Handbook for an Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair)

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Overview

Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez’s never-before-told story of surviving a harrowing childhood and of how she found success—both in and out of the Hollywood limelight.
 
Rosie Perez first caught our attention with her fierce dance in the title sequence of Do the Right Thing and has since defined herself as a funny and talented actress who broke boundaries for Latinas in the film industry. What most people would be surprised to learn is ...

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Handbook for an Unpredictable Life: How I Survived Sister Renata and My Crazy Mother, and Still Came Out Smiling (with Great Hair)

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More About This Book

Overview

Oscar-nominated actress Rosie Perez’s never-before-told story of surviving a harrowing childhood and of how she found success—both in and out of the Hollywood limelight.
 
Rosie Perez first caught our attention with her fierce dance in the title sequence of Do the Right Thing and has since defined herself as a funny and talented actress who broke boundaries for Latinas in the film industry. What most people would be surprised to learn is that the woman with the big, effervescent personality has a secret straight out of a Dickens novel. At the age of three, Rosie’s life was turned upside down when her mentally ill mother tore her away from the only family she knew and placed her in a Catholic children’s home in New York’s Westchester County. Thus began her crazily discombobulated childhood of being shuttled between “the Home,” where she and other kids suffered all manners of cruelty from nuns, and various relatives’ apartments in Brooklyn.
 
Many in her circumstances would have been defined by these harrowing experiences, but with the intense determination that became her trademark, Rosie overcame the odds and made an incredible life for herself. She brings her journey vividly to life on each page of this memoir—from the vibrant streets of Brooklyn to her turbulent years in the Catholic home, and finally to film and TV sets and the LA and New York City hip-hop scenes of the 1980s and ‘90s. 
 
More than a page-turning read, Handbook for an Unpredictable Life is a story of survival. By turns heartbreaking and funny, it is ultimately the inspirational story of a woman who has found a hard-won place of strength and peace.

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Editorial Reviews

Publishers Weekly
03/31/2014
Rosie Perez, actress, choreographer, and activist known for her roles in films such as Do the Right Thing and White Men Can't Jump, opens up about everything from her difficult upbringing in a home for girls run by nuns to the breaks and trials of fame and silver screen success. Perez's life takes an unexpected turn when, living in L.A. and taking college classes, she is plucked from a crowd of dancers at a club to appear on Soul Train. Soon enough, Spike Lee discovers her at a "butt contest" and she is cast in his breakout film. While die-hard Perez fans may appreciate peaks at the actress' early life, the book otherwise falls flat. Perez speaks from the heart when describing an abusive childhood, but the carefree prose doesn't do the darker material justice. There is very little entertainment tell-all here: we learn that her mother suddenly turned kind after Perez became successful, there was drama with the Fly Girls on In Living Color, and that Jennifer Lopez was, as much as Perez liked her, challenging to work with. Half difficult-childhood tale, half celebrity-memoir, both storylines end up lacking. (Feb.)
Kirkus Reviews
2014-01-04
A celebrated Puerto Rican actress's memoir about how she found success despite growing up in unstable and often abusive environments. Brooklyn native Perez spent the first three years of her life with her father's sister, a woman she called "Mommie." When her beautiful but schizophrenic birth mother, Lydia, unexpectedly re-entered her life, it was to take her to a Catholic home for children 50 miles outside of New York City. Shocked and confused, Perez knew almost nothing but injustice from that moment forward. The nuns often lacked compassion, and her mother was as neglectful as she was cruel. The only person who genuinely cared for her was her aunt, who struggled for years against both Lydia and the New York court system to get custody of her niece. Perez's ebullience and scrappiness put her at odds with all of her guardians, but they also allowed her to survive her ever-changing cast of sometimes-abusive caretakers. Despite these challenges, the author still managed to reconnect with her father, Ismael, who helped her learn to appreciate her Puerto Rican identity at a crucial time in an otherwise fraught adolescence. Along the way, she discovered a gift for dancing that would eventually get her noticed in a Los Angeles nightclub by Soul Train creator Don Cornelius. She became a respected hip-hop choreographer and then caught the eye of film director Spike Lee, who cast her in his 1989 film Do the Right Thing. Perez ultimately went on to become the poor Brooklyn girl who made good; but in her personal life, she continued to struggle with the searing aftereffects of her difficult life, including PTSD and depression. With refreshing candor and sass, Perez transforms the painful details of her life into an inspiring reminder that even the most unforgiving of personal circumstances can be overcome. A spunky and heartfelt memoir.
From the Publisher
“I read Rosie Perez's magnificent, very real, and heart wrenching book with equal parts joy and horror—horror that the world can and routinely does inflict its terrors on its children, and joy that Rosie made it out to become not only the superior, iconographic artist she is, but the magnificent woman this book reveals her to be. Her voice is the captivating instrument here: forthright, funny, and utterly her own.”—Hilton Als, staff writer, The New Yorker 

