Find Me [Hardcover]

Rosie O'Donnell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 16, 2002

Part memoir, part mystery, 'Find Me' is a tale of a friendship between a troubled young woman and a celebrity obsessed with helping her. Rosie O'Donnell's candid memoir is a topsy-turvy tale of mistaken identities and strange psychological illnesses that may or may not exist.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

One day, TV talk show host O'Donnell (Kids Are Punny), aka Rosie, impulsively left a phone message for a pregnant, 14-year-old girl, whose tragic story of rape she had learned about at the New Jersey adoption agency she funds. Within days, the girl, Stacie, called back. Rosie introduced herself and offered to help the girl in any way she could. "And as I said those words, it was like a shell breaking open or a bird coming out," writes O'Donnell. "I said hello and a crack came, and we all fell in, straight into looking-glass land." What follows is an enormously powerful story about the mystery of identity, about how forces strong enough to shatter one person can make another shine like a diamond. Rosie chronicles her increasingly obsessive phone and e-mail relationship with a poor, broken kid who comes to show her that beneath her gifts of humor, fame, money and even love, she is still the child who lost her mother and is calling out to her. But what makes this brief book extraordinary by any standard is that it captures the way a core self, a true I, can appear in the midst of the most broken life. In the kind of lean, clean, witty prose that comes only with complete honesty, Rosie imparts some unexpected truths. Readers will come away persuaded that the road of obsessiveness can sometimes lead to the palace of wisdom, that faith and grace are real. Those who declare this merely a sexual "coming-out" story (there are passing references to dating a woman and to Rosie's partner, Kelli) need a heart and brain transplant. Here, Rosie offers us an unsentimental and utterly real tale about the power of love. (One-day laydown, Apr. 16)
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

A very personal story told by a hugely popular comedian. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 211 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; 1ST edition (April 16, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446530077
• ISBN-13: 978-0446530071
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (172 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #866,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 62 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, touching, surprising, April 16, 2002

By 

Tonya J. Gibb "TJG" (Katy, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Find Me (Hardcover)

As a fan of Rosie O'Donnell I ordered this book as soon as it was announced as a pre-purchase, completely unaware of what it would contain. I received it yesterday and finished reading it this morning. This book reads very quickly. I was completely caught up in this incredible story and unable to put it down. The book was a complete surprise, the story was touching, powerful and not at all what I expected. The most pleasant surprise of this book was Rosie's writing style. I found her words to be honest, direct, raw and engrossingly warm to read. This book broke my heart but then left me with an enriched understanding of the human spirit and humanity. As a fan of Ms. O'Donnell, I now completely understand why she is leaving her show. I will miss her, but I only hope that this book is the beginning of more books to come from a naturally gifted, touching author. I will recommend this book to everyone I know, it will be my favorite gift to give this year.

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She once was lost, but now she's found, September 2, 2007

By 

JGC - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Find Me (Paperback)

"Find Me" is the rocky journey of movie star, talk show host, comedienne, mother, activist and my personal shero; Rosie O'Donnell. This is not the typical celebrity autobiography. Because, I'm sure by now you've figured out that Rosie isn't the typical celebrity. Instead, "Find Me" is a poignant tale of self-acceptance and is a story of both tragedy and triumph.

Rosie discusses intimately how she felt after her mother's devastating death. And how this effected her entire life. After she hit it big you would think that everything ended up happily ever after? Not so. In Rosie's world all that glitters isn't gold. Even after she becomes a big star she still has her crosses to carry.

Along the way, Rosie adopts her first child; a son. She also meets a very troubled woman that parallels Rosie's own life. Rosie ponders why she turned out rich and famous while her friend is battling a serious mental disorder.

"Find Me" like its author is truthful, unconventional, compassionate and incredibly riveting. Rosie is able to bring the reader in to her world, if only for a few moments because she is so fascinating and descriptive in her writings.

I was surprised that this book did not discuss Rosie's sexuality. (There was some vague hints but that was about it.) Because, I remember when the book was released Rosie also "came out" at the same time to her fans and TV audience. But I learned that "Find Me" is not about whom she goes to bed with or chooses to love. Instead, it is a triumphant story that describes how and why she became the sheroic woman of today. "Find Me" taught me a lot more, too. It taught me the importance of love and acceptance of others. And, it also taught me the importance of being and having a good parent because Rosie's childhood was ripped apart with the loss of her mother.

I am ashamed to admit, I used to despise Rosie O'Donnell. I listened to all the garbage cable news programs that were only too eager to drag her name through the mud for their own gain. But after I read Rosie's book and started hearing what she had to say (on her blog and when she was on The View) I learned that the real Ro, as she likes to be called, has zero resemblance to the nut the media tries to portray as her.

I can't wait for Ro's next book, Celebrity Detox: (the fame game). It comes out next month!

Even though I never met Rosie I now have such a familiar fondness and affinity to this warm individual that somehow manages to draw people to her, from all circles and all walks of life. She once was lost, but now she's found.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars not the typical celebrity bio, April 20, 2002

By 

jo (new england) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Find Me (Hardcover)

I received my copy of Rosie O'Donnell's FIND ME today and was unable to put it down until I'd read the whole thing. It was not what I expected. I have always loved Ro because we share a history of mother loss at an early age and when we were little kids (she is about my age, maybe a little younger) you were not permitted to discuss it. She will unashamedly talk about what it is like to grow up as a motherless daughter. It has colored her life in much the same way as it has mine. This isn't a book about what it's like to be a star, there isn't any name-dropping. It's a simple and powerful book about what it means to be in a position where you can help other people. Ro uses her fame and money for good things and sometimes those people she tries to help can actually lead to her helping herself, too. You won't be able to put this book down. Lots of good writing and no celebrity posturing, just a good person telling a story that will fascinate you. Through it all, she manages to be funny and warm and honest. If you like her, you will like this book. If you think you don't like her, you will probably have a different opinion after reading this.