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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
A book by the actor of one of my childhood idols, Matilda, I couldn't not read this right away. I borrowed this from the library, but wouldn't have regretted buying it if I did.
I could have read this book for so many more hours and days and been happy. I feel like Mara and I could be best friends. I laughed, I gasped, I almost cried (which is a lot for me), but most of all I just absolutely loved it.
I could have read this book for so many more hours and days and been happy. I feel like Mara and I could be best friends. I laughed, I gasped, I almost cried (which is a lot for me), but most of all I just absolutely loved it.
I didn’t find her essays too interesting or funny, and they rambled a lot.
Mara Wilson, whom I (and I think, everyone?) knows as Matilda from their childhood, comes back into the public spotlight with this very honest memoir. Having gotten off our radar somewhere in the late nineties, Mara talks about growing up, the pain and trauma or losing her mom as a child, and coming to terms with living with issues like OCD and severe anxiety. I find it really impressive that she can be that open about mental illness (or just mental health) given how cruel that media has been to her - as a child star that had the gall to grow up and no longer be cute. She had to find her group of true friends, fellow theater weirdos and others who could see her as more than the childhood roles she played, that became so iconic to so many. She talks about being nervous to set up internet dating because the media would find out, and people would be judgy and horrible - "Matilda can't be having casual sex!" which would be funny but is also kind of bleak. I was glad she found true blue people to be with, and owned the narrative that others kept spinning as their own.
So where is she now? She describes herself as a storyteller - kind of like a stand up comedian, without waiting for the laughs. Mara writes personal and anecdotal stories and preforms them to crowds, and it sounds like she'll be writing more in the future. I'll be on the lookout.
From one anxious, weirdo bisexual Jewish girl to another.
So where is she now? She describes herself as a storyteller - kind of like a stand up comedian, without waiting for the laughs. Mara writes personal and anecdotal stories and preforms them to crowds, and it sounds like she'll be writing more in the future. I'll be on the lookout.
From one anxious, weirdo bisexual Jewish girl to another.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Gosh, this was beautifully written. Mara is brilliant, funny, honest and vulnerable all at once. I laughed, I cried, I tweeted fangirl-y opinions at her more than once.
I am officially on a kick of listening to memoir type audio books and I think I will continue with it for a while. I enjoyed all of the mental health talk in this book and I found the author relatable even though I never knew anything about her before.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
This book was everything I hoped it would be and more. Mara has such a great way of telling a story; it feels like she’s talking directly with the reader. The book is full of introspection and examines so many of the angles of childhood actors and growing up with that background. I especially enjoyed hearing about Danny Devito, Robin Williams, and Mara’s letter to Matilda. Would recommend to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Mental illness, Death of parent
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Terminal illness
Minor: Drug use, Sexual content, Suicide, Alcohol
Well-written, but unfortunately while reading this I realized I don't much like Mara, which is difficult to get past when you're reading her memoir.
I'm going to recommend this book to everyone I know.