In an autobiography that should have been titled "Jack Cassidy My Sick Passion". three quarters of this book is about her first husband, his womanizing, his bi-sexuality, his indifference to his four sons, his substance abuse. And she can't get enough of the guy while she recounts his cruelty, egomania, jealousy of her success and his big dong.
You heard that right. The guy was well-endowed with a capital "D".
Shirley Jones proceeds to destroy any and all ideals we may have about her...and not in a good way.
My MIL bought the book, read it and gave to me. As a long time lover of musicals, my favorite being "The Music Man", I thought I'd be reading about Robert Preston, Gordon MacRae, Burt Lancaster, her co-star in "Elmer Gantry" and her Hollywood experiences. If those are your interests, don't bother to buy the book. They are all footnotes.
Instead, we get blow-by-blow descriptions of her sex life with Jack and his with others. No spoilers here. You'll get an eyeful if you read reviews. What she does is her business, but some things are not meant to be shared. She leaves a legacy of embarrassment to her sons and grandchildren.
Suffice to say, I would have subtitled the book:
"If you want to be disappointed, read this."