“Rosie Perez's Handbook For an Unpredictable Life is a shockingly brave, honest book, filled with so much grace, forgiveness  and humor that you feel invigorated reading it. A deeply moving story, told with unapologetic courage and heart.”— George C. Wolfe
 
“Reading this story I was shaking my head in amazement that Rosie is even walking around on the earth, still smiling, let alone creating, contributing and caring about the world.  I know lots of artists who had to persevere and overcome a lot to get where they got and do what they do, but Rosie takes the prize for triumph of a spirit undimmed.  Charles Dickens never dreamed up a more incredible hard-knocks story.”—Edward Norton
 
“Rosie Perez has written a brave, hysterical, wise and compulsively readable chronicle of growing up and surviving the dual challenges of a crazy family and crazy life in Hollywood.  Like Running With Scissors before it, Handboook For an Unpredictable Life is ultimately a story of survival and will inspire us all.”—Liz Garbus

“With refreshing candor and sass, Perez transforms the painful details of her life into an inspiring reminder that even the most unforgiving of personal circumstances can be overcome.  A spunky and heartfelt memoir.” —Kirkus

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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780307952394
  • Publisher: Crown Publishing Group
  • Publication date: 2/25/2014
  • Pages: 336
  • Sales rank: 48684
  • Product dimensions: 6.40 (w) x 9.30 (h) x 1.20 (d)

Meet the Author

Rosie Perez

ROSIE PEREZ is an Oscar-nominated actress, whose credits include Do the Right Thing, White Men Can't Jump, Fearless, and The Counselor. She is the Artistic Chair of Urban Arts Partnership and sits on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.

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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4.5
( 19 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(13)

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(5)

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Mar 05 00:00:00 EST 2014

    This memoir is captivating, gut wrenching and honest.She puts al

    This memoir is captivating, gut wrenching and honest.She puts all of her current emotions and thoughts on any particular event , subject or person on the pages of
     this book.It's also very obvious that she had under gone some type of therapy to recall her early years!
    That shows you she put time and effort into this memoir and it's something  I do respect.  Her 
    She tells her story like you're old friends and draws you completely into her world! 
    I did enjoy reading this book. Be sure to take breaks because some of instances can exhuast you
     as you try to keep up. She's: vulnerable, real, honest,shy, hot headed and funny.

    5 out of 7 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 21 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Amazing!

    I couldn't put it down! Ive fallen in love with Rosie even more. Wow!!!

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed Mar 19 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Let me just start by saying that I hate to read, and I was looki

    Let me just start by saying that I hate to read, and I was looking for a book that would captivate me and not put me to sleep, I saw Rosie on Wendy Williams talking about her book and I've always loved her so I decided to get her book, can I just say that I was hooked from the begining to the end. This book book took me an such an emotional rollercoaster good and sad, I'm also from Willamsburg, Brooklyn and remember very vividly alot of the things she described in her book about the neighhoods and just how things were back in the day, I laughed so much and I felt like she was describing so many things that I felt and went thru back in BK myself. As a fellow nuyorican/brooklynite, I'm so proud of her, even though I have never meet her in person as weird as it sounds I've always felt a deep connection to her and now I know way. I want to thank her for always keeping it real and representing BK to the fullest, she really is a survivor, anybody else would have given up on life and she stayed with it and became the great pride of brooklyn that she is today. Much love Roise ;-)

    1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Jul 17 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Amazing Book

    i couldnt put it down!!! Its beyond an amazing book, had tears in my eyes. She is an amazing person with an even more amazing outcome

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Tue Jun 10 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Love

    Love it

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Wed May 21 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Great Book!

