Confessions of a Rebel Debutante: A Memoir

Confessions of a Rebel Debutante: A Memoir

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While I enjoyed learning about the south from Anna Field's point of view, I think she was not as much a rebel as she tries to make herself out to be. I mean, rebel or no, she still attended a well-off girls finishing school, went through all sorts of classes and rebelled in ways that kids in every day schools do. In spite of that rebellion, everything was taken care of for her, she wasn't thrown out of school, she still got an ivy league education and it was just hard to feel sorry for the poor, oppressed girl from the South.

I can't whole-heartedly recommend this book, but I will say this: If you want a book that will give you some fun sayings, some interesting looks at how the "rich" of the south live, then I'd at least skim through it. Oct 30, Kate rated it it was ok. The author gives us a good overview of southern debutante culture and protocol. She also has a few humorous anecdotes and touching stories. One in particular don't want to give away the spoiler is beautifully written.

That said, she ultimately doesn't have much to say--although I admit she says it cutely. There isn't a ton of substance here. Even her "rebel" credentials seem pretty dubious to me. Unless she was holding back in order to preserve her image, her "rebelliousness" was so mild as to The author gives us a good overview of southern debutante culture and protocol.

Unless she was holding back in order to preserve her image, her "rebelliousness" was so mild as to not warrant the title of "rebel deb," let alone her repeated self-identification as such, and worse, her referring to herself throughout the book as "Scarlett" O'Hara. Ironically, dubbing herself such a heroine was a more audacious move than anything else contained within the book. She seems to really relish not quite fitting in anywhere and she also seems to think this is a lot more novel a feeling than it is--which comes across as lacking the maturity that a few more years will likely bring her.

In her effort to justify not fitting in anywhere, she ends up being snarky and even mean-spirited about virtually everyone she doesn't really connect with. So, instead of that making me understand her plight, it started to make me think that she was the common denominator with all these problematic interactions. Another way she defeats her purpose is by including some super-weak "stories" featuring celebrities.

Some of what she tries to spin into cute yarns are as simple as, someone famous came into a restaurant once while she was working there. The thing is, she makes such a point out of how she is too cool to care about these celebs, yet she includes them despite not really having any interesting point so either she kinda does care, or she at least expects us to be impressed.

Several times, she points out that she is too young to know or care much about these celebrities. Basically, she still seems way too enchanted with who she was as a teenager. It will be interesting to see if, as she gets older, she can cultivate some perspective to which she can apply her voice as a writer.

The cover art, title and jacket blurbs are by far the best part of this book. One has to wonder about the validity of the NYU Graduate writing program if this author is type of writer to whom the school gives a full scholarship. Somewhere in this book are the ideas for some very funny stories.

Unfortunately the author is totally unable to relate them to us in an amusing or interesting way. She is rude, condescending and narrow minded. The Massachusetts joke was only slig Horrible, horrible book. The Massachusetts joke was only slightly amusing the first time and more insulting with each repitition.

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Although her anger at her famous employers may be justified, really we all know that Diana Ross and Jill Zarin are crazy bitches , Ms. Fields treatment of their children is uncalled for and just down right cruel. While she spend most of the book whining about how mean people, mostly us Northerners, are to her, Ms. Fields attacks every child who has had the misfortunate to be related to one of her employers. Aug 03, Tara Brant rated it did not like it. This book was horrible and a disgrace to any real southern girl.

Fields needs to hire a new editor. Catfish don't have scales. What kind of 'tomboy' who goes 'catfishing' doesn't know that? I started to keep track of all of the things in this book that I wanted to add in my poor review but it just added up to be so many that I am not even going to attempt.

I will just say, "Don't waste you time reading this book. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The first third of Confessions of a Rebel Debutante by Anna Fields sets up the community of her childhood. The female role is just as portrayed in Disney movies. The damsel in distress, backwoods and barefoot women are idolized.

The women of society are just pretty faces with no substance. The women are supposed to be completely dependent on their fathers and husbands. Today women are almost always independent with only the The first third of Confessions of a Rebel Debutante by Anna Fields sets up the community of her childhood. Today women are almost always independent with only the necessary support from parents. I think I would be friends with Anna Fields because she is independent and active.

