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tutti1908's review against another edition
5.0
I could sit and walk and listen to her for another nine hours, so I hope that she writes another piece of literature to talk more about how she's basking in her happiness and joy now that she has found herself. She is a walking, breathing miracle. It is amazing to see how she radiates light and love these days based on her traumatic past, and we do not deserve her brilliance.
I'm also so glad that I chose to listen to this as an audiobook because I don't know if I would have been able to really get through it in a written format, but listening to her and the tone was just something that I'm always going to appreciate. She spoke about forgiveness, and that's something that I'm dealing with a parent right now.
It's a hard read and there are so many triggers in this book, so do not read it if you feel as though you are more susceptible to damage based on trigger warnings. But if you are in a space where you are decent enough to read or listen, please do so because this was a magnificent, magnificent read and I 100% understand and agree with why she got that Grammy.
Graphic: Abortion, Abandonment, Death of parent, Sexual violence, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Grief, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Cursing, Physical abuse, and Racism
laneylo's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Chronic illness, Child abuse, Excrement, Grief, Terminal illness, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Violence, Death, Blood, Cancer, Racism, Death of parent, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Incest, Sexual assault, Rape, and Dementia
vatodd's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Racism, Child abuse, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Abortion
faithmccollum's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Medical content, Racism, Bullying, Death of parent, Child death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Infertility, Pedophilia, Terminal illness, and Rape
caribbeangirlreading's review against another edition
5.0
I listened to the audio. There's a reason why this memoir won an Audie Award and a Grammy for narration. When she's reading the parts of her parents, she leans into the acting chops that won her a Tony, and Emmy and an Oscar. Her voice is strong. SHE is strong. When Viola discusses her interactions with other Broadway and Hollywood greats, it doesn't sound like she's name dropping. Viola is too authentic to be fake, and even though she might not have loved/believed in herself as a younger woman, her talent has always been so great that it's made clear that she's not just famous, she's a brilliant actor.
To me, what made this memoir strong is the fact that Viola has been to therapy, and it shows. She doesn't just trauma dump. She discusses her childhood and young adulthood with the eye, and heart, of someone who's walked through hell, and survived. But she does it with love for that little girl that suffered so much to get to where she is now.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Grief, Abortion, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Infertility, and Pedophilia
kathshiroma's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Sexual harassment, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Cancer, Incest, Addiction, Pedophilia, and Death of parent
darlingmoira's review against another edition
4.5
I have so much respect for her and her drive. I would love to just sit with her and continue to hear her life’s stories. She deserves all the praise she is getting and I hope she realizes the power she has brought to women (especially black women) by telling her story.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Addiction, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pedophilia
mattyvreads's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Racism, Animal death, Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Racial slurs
ramseyreadsbooks's review against another edition
Minor: Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Death of parent, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Bullying, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
youmns's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, Abortion, Body shaming, and Infidelity
Minor: Pedophilia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Infertility, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, and Cancer