read this book by Anne Heche, it is obvious to see that so much has already happened in her thus-far short life that it is worthy of an entire novel.Most people only know of Anne Heche as the woman who dated Ellen DeGeneres, and then later broke up with her, went crazy, and then decided that she wasn't gay after all and subsequently married a man. While these are the facts that make the newspaper and tabloid headlines, they only scratch the surface of a very traumatic and eventful life. In this novel, Heche tells us about her life which began with an abusive childhood. Her father was a lazy unambitious tyrant who abused her emotionally, physically, and sexually and later confessed to being a homosexual and died of AIDS. She talks in depth about her ongoing struggles with religion, drugs, mental illness, and romance. She also talks about her rise to success as an actress, as well as the notoriety that comes with her career. I was particularly interested about her description of her delusions. At first she thinks she is God, herself, and then she schizophrenically develops an alter ego named Celestia. I've seen most of the movies that Anne Heche has been in, but I never really thought much of her until I read this novel. She has certainly endured a lot in her life, and the scars of her past have not yet healed completely, but there's something to admire in her strength and courage. Being a straight male, I was hesitant to read this novel thinking that it was targeted towards women. However, I honestly enjoyed it and learned something from it. I recommend this book for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: Not Shakespeare, but thoroughly honest and enjoyableb
Review: I can't remember the last time I read a book so intently. The writing isn't technically amazing, it's very simple and straightforward. And even after you separate the account of her breakdown from the rest of the writing, it's not especially linear. But I think that if it were perfectly organized it would not retain the gist of Anne. If you're looking for a masters' thesis or a gossip column, this is not the book. This is a human being's writing of her life. I come away from the book really liking and respecting her. I can remember watching her intently when she was on Another World, I was 14 and suffering from depression, and watching her play Marley/Vickie she seemed so perfect-- it seemed to accuate the hell I was feeling inside at that time. So when she got together with Ellen and the press focused on her, I felt like I already knew her. And reading this so many years later, I've had what in hindsight seems a silly realization-- that the person on the TV accentuating my hell was just another human being, struggling to get past her own crappy childhood (which is not to downplay any of the abuse she experienced). Anyway-- she is blunt, honest, and she has gained an amazing amount of wisdom from her experiences.
I read a review that complained there was no detail regarding her relationship with Ellen. I have to disagree, I felt the number of pages devoted to Ellen was perfectly appropriate when you consider that this was about her whole life, and not the last five years. I was amazed at the dignity and respect with which she approached her past relationships. I found out that a number of famous people are actually human while reading this book. I feel lucky that she shared it all.
Rating: 
Summary: The truth hurts
Review: I cried and cried. This book will forever be in my memory. Being an abused child, I too felt her pain and my own all over again. Her reflection explained some of my own mysteries as to why I felt the way I did. I never knew much of Anne Heche, nor did I even care to know. But, I thought it would be interesting to read a biography and since my sister said it was powerful I decided to read it. I am very glad I did. There are so many survivors out there and people are afraid to tell their stories because people look down on them with shame and disgust. Mental illness can be a combination of environment and physiological factors. And that can change. The details of these stories are horrific and the sooner we realize it happens everyday around us, the more we will be able to help the children who are still being victimized by their own family members. Read Dave Pelzers books too. "A child called it" and "The Lost boy" these stories are real and it doesn't get much worse. My book comes out this year and you are in for another shock. Anne, Dave and I are all in our mid 30's. I am not a famous person, but evil doesn't care if you're rich or poor, male or female. The book is baring her soul and tells her secrets. She is a rare jewel. I too could not put the book down. It inspired me to continue reading. I had a dry spell for about 10 years. That says a lot to me. Hope it does to you too. Good job Anne for your bravery! Don't look down and don't look back.
Rating:
Summary: biography at its rawest yet strongest
Review: This reviewer limits the number of bright light bios because typically they reveal nothing except blaming others for the negative and taking credit for the positive. For the decadent reasons of hearing her side of the alien stories (take your pick), this reviewer decided to see how clever Anne Heche reheats three day old fast food leftovers. Surprisingly Ms. Heche determinedly opens her inner soul to readers revealing an alleged childhood of mostly psychological, but some physical abuse. The actress insists her past led to the tabloid-published accounts of her visiting a stranger ranting that a spaceship was taking her to heaven. Ms. Heche claims her father sexually molested her giving her herpes that went untreated because her mother believed in God's cure not modern medicine. Following years of intense therapy, she now writes insightfully about her downward emotional dive bordering on the other side of lunacy. This includes the romance with Ellen DeGeneres, though that is somewhat rationalized. Still Ms. Heche turns herself inside out providing a deep poignant look filled with anger yet hope for the end product adult to overcome derogatory raising as a child. This is biography at its rawest yet strongest. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: THE REAL ANNE HECHE STEPS FORWARD!
