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lexa's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Suicide attempt, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death, Eating disorder, and Vomit
kelly_e's review against another edition
3.5
Author: Selma Blair
Genre: Memoir
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: May 17, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Vulnerable • Straightforward • Fitful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
The first story Selma Blair Beitner ever heard about herself is that she was a mean, mean baby. With her mouth pulled in a perpetual snarl and a head so furry it had to be rubbed to make way for her forehead, Selma spent years living up to her terrible reputation: biting her sisters, lying spontaneously, getting drunk from Passover wine at the age of seven, and behaving dramatically so that she would be the center of attention.
Although Selma went on to become a celebrated Hollywood actress