Reviews tagging 'Abortion'

Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis

222 reviews

sydneyns1990's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful slow-paced

3.5

It was a pretty hard read. This is one that you should probably spring for the audiobook. I didn’t but I was still reading passages as if it were in her voice.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Death of parent

banusha's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective

4.75

Powerful hardships as well as powerful successes make up a life fully lived. 
My life. 
- Viola Davis

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Abortion, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Drug abuse

daniellejp16's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Abortion

hayleyvharrington's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Infidelity, and Abortion

Minor: Drug abuse and Grief

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

 June is Audiobook Appreciation Month and what better way to kick it off than by listening to Finding Me, Viola Davis’s memoir which won Audies for Audiobook of the Year and for Narration by Author or Authors, as well as a Grammy for Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling? Obviously the narration is superb thanks to Davis’s acting skills, her powerful voice, as well as the strength and genuineness of the emotion because she is telling her own story. In terms of that story what really stood out for me was the harrowing and traumatic reality of her childhood which was blighted by a dysfunctional family (addiction and domestic abuse), sexual abuse, physical abuse, racism, bullying, colourism, and extreme poverty resulting in insufficient food, lack of heating, and infestations of rats and mice. That she was able to overcome this and lead a successful life is a testament to her talent, hard work plus a little luck. And therapy. She was very clear about how important therapy had been to her healing. Sadly not all children from such backgrounds will be fortunate enough to overcome it, and she is upfront about how, even with her help, not all her family members have been able to escape from dysfunction and addiction. I also think she did a valuable service by being upfront about the realities of the acting profession - not just the racism and sexism but also the difficulties of training, gaining enough jobs to be financially self-supporting, let alone making it big. All up I found this to be a thought provoking and inspiring story told with both passion and compassion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Abortion, and Death of parent

carly_the_librarian's review against another edition

emotional inspiring

5.0

 Viola's story is one of overcoming trauma and achieving her wildest dreams. Her upbringing was incredibly difficult, going through things that no child ever should. Her strength and healing journey is incredibly inspiring, and I appreciated her sharing her therapy experiences.

Viola's journey at Julliard was also incredibly interesting. I think all professions have issues with Eurocentrism, but I had never thought about how that affected those in the acting field. It was enlightening to hear her discuss how film has gotten more diverse, yet darker African American in lead roles is still proportionately small. I really enjoyed hearing about her experience in Africa and how healing it was after being surrounded by people who didn't understand the importance of culture. I am truly amazed at Viola's resilience and am so happy for the life she has built for herself. See trigger warnings prior to reading as this book deals with many difficult topics. Bonus- Viola narrates the audiobook herself! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Medical content, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol

Moderate: Sexual assault

kvokolek's review against another edition

inspiring

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Abortion

Moderate: Animal death, Drug abuse, and Rape

lilybear3's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

I couldn't put this book down.  Viola Davis is a force of nature and her autobiography, the Grammy-award winning audiobook that she earned EGOT status for, is further evidence, if you weren't already swayed.  

While I'm normally not into celebrity biographies, there are a handful that I loved and this is one of them, so much that I consider this required reading.  Ideally, you should listen to the audiobook (again, Grammy-winning audiobook).  Viola pulls you in and doesn't let go.  Her autobiography is all encompassing from birth to present, all the details from her childhood to working in Hollywood.  I don't know what else to say other than to read this book.  It is incredible.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Confinement

allisonobrien's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Abortion

nicolegardner's review against another edition

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Abortion, and Death of parent