Review: While Anne may be a celebrity in her own right, with all the publicity, hype and controversary behind the relationship of Anne Heche and Ellen DeGeneres, the public has been exposed to most of the nitty-gritty details from the perspective of DeGeneres. Like many of life's revelations, there are usual three sides to every story: the first party's side, the second party's side, and the truth, which usually lies somewhere down the middle. Through the pages of this book, readers will not only read of Anne's relationship with DeGeneres, but will find an entire intriguing life story of a woman whose persona has not before been completely revealed. Readers get the facts straight from the source. Anne's life has been a complex one filled with trials and tribulations from start to present day. This book is not about "Anne the celebrity" but "Anne the person." For her, life has been filled with overwhelming obstacles, tragedy and heartache. Readers fascinated by the world of memoirs and autobiographies will find this is a book well worth reading. As for Anne herself, readers will have to draw their own conclusions, but as the title implies, "Call her Crazy", I would say, "no," call her human.
Rating: 
Summary: Killed my affection for Anne Heche
Review: I really liked Anne Heche once; I found her attractive talented and sexy. Then I picked up this book on audiotape, written by the author. The best I can say for it is that it isn't boring - it made the miles go by quickly on the long drive I was taking at the time. The book goes much like the movie, "The Lonely Lady," a film I list as the worst film I ever paid admission to. Both of them are one long, grating claim of victimization of a woman by nearly everyone she has known. I don't doubt that Anne's father was less than ideal. It's pretty much on record that he led a double suburban husband / gay man about town life. But her claims of him being sexually abusing her - a female child - since infancy are unbelievable, and are probably a product of her extreme bitterness toward the man, not to mention her dubious choice of a therapist. Like others, one of my first viewings of Anne was in the movie "Wild Side," in which she had a love scene with Joan Chen. The scene is justly famous, not just for the lesbian angle to it but the fact it was genuinely well-scripted and sweet. Whether she enjoyed doing the scene or not, I wanted to know more about making it. But the only mention of "Wild Side" in the book is a snarling reference about having to play a call girl in an unnamed film. It's typical of the way the book snaps at its fan audience. No photographs are included. While she does write at some length about Ellen Degeneres (the only person who is described in flattering terms) her affairs with Steve Martin and everyone else get short shrift. Say, don't you want to know more about my haullucinatory theology? It's notable that she seems to be getting few significant job offers the past couple years. This may be because of her recent marriage and maternity. But I tend to suspect another reason is like Francis Farmer, her talent is simply not worth the considerable trouble of working with her.
Rating: 
Summary: Intense book!
Review: This memoir was intense, it's hard to beleived that a person can go threw this and survive, Anne is a sensitive, beautiful and talented actresse, it take lots of courage to write that type of book and I think people who said she just want publicity they the one who are truely crazy, come on will someone write these type of things for publicity, I beleive they are narrow, cruel and selfish people who said that. It was a good book but something was missing, the writing maybe is not that good, we tent to want to give up reading but if you are a fan of Anne Heche or just want to know about this wonderful person and how she survive threw her abuse has a child read it.
Rating:
Summary: BRAVO!
Review: Thank you, Anne, for sharing with us the most intimate details of your life. The things Anne has been through are amazing and the work she has done on herself is incredible. That someone can grow up in such grotesque surroundings in which any sliver of individuality was completely suppressed and subsequently develop enough strength to face the demons that were left inside them self is amazing! I can't help but be inspired by her strength and by the message she puts forth in the book, that you cannot love or receive love from another person until you love yourself and allow yourself to be who you are. Cliché, yes, but Anne does a beautiful job of showing us how she is working to achieve just that. In this book Anne shares with us the most hideous parts of the abuse she endured as a child and the ugliness she later faced in therapy and in her life. I had to keep reminding myself that this was non-fiction; I just couldn't believe this really happened. Although some parts were tough to get through, upon finishing the book I feel hopeful. As a social worker, I am fully aware of the many forms of abuse that exist within our society. The only people that can stop the cycle of abuse are those stuck in the cycle, the victims of abuse. These people must posses the energy and the courage to face themselves and their beliefs about themselves that have been put in their head by their abuser so as to not perpetuate the abuse. Anne has proven that it is possible. This is a brave piece of work Anne has put together and I am inspired by her courage and strength!
Rating:
Summary: Good Solid Book
Review: This is a good "my story" book about DID. Those who suffer from it should draw strength from the book, especially those suffered from sexual abuse. Its well rounded book. I would recommend it. It is not a however a recovery book about DID as I felt some reviewers at Amazon.com thought it should be.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put the book down.
Review: I'm the webowner of Mental Health Today and I found this book not only to be an enjoyable to read as I could not put it down, but felt that it will greatly assist others who have been sexually abused and hopefully society will begin to understand the effects of sexual abuse through this book. The book does not mention Anne's particular diagnosis which may have been helpful to the reader, but does provide a clear account of what Anne experienced. Anne discusses her thoughts and feelings about the sexual abuse she endured while growing up and made a connection between this abuse and the many psychotic episodes she experienced. I feel this book will be extremely helpful for anyone who experiences some psychosis in their lives and/or for those who have been sexually abused. I praise Anne highly for providing us with the experiences of her own life as I feel this book will not only be helpful to victims of abuse but for families as well to assist them in understanding what their loved one suffers. I only hope that more celebrities will come forward with their stories, bringing mental health disorders more into the light. I highly recommend this book.
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