Rating: - honest and powerful
I have been a Marge Piercy fan for years, more of her novels than her poems. I eagerly snatched up this book and read it in one day. In some ways it reminds me of May Sarton's autobigoraphy though the two are quite different; Piercy writes from a less erudite, less upper-class, more working-class perspective.

Piercy writes honestly and openly about her life, loves, and trials and tribulations as a writer. It was especially interesting to read about how she still sees herself as struggling and working hard to make ends meet because she has not achieved the commercial success to make her rich. The strongest parts of the book for me were those about her relationships with men, particularly her three husbands. She does not hold back in detailing her hopes, denials of reality, and what she calls her "selfishness" in terms of making writing a priority. As she herself suggests she is not always the most "likable" person but she is honest, direct, and really makes you think. You really get to see how she evolves as a person, how she comes to stand up for what she really wants, not what society tells her she should do, e.g. stay in a marriage and "make it work." I cheered for her when she finally finds her "soulmate", or at least a partner that seems to understand her and make her happy.

The parts about the cats I could have done without, not being a cat person. I also wish there had been more about her political involvement; the emphasis of the book on her personal relationships with family, lovers and friends suggests that the "personal" has been more central to her life than the political. Though she does mention her involvement with pro-choice politics, her political activities are quite peripheral to the book.

Another thing I enjoyed is that you get to see how the characters of her novels come out of her life experiences. Piercy does not hesitate to let the reader know her for better or for worse, her fears, her pettiness, her victories, her commitments and her tenacity. A worthwhile read!