Lynne J. (Doughgirl) reviewed on 7/31/2009 + 138 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 1

Bet you're surprised that this book wasn't entitled Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!, aren't you?

Maureen admits at the very beginning of this memoir that that particular phrase - and her alter identity as Marcia Brady - has followed her all of her life. It has been both a blessing and a curse; and she has a different times loved it, hated it, and finally come to terms with it.

The years that Maureen spent as a Brady get some, but not a lot, of play in this book. Rather, this is Maureen's story, which is about as opposite as can be from Marcia's life in the Brady household. The worst thing that Marcia had to worry about was healing from a broken nose in time for a date (ironically, Maureen had a broken nose at pretty much the same time). But Maureen has had to deal with a serious drug (cocaine) addition, more than one mentally ill family member, and her own battle with depression.

The first half of this book really dragged for me. I frankly got tired of reading about Maureen having one cocaine binge after another, sleeping around, and attempting to hide her cocaine habit.

But in the second half of the book, she started to turn her life around, and the story turned around also. The second half of the book moved much faster than the first, and I grew to admire Maureen for fighting her demons - and winning.

If you are a fan of The Brady Show - especially if you are a child of the 60's and 70's as I am - I recommend this book. It's not great, but it is good and a very worthwhile read.

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