On the Couch [Paperback]

Lorraine Bracco (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2007

Lorraine Bracco is known to millions as psychiatrist Dr. Melfi on HBO's The Sopranos. It's hard to imagine that this formidable woman spent years struggling to free herself from depression, serious money problems, and a disastrous relationship that led to a widely-publicized child-custody battle. Here, she openly reveals the details of her struggle-and the treatment that helped her triumph.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lorraine Bracco was born in Brooklyn. She has appeared in countless films, on television, and on Broadway. She was recently named "Woman of the Year" by the New York City Police Athletic League, and has already launched her own line of wines.

From AudioFile

Some books are well suited to audio. This one is improved by it. Bracco's Brooklyn accent and quirky pronunciation define who she is better than mere words ever could. An Oscar-nominated actress, most recently famous for her role as a psychiatrist on "The Sopranos," Bracco has had a life of professional success and private turbulence. Two marriages and a long, stormy romance with Harvey Keitel left her with two much loved daughters and a trove of relationship wisdom, which she shares at the end. Her bio and delivery are intimate, warm, humorous, and honest--just the way someone might talk "on the couch" to her doctor. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley Trade (May 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425215105
• ISBN-13: 978-0425215104
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,540,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sit down for a conversation with a delightful woman (who just happens to be an award-winning actress), July 10, 2006

By 

Jessica Lux (Rosamond, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: On the Couch (Hardcover)

This book should be sold in audio form only! Bracco's memoir is read straight from the heart, in her raspy Brooklyn accent. She owns these stories and reflections and tells them in a mesmerizing voice. While I was enjoying this audio book, I often found myself pulling into the garage and sitting there for extended periods of time, unable to tear myself away from Bracco's captivating life story.

On the Couch is the story of an amazing woman who continues to live life to its fullest. Bracco was a gawky Long Island teenager whose wildest dreams game true when a modeling agency took a chance on her. As a hard-working model in Paris, she was shocked when someone suggested trying out for an acting role. She had no belief that modeling prepared her for acting in any way (how refreshing!), and, as it turned out, her acting career was a long, hard climb. Any woman or modern professional will be able to identify to Bracco's experiences with a childhood in suburbia, early romances, her early twenties in Paris, choices between different career paths, the sting of being fired or rejected for a job, motherhood, and the process of seeking and growing through therapy. Yes, she also happens to be TV's most famous fictional psychiatrist, and an Oscar-nominated actress, but that's all just part of her life experience.

The listener (or reader) will glean some fascinating insight into the industry, including the large differences between television and film sets, the process of filming a pilot and negotiating with studios, the tug-of-war between true genius and unadulterated schmoozing, and the sigma of dyslexia and other conditions in the cut-throat world of acting. Don't pick this one up expecting to get any Hollywood dirt, though! Bracco's anecdotes focus on positive influences, such as the time Sean Connery made her Cinderella for evening, funny stories about times on set, and unforgettable advice and encouragement she received over the last several decades. This is no sugar-coated story, however, and Bracco owns up to her own weakness and mistakes on many occasions.

I'm recommending this book to my mom and her peers, who are the same age as Bracco, and to my girlfriends, who could use these sage reflections on young life and the outcome of various career and life choices. One of the most important topics in this book is therapy, including Bracco's firsthand experience realizing that depression isn't one big black monster, but a slowly-creeping condition. She gives essential advice about the process of growth in therapy, and how one may need to move on to a new counseling provider as they progress through the process.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A candid account of depression which could help many silent sufferers, June 23, 2006

By 

K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: On the Couch (Hardcover)

If Lorraine Braco's memoir helps readers escape from the stigma that STILL exists (but shouldn't) when it comes to seeking treatment for depression, she'll have done a great service - especially when there are celebrities like Tom Cruise around to argue that depression can be treated solely with vitamins and exercise. Sorry, Tom, but not in every case.
Bracco writes very honestly of her experiences and of how the depression crept into her life. She wasn't used to it, didn't have a long history of battling any sort of mental illness. It was hard for her to reach out for help. A lot of people should be able to relate to that. So often people seem to think they should "tough out" mental disorders when they wouldn't think twice of getting help for pneumonia or a broken bone.
I also like the fact that Bracco is open about using anti-depressants but offers hope to those who don't want to be on them all their lives. In her case, the depression may have been brought on by a whole host of incredible stresses - two divorces, a daughter who kept running mysterious high fevers, etc - and medication and therapy helped her get her life back in balance. In time, she was able to wean herself off the medications.
True, not everyone with depression can stay off medication but Bracco's book reveals that there are levels of depression and that there is no shame in reaching out for help, whether one suffers from chronic or short term depression. Her writing style is excellent and the book is vivid and very real.

26 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow. Very very interesting :-), June 6, 2006

By 

Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: On the Couch (Hardcover)

What a great book. I got this earlier in Australia and have read it in record time for me for a biography. It's a very interesting look at a great actress' life.
There is so much that you may not know about her , but there has been a lot of drama in her life. This memoir is revealing and sometimes shocking. She wanted to write this in celebration of herself and celebration of motherhood and because there are things here she believes can help other people.
She talks a fair bit about her relationship with Harvey Keitel and how serious their relationship was early on and it resulted in the birth of their daughter. She had met him in 1983 in Paris, and was immediately drawn to him. She writes how she slept with him on the first night. Later down the track there was a major custody battle for their daughter. She was also married to Edward James Almos for a while. She wrote how he was accused of molesting the child of a friend of hers, but she says it was a shakedown to get money out of her. It impacted her custody battle for her daughter and made her question everything in her life.
During her career at one stage, she had to even file for Chapter 11 because she wasn't getting good roles.
She talks about how nice Sean Connery was to her the year of Goodfellas. She was in Mexico, but gave her time-share on his plane to get her back to LA because he wouldn't let her miss the Oscars.
She writes about her major funk during the first season of Sopranos. Medication, therapy and family love got her through that.
It's an amazing book with a lot of interesting information that you probably never knew. She's such a great actress and it's always fun to read about their personal lives to see that they are as human as we all are. I really recommend this great read to everyone. It's very good.