Genre: Self Help
Author: . Sarah Ferguson The Duchess of York
Publisher: Simon and Shuster
ISBN: 0 7432 4612 8

The following review was contributed by: Molly Martin & CLICK TO VIEW  Molly Martin's Reviews

The work offered by Sara Ferguson is a series of sketches discussing a wide
variety of subjects. 'Forgiving the Past,' 'Laughing Out Loud' and 'Finding
Empathy' are but three of the short offerings. One vignette I particularly
enjoyed is entitled 'Keeping Rituals' in which the writer chats about
structure of routine and how important it is for children. Sarah Ferguson
tells of her own favorite ritual carried out with her Mother as well as
describing rituals she maintains with her own daughters.

Other vignette titles include 'Escaping Routine,' 'Spending Wisely,'
'Dressing to Thrill,' and 'Breathing Deep.' For a woman who has had a
history marred with spending not so wisely and dressing to cause columnists
much glee; the vignettes were refreshing and self-reflective.

'Living Small' is a tribute to the adult woman in charge of her own life
that Sarah Ferguson has become. From a girl who was unsure of herself,
allowed others to dictate her emotions and reality Ms Ferguson has become a
mature woman who is aware of both her strengths and her weaknesses and is
well able to face each with equal aplomb.

Filled with generously constructed accounts, snappy, plain spoken colloquy
and a sensibly interwoven theme of a woman who has come to grips with life
and herself; What I Know Now Simple Lessons Learned the Hard Way is a
pleasantly written, refreshing group of anecdotes gleaned by Sarah Ferguson
from her own life. Her childhood and teen years, marriage to Prince Andrew,
friendship with Princess Diana, mistakes made along the way, lapses in
decorum are all set down with straight forward poignancy as well as a
particle of self needling now and then and not a bit of 'expert' explanation
to muddy our thinking. Author Ferguson cleverly composes a set of easily
read episodes which grabs reader interest from the first lines and holds
interest fast right to the last paragraphs. As Sarah Ferguson came to
realize that life cannot always run exactly as we might wish; she matured
and became a notable figure well able to face life squarely while standing
on her own. From being focused as a pariah in the newspapers and from being
thought to be a mindless, overweight spendthrift has emerged a likable woman
for whom dissolution, metamorphosis, anticipation and aspiration all have
played a part in shaping what her life was, is and will be.

Engaging work written in plain and simple prose appropriate for the upper
middle grades to high school library, the home personal bookroom and home
school library. I particularly enjoyed reading What I Know Now Simple
Lessons Learned the Hard Way and getting a feel for this interesting,
pleasant woman who today fills her days with her daughters, good works and a
large dollop of good common sense. Sarah Ferguson has matured from a girl so
anxious to please and willing to let others dictate what her life 'should be
' that neither she nor others were pleased into a charming, interesting
woman worthy of emulation. Girls and women especially will delight in the
publication.

Enjoyed the read, happy to recommend.