Crazy Days: My Autobiography

by Sadie Frost

Sadie Frost's tell-all covers her anarchic childhood, her two high-profile marriages, and finally growing up Sadie Frost has had an extraordinary life, from her humble roots in 1960s Britain to her middle-class adult life, via her two high-profile marriages and living out her life in the media spotlight. In this candid book, Sadie tells her life story in her own style. She discloses the details of her absolutely unique childhood and teenage years; she tells all the behind-the-scenes stories from the films she has worked on, including staying at Francis Ford Coppola's Hollywood home; and she reveals the story of her marriage to Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp, and how she left her idyllic family life with him when she met Jude Law on the set of the film Shopping , later marrying him. She also discusses, at length, her life with Law, including her struggles with crippling postnatal depression. This is the story of a woman finding herself again—against all the odds—and finally growing up.

Genres: Nonfiction

262 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[A.E. Shaw · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up in a celebration of having joined the library again, and being able to grab books I really wouldn't buy. This was just such a one.

I wouldn't say I was sorry to have read it - although the 'fictionalised' account of her parents' lives in the first chapter or so was excruciating and left me completely cold - but I was somewhat confused by it. Frost's account of her life seems heavily edited and chopped into something very brisk, honest but at pace. Years fly past with the words "I spent my time partying", and whilst I wasn't reading it for the kiss-and-tell of it, knowing full well that wasn't the kind of book it would be, I did expect it to tell...something.

The insight and honesty into post-natal depression and mental illness, both her own, and her father's, is commendable and remarkable, and her attempts to match up her own issues with their origins in her family life is intriguing, but all told with the feel of someone who's unloading their life history onto you in the pub, whilst certain that you're not that interested and are going to leave any minute. It's all at breakneck pace with dashes of insight, wrapped up in swathes of nothingness.

I wound up thinking I'd very much like to have tea with Sadie Frost, for she seems like great conversation and I've always liked her aplenty, but that I wouldn't much want to read another over-edited, jumbled book.

[OxoNewbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Which Sadie Frost films can you name?
Um, 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'....'Shopping', umm... that's it.
So she doesn't have a large body of work or a widely recognised oeuvre.
So what is this book about? What is the purpose behind writing it? Some form of writing therapy?

The title 'Crazy Days' is telling as mental illness greatly affected her father and, despite appearances, she has struggled with maintaining good mental health all her life. It's an internal battle between Good Sadie and Bad Sadie, trying to figure out why she does the things she does.

Some reviewers have commented on the lack of details on her marriage to Jude Law. Maybe there is more to a woman then the man she was married to. The important stuff happens in childhood and Sadie Frost writes about this in detail.

Despite the lack of noteworthy acting work for a showbiz autobiography, this has to be one of the most creative autobiographies that I have read. The story about how her parents met is written in the third person. Her childhood is written from a child's perspective. Interspersed between the chapters are self-penned poems.

If Goodreads allowed half-stars, this creative style of writing might have warranted 3.5 stars but I would have to take away that 0.5 star because she refused to go into any detail about the accidental-swallowing-of-an-ecstasy-tablet-by-her-then-infant-daughter-at-a-children's-party-in-a-nightclub-incident, which in my opinion is a cop-out.

All in all, an interesting read.

[Esther · Rating 1 out of 5]

Flicking through the used book bargains, idle curiosity saw me part with 49 cents of my hard earned money for this. Badly written with great big chunks missing - i.e. most of the juicy stuff you'd be interested in (Jude hired some good lawyers). I want my money back.

[karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting

Definitely an interesting life story that kept me absorbed . Born into what could be described as extremely unconventional circumstances ,Sadie frost tells the story of her father's battle with mental health problems , erratic behaviour. It is a tale of being one of around 12 siblings some half some full. A story of rags to riches , famous friends and glamour. It chronicles her own suffering of severe post natal depression and breakdowns . A totally unique life and a book well worth reading .

[Marion · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read that after having rewatched Dracula. It was horrifically boring.

[Louisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A massive guilty pleasure of mine is celebrity autobiographies and Sadie frost’s did not disappoint. I learnt so much about her life and journey and have so much respect for her after reading this - I just wish it had been a bit longer when it came to her life as an adult, as a lot more seemed to be written about her childhood.

[Christina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadie Frost led and still leads a very interesting life. She spent a great deal of time discussing her childhood. Two-thirds of the book lead up to her adult life. She glosses over her adult life too quickly. I wish she would have discussed that part of her life more.

[Wendy Greenhouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite a good read. Expected it to be a bit more honest in places.

[Gem Fraser · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt a lot was edited and cut due to others. Not a 'tell all' at all!

[Helen Hanschell Pollock · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only bought and read this book because I knew her dad and herself as a child

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book, but her adult life and marriages are almost airbrushed out, her marriage to Jude last about 30 pages, with Gary Kemp getting less space. Was ultimately disappointed.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is it sad that I just brought this book because I loved her in Bram Stokers dracula? (That and to see if it mentioned Gary Oldman <3)