"Call Me Anne" (Book Review)
"Call Me Anne" (Book Review)
Not just a memoir, this book manifests Anne Heche's joy and commitment to love...
Anne Heche needs no introduction. But just in case you are the one in eight billion of us who hasn’t heard who she is, Anne is a world-renowned figure for her roles on tv, in film, loving Mom, and as a social change magnet. Anne won Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series in 1991 for her work on Another World. Among many nominations and awards, Anne was nominated for a Tony for her role in the revival of Twentieth Century on Broadway.
Anne worked alongside celebrities like Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, and many others. However, she is best known for her gregarious personality, commitment to kindness, humble grace, and effusive joy.
Anne’s life was controversial because she was with Ellen in the early ‘90s. Anne was busy as a new up-and-coming A-list actress, while Ellen had a highly successful sitcom. That all turned when they were both highly scorned and punished for simply loving and being open about their love for one another. I was shocked at the quickness and severity of the punishment exacted by Hollywood. I have to say, though, that Harrison Ford is now a hero of mine after reading his response to some horrible news for Anne. You will have to read the book to find out why.
Anne was a champion for gender-free love during and long after her relationship with Ellen. In this sense, she was a soul well before her time. Unfortunately, she paid a heavy price for advocating and living out gender-free love. However, Anne’s sacrifice and the sacrifice of other LGBTQ+ people to openly live their truth is why this understanding of love is much more accepted today.
Anne and I became new friends after I was on her and Heather Duffy’s podcast, Better Together With Anne & Heather. To be clear, we weren’t close friends. I am not a fan of folks who over-inflate their connections with high-profile celebrities and leaders. I sure don’t want to do that here. So we weren’t on each other’s Christmas presents list or having facetime chats over a glass of wine. However, we did have a point of connection in that I know her mom Nancy, and we both had come out of horrible abuse and religious indoctrination. The podcast I was on was about “Pray Away” and my experience helping shut down Exodus.
Our time on the podcast was excellent, and our communications afterward (more to come on in due time) were an amazing blessing to me. I felt genuinely heard and seen. However, she passed no from this realm because of a terrible accident in August 2022, and the world’s heart broke. I was grieving alongside millions upon millions of her fans. I was heartbroken for her sons, friends, and everyone who loved her.
I was hoping someday to have a more extended conversation about our experiences, but that wasn’t in the Universe’s timing. However, I still wanted to know more about her story, and when I heard that at the time she passed, her book, “Call Me Anne,” was in the final stages of being published, as soon as her memoir was available, I bought and devoured the book in two sittings.
No one who knew her would be surprised that Anne was raw, honest, upfront, a little eccentric (in the most wonderful way), funny, humble, and very personal. But “Call Me Anne” is not your typical memoir. Instead, Anne shares life experiences then turn them into lessons she learned from that experience, and then challenges the reader to take those insights and make them their own. She doesn’t tell people what to think, but her words of wisdom guide the reader into finding their joy, their voice.
And while everyone would love to turn back the clock and change the outcome of that fateful day she passed, if there was ever a perfect love letter to everyone who loved her, this book is it. If you want to know who Anne is, what she experienced, what she believed in, and her hope for humanity, this book is it. Alongside her body of work was the myriad of people touched by Anne’s love and joy. This book is a perfect tribute to who she is, the joy she brought into the world, and the love for every human she met and everyone who loved and supported her.
So, of course, I recommend this book! You can get your copy of Anne’s book by clicking here.