    I loved it! I didn't really know who Rosie Perez was until I saw her on the Wendy Show, and then decided to get the book because I liked her personality. I was captivated from beginning to end!! It takes a lot to draw me into a book, but this one definitely did it, with her writing style, the stories, and ultimately her journey. I felt connections to the characters she wrote about, and didn't want the book to end. Definitely a fantastic read.

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  • Posted Sat May 03 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Amazing book, detailed, honest, funny and powerful. I highly re

    Amazing book, detailed, honest, funny and powerful. I highly recommend this for all young girls to read. Rosie you are wonderful and so talented, keep up the great work

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  • Posted Wed Apr 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    If You Don't Know Or Didn't Know Much About Rosie Perez, You Will With This Book!

    I Didn't Really Know Much About Rosie Perez Before Reading Her Book. All I Knew Was The Basics. I Knew She's An Actress And I Knew She Was The Choreogrpher On In Living Color But Other Then That, That Was It. What Made Me Decide To Get Her Book Was That I Saw Her On An Interview With Angie Martinez For Hot.97 And She Was Talking About Some Of The Subject Matter In Her Book And Some Of The Details. I Became Intrested And Thought I'd Give It A Try. I Have To Say That I Was Pleasently Surprised About How Candid She Was And How Open And Honest A Lot Of Her Stories Was! I think People Should Give Her Book A Try! Especially For All Those Latinos Out Their Who Know Who She Is. What She Goes Through And The Pain She Endures Was Crazy And Heartbreaking, But I Totally Respect Her And I Think She's A Great Role Model And Someone To Look Up To. Hey If She Made It, Anyone Can Make It!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Apr 13 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    What an amazing story.  I love a story I cannot put down, but I

    What an amazing story.  I love a story I cannot put down, but I do have to admit that you will be putting this 
    book down due to intense emotional moments.  You will laugh, cry, get mad, but most of all fall in love with
    a little girl who turned into an amazing woman.  I am so Rosie has chosen to share her story with the world
    and I hope she writes another book.  Keep up the great, Rosie!

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  • Posted Fri Apr 04 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Great read!

    Wow, I had no idea about her personal life. She was able to rise from the ashes into stardom. The title of the book says it all.

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  • Posted Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I read this book in only two days.  Perez a great way of incorpo

    I read this book in only two days.  Perez a great way of incorporating her beautiful personality, humor and wit into a heartbreaking story of growing up as a ward of the state.  I am a foster care social worker, and reading this book gave me new insight into the adversity facing children in protective custody and the resiliency and strength it takes to move past it all.  Thank you Ms. Perez for sharing your stoy. 

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sun Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    Amazed

    She has lived quiet the life. I admire her strength and courage for coming out with this story. We all have one and it's up to us to figure out what to make of it.
    I think she's done an excellent job of keeping her s**t together. ;) very inspiring. Great read. It was hard to put down. I also enjoyed reading this and looking up some of the things she's done. Her soul train bits on YouTube are great!

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  • Posted Thu Mar 27 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I CRIED, LAUGHED AND I WAS SAD WHEN IT END

    THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I CRIED, LAUGHED AND I WAS SAD WHEN IT ENDED! ROSIE PEREZ IS SO REAL AND HONEST , I LOVE HER !!!! READ THE BOOK !!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Mar 20 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    I Also Recommend:

    Last Night at the Viper Room: River Phoenix and the Hollywood He Left Behind
    Coreyography
    Unbecoming Travolta: A Memoir of Mania and Multiple Personalities
    Deep Thoughts From a Hollywood Blonde

    I have always loved Rosie Perez ever since her debut in Do the R

    I have always loved Rosie Perez ever since her debut in Do the Right Thing. She is a great talent and this book proves she is not just a pretty face to look at, but a strong woman.

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  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 2014

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 28 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Fri Mar 14 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Sat Apr 05 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted Thu Jun 12 00:00:00 EDT 2014

    No text was provided for this review.

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