She seems to be the outsider in her society and is into different things. I am spontaneous and find off beat people to be interesting. I think we would get along well. Feb 07, Leila Cohan-Miccio rated it did not like it Shelves: It's my own fault for being so obsessed with debutante culture, but oh lord, this book. Did she get paid extra every time she said "Rebel Deb? Jun 14, Loraine rated it it was ok.

Not crazy about the writing style sometimes I would be unsure of past or present status. Mar 24, Jill rated it it was ok. I wanted to like this book, but three things made that difficult: She claims she regales people at parties with these stories, but her stories are kind of dull. The inaccuracies in this book are distracting.

Unless it took her 10 years to get through school, I wanted to like this book, but three things made that difficult: She misquotes films, and her timeline jumps around to the point of being distracting. Good lord, the bragging. Name dropping from a time when you were an extra in a film? Repeating over and over how terrible public school is? She went to an all girls school, then to Brown, then to NYU.

She spent her spring break hanging out with friends from her all girls school. The most trouble she got in was for missing a 10pm curfew. Tacky, mean-spirited, and not particularly well-written.

Sep 06, Frances rated it did not like it. I liked the cover,color, and description of it. But, I must say that when I began reading page 15, I found the writing to be extremely racist. The author mentioned that her state was invaded by Catholics, Mexicans, and carpetbaggers looking for cheap living and better weather, and that four children to one household was almost unheard of. When I read that paragraph, I immediately threw her book in the trashcan. Saying that her state was invaded by Mexicans is quite offensive to the Mexican and Mexican American communities, as we all know that this land belonged to the Native American Indians before other people came here and did some good backstabbing and invaded their land.

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I personally have Native American Indian Mexican , Spaniard, and Irish blood in me and have relatives living in the state that she mentioned in her book. None of them have "four children living in one household. How would she like it if I wrote a book where I mentioned that white Americans came and invaded my state with their trailer parks? I don't think she would like that at all.

Feb 22, Deonnah Davis rated it really liked it. I picked this book up based off the cover. I know, I know. They say don't judge a book by its cover. I loved the title and the wedding dress on the cover and began to think that this would be a good read. Being a "southern belle" myself, I wanted to see what this author had to say. I enjoyed this book a lot. I do want to question the reason for this being a memoir if this is not all true.

The author changed more than just names according to former classmates of hers who have left reviews. That i I picked this book up based off the cover. That is somewhat disappointing because my heart was heart as I was reading when she told the story of how her best friend died while driving her car.

She should have just saved this was a regular novel that she wanted to write that was inspired by her life story. Another thing I think Anna Fields could have done without was all the long, drab information about debutantes. Anyone can googled or used common sense if they really cared. I guess that could frustrate only someone like me since I knew already the long and expensive process of becoming a debutante.

Overall, this book was a light and fun read. I would suggest this to any southern belle and others who can handle her cruel judgement about the west coast and Yankees. Jul 01, Leslie rated it it was ok Shelves: Once I got it home and started reading I was surprised to discover it was a non-fiction book; but I didn't let that deter me. But this is not so much a sociological study of the South in the 90s as it is an autobiography of a confused young woman. There are plenty of fascinating characters in the book but they are skipped over in favor of name dropping.

She cloaks ignorance in southern manners. In the early 21st century there is no excuse for being a fish out of water in NYC. A Brown graduate should know how to use the internet and her Brown alumni book to get info about NYC. She's embittered about not being popular blaming everyone but herself.

Apr 09, Lora Dudding rated it it was ok. This author was neither a Deb nor a lady. But she did go to finishing and ivy league schools. Money will cover a multitude of sins in this world. She is pompous and full of herself and proud of her bad behavior. Bless her heart, she thinks her accent and cotillion classes endear her to us and convince us she is a Deb and a lady.

She name drops and the writing is horrible. I was stunned when she bragged about getting a full ride scholarship with a play she threw together and did not edit. Her w This author was neither a Deb nor a lady. Feb 01, Pages. Apr 15, Pages. A fond, funny Southern-fried memoir about growing up a proper young lady…or not. Too smart, too tall, too fat, too different…Anna Fields was a dud at debbing. A scriptwriter for As the World Turns, she is also a successful playwright and stand-up comedian. She now lives in New York City. About Confessions of a Rebel Debutante A fond, funny Southern-fried memoir about growing up a proper young lady…or not.

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