Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Finding Me by Viola Davis

79 reviews

randeedandeelion's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

5.0

What is especially striking about this story is that it reads with Viola Davis’s powerful voice coming through each and every page of the novel. Her story is heartbreaking and many parts devastating, and within this devastation the power and resilience of a woman who contains within herself something unbreakable. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship

ilariachillea's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Abortion, Death of parent, and Pregnancy

alexisramosreads's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

kcbas1's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abortion

jesslinkletter's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I will admit I mostly knew Viola Davis from How To Get Away With Murder, but after reading this book I want to consume every bit of media she's been a part of. She is incredibly vulnerable and emotional throughout this book, unveiling traumatic experiences from her childhood to present life and how they shaped her. It was difficult to listen to her tell her stories. At times I became deeply upset hearing her recount things, specifically those that I could relate to and knew the pain of all too well. This immediately became one of my favourite books ever just a few minutes in - Viola's narration is beautiful and adds another layer to the stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent

littlecozyreaderr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

jessspeake's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

buud_w0rm's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

This book. This is the most inspiring story. So much respect and admiration for this woman. Everyone should know her story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Classism

I’m just so… hopeful and full of motivation after this story. She’s truly one of a kind.

sparringego8's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

maybak's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I listened to the Finding Me audiobook, narrated by the author, Viola Davis. If you get an opportunity to listen to the memoir, I’d highly recommend it as it plunges you deep into Davis’ story. She conveyed so many emotions with her voice and acting skills that you won’t notice the 9h+ of this audiobook. 

I’ve gained an insight into her underprivileged childhood, the trauma and hardship that she had to face from a very young age. After listening to her story, I understood how resilient and dedicated she has been all her life. She is transparent about her issues with low self-esteem, the difficulties of landing roles as a dark skin actress, going to therapy, her fibroids, infertility and her journey to healing and self-love. 

Viola, as the main character, is well developed and layered. We understand her thought process, her fears and aspirations, what motivated her career choice and her relationship with her parents and husband, Julius. 

I particularly enjoyed how layered and complex her father was —from an abusive and violent husband to a remorseful, caring and doting husband and grandfather. She doesn’t sugar coat. She has depicted her parents and siblings —flaws and all— with truthfulness and grace. I wish her mother’s character was developed a bit deeper, I felt that she wasn’t as layered as the father’s character. 

Overall, it was an enjoyable experience. I recommend the audiobook to fans and non-fans of Viola Davis, as the memoir offers a deep introspection into the life of a poverty-stricken little girl who fulfilled her big bold dreams in Hollywood and in her personal life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Toxic relationship