From Mother and Daughter to Friends: A Memoir

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Summary: A Book Every Woman Should Read!
Review: From Mother and Daughter to Friends is a book full of Wisdom, Love, Peace and understanding. I could not put it down. It is the story of a woman who has overcome many overwhelming disappointments, hurts and significant losses, only to emerge as a voice of hope, encouragement and strength for others like me, who have experienced similar trials. I think it was very courageous of Nancy to share so much of her life; I found it inspiring and uplifting. I think she is a wonderful writer, and that her children ought to be proud that their mother's life story will be an inspiration for others. I both cried and laughed as I read of challenges that would have easily embittered others. It was fascinating to discover how she met and resolved them with graceful strength and insight. She is an heroic example for all of us. I keep wondering if Nancy has written any other books. I hope she plans to write many more.

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Summary: mothers are forever.
Review: Hi. I don't want to say my name ... anyway, I am from Brazil and i am 17 years old.
I read the book and i really enjoyed it.
I received this book as a gift from a friend of mine when i was in LA studying english. When I started to read i didn't understand english very well but when i came back to my country , i could understand everything.
My friend gave me this book because he knows that i am a huge fan of FRIENDS.
when i started to read, i was thinking "I am reading the story about Jennifer Aniston's childhood." but then I forgot that and the Jennifer's mother's book became for me more than this.
Now I think that i read a book about a mother who loves her daughter so much and wants back her relantionship with her daughter more than everything.
I am an actress , too. Actually i am starting and a lot of things in that book is similar to my story with my mother.
My parents also are divorced since I was little.
So, when i finished to read that I started to think about my mother and I realized that everything she did for me even the things that i hated, she did because she loves me.
Anyway, this book is not about the relantionship about the mother of a celebrity but it is about a mother like all.
A mother who loves her daughter and suffers with their separation.
I hope they can be close again.
I know there is nothing to do with that what i am going to say but... I LOVE MY MOMMY.
Anyway, you should read this book, you will like it and you will think a lot about your family.

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Summary: Dialectical behavior therapy would be invaluable here
Review: I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer who stated that Nancy Aniston fits the profile of someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD). At the very least, she is narcissistic. My mother has BPD, and I too finally separated from her in my late 20s. Even stronger than a parent's unwavering love for her child is a child's willingness to repeatedly overlook parental transgressions, to keep coming back in the hope of "getting it right this time," trying to find a way to make Mom happy, or at least a little less terrifying. I applaud Jennifer for finally putting her foot down. In typical borderline fashion, Nancy Aniston has found a way to make everything about HER, and has used her daughter to do so. This book constitutes an egregious violation of Jennifer's boundaries. I sincerely hope both of them are able to find peace -- Nancy through dialectical behavior therapy (an effective therapeutic course for BPD), and poor, manipulated Jennifer through continued connection with more emotionally healthy adults.

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Summary: One more celebrity's mom trying to move in on the action
Review: I am a huge fan of Jennifer Aniston and fan of the sitcom Friends. I just finished this book. I was dying to read it to learn more about Jen and her life. I knew of the estrangement between her and her mother and was very curious to find out what had happened. Nancy Aniston wrote this book to tell about herself and her life. She has used her position in life as Jennifer's mother to promote herself. If speaking about Jennifer on a T.V. show perpetuated their estrangement, what must Jennifer think now? Did Nancy think this book would bring them back together? Think again Nancy! How can Jennifer ever trust you again. She can't leave her home without being hounded by the press, now the whole world is privy to her childhood and adolescence. Shame on you for being another mother of a celebrity who can't sit back and enjoy the fruits of your child without trying to move in on the action. Selfish and self absorbed is how you appear in this book. If your account of your childhood is accurate, then I understand that you must be desperate to find validation. In my opinion, you went about it the wrong way.

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Summary: Survival Through Acceptance
Review: I am not a celebrity groupie. A friend, who knows I love biographies, felt I would enjoy this story. She was right! It is an excellant book written by a woman who survived three severe blows of fate, and rather than being vanuished, learned to accept them as important life lessons. I was touched and moved to tears several times to read that as a child, Nancy Aniston endured desertion of the family by her mother, then while still in her teens decided to marry hoping for the strong family life she was denied in childhood; when she finally believed she had attained this state in a more mature marriage her then actor husband left her for his leading lady; and lastly, channeling all of her energies into raising her children, determined to be the devoted mother she always wanted, she experienced her daughter's desertion because of a media ploy. Three pivotal areas of her life ended in a crumbling away of all her energies and good intentions, but, without a trace of bitterness she sees this disintegration of her hopes as an act of divine significance and necessary for growth as a human being. This book is an interesting story of one woman's journey through pain, to acceptance, to peace. Any woman who has lived her life caring for others (as millions of unappreciated homemakers do) only to find that "life is a series of false bottoms" will relate to this story and will find strength from it.

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Summary: A must for all fans of Jennifer
Review: I bought this book from amazon and once I started reading it I could not put it down. I am a huge fan of Jennifer's and I am always interested in finding out about her. Although Nancy writes about her own childhood it is filled with sweet memories of her daughter. There are great photos and wonderful accounts of Jennifer's childhood. I love this book and I think Nancy has written a fantastic memoir of her daughter and I admire her for being so strong when Jennifer dropped all contact with her over the interview. I can see Jennifer's side and I hope that over time she can forgive Nancy. Anyway the book is ace and I recommend it highly.

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Summary: Publicity Stunt
Review: I cannot believe this woman - It is sickening how she has tried to capitalize on her daughter's fame by writing this book about her own life, which wasn't that interesting nor one from which one could learn much. She embodies the terms "self-centered" and "arrogant." I feel sorry for Jennifer having to grow up with a woman like that. Do not buy this book; it will only contribute to this woman's ego.

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Summary: an overpaid tv star, who must believe her own publicity
Review: I just finished this book, and I can't believe the reviews I've seen here. Did I read the same book as the rest of you? It seemed to me to be a thoughtful, sincere effort to understand the sad estrangement from her only daughter. One television interview warrants 8YEARS OF SILENCE? Give me a break!!! While the actors on Friends are certainly talented, no one deserves that kind of money! Her mother did without all those years, supported her, emotionally and otherwise, and this is how she is treated? I don't think the mother is self-centered, egotistical or borderline, at all. It sounds to me more like you're describing her daughter. I'm a firm believer of "Karma", and I really believe this will come back around to haunt Jennifer. I would give anything to have my wonderful mother here to talk to. I think Nancy Aniston has done a courageous job of "getting on with her life". I totally recommend this book. Karol Santiago

Rating:
Summary: an overpaid tv star, who must believe her own publicity
Review: I just finished this book, and I can't believe the reviews I've seen here. Did I read the same book as the rest of you? It seemed to me to be a thoughtful, sincere effort to understand the sad estrangement from her only daughter. One television interview warrants 8YEARS OF SILENCE? Give me a break!!! While the actors on Friends are certainly talented, no one deserves that kind of money! Her mother did without all those years, supported her, emotionally and otherwise, and this is how she is treated? I don't think the mother is self-centered, egotistical or borderline, at all. It sounds to me more like you're describing her daughter. I'm a firm believer of "Karma", and I really believe this will come back around to haunt Jennifer. I would give anything to have my wonderful mother here to talk to. I think Nancy Aniston has done a courageous job of "getting on with her life". I totally recommend this book. Karol Santiago

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Summary: Nancy, do you have borderline personality disorder?
Review: I just heard a bit of an interview where it was said that Jennifer was estranged from her Mom. I thought I would check it out on the web.
I found this book and read the excerpt. Nancy betrayed her own daughter, simple. What's in the family should stay in the family. It seems to me that Nancy shows signs of BPD, denial, feeling like a Saint, seeing things in black and white, living vicariously through her daughter, lying and believing your own lies and rewritting the past to fit your needs. I am sure if Jennifer said she would never forgive you there must have been many reasons leading up to that moment and this book and that interview the final straw for her. Sad. By the way, in what religion does God make deals? Seek help, BPD mom.