Broken Pieces (And the Fun Things You Can Do with Them)

By: Reedy Gibbs

Narrated by: Reedy Gibbs

Torn between family, a demanding husband, and emotional upheaval, can an aspiring young actress find the courage to embrace her passion and independence in the face of overwhelming obstacles?

Born in Louisville, Kentucky, the youngest in a family of six children, Reedy Gibbs was tormented by her mentally disturbed eldest brother and learned to survive by staying out of the way and doing as she was told. After graduating high school, she moved to Chicago to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. Caught up in the big city excitement and her new life, she meets a handsome but troubled musician and gets lured into his stoner lifestyle.

Receiving tragic news from home, her life spirals out of control. Grief and fear cloud her judgment, and she allows herself to be seduced into marriage.

Always the pleaser, she goes along with her husband’s dream of living on a Northern California commune, even though her heart longs to be in the city pursuing her dream of acting professionally. After years of living as hippies, they buy land of their own and build a rock house with their bare hands, and Reedy gives birth to two children. She endures years of living without electricity, plumbing, or a telephone; however, these hardships do not deter her from her dream. Finally, she endeavors to stand up for herself and begin life anew as a working actress and single mother.

A memorable adventure filled with vibrant characters, hardships endured, and inner strength revealed, Reedy’s memoir will take you on a journey that will inspire and amuse, but, most of all, will fill your heart with hope that all difficulties can be overcome.

©2024 Reedy Gibbs (P)2025 Reedy Gibbs

From broken pieces to unbreakable strength

The author invites you into her story sharing her life with honesty and grace. She shares her tumultuous childhood, her family, her loves, and the successes she forged through her own perseverance and determination. Along the way, she reflects on a truth, once feared and misunderstood, but now realizes these “Broken Pieces” shaped the very core of her strength and courage to became the foundation of her existence ... and “the fun things you can do with them,”

Like comfort tea on cold day

I don’t like audio books but this one made me rethink my normal aversion to them. Her acting skills, all the voices she does really made all the characters come to life.

Her soothing narration accompanied all my daily tasks— folding laundry, early am commute, washing dishes— they were all done listening to her fascinating life story.

You know it’s good when you are talking back to the book, telling her,”No no don’t do it!” As reedy makes another bad life love choice!

Listening to this audiobook was FUN!

Reedy Gibbs' memoir, Broken Pieces and the Fun Things You Can Do with Them, takes the listener on a frolicking journey from her childhood in a dysfunctional family of artistic oddballs, her days living in a stoner hippie commune where she married, built a stone house from scratch and birthed two children. When the marriage proves intolerable, she divorces and has to make ends meet working as an actor and comedian, while teaching her kids the skills they’d need to follow in her footsteps.
Using her acting skills, her narration of her story comes fully alive, giving the listener the impression of being right there taking the journey with her. Reedy is a gifted storyteller who can make you laugh or bring you to tears and make you wish the story would never end. Listening to this audiobook was a joy.

Captivating!

I have been friends with the author for several years and I continue to be amazed by the breadth and depth of her talent. Audiobooks are best when narrated by either the author or a gifted actor and in this case, you are treated to both! Reedy brings her wonderful memoir to vibrant life, evoking vivid imagery and emotional connection. Her acting skills shine through in every joyous, humorous, heartwarming, gut-wrenching, and suspenseful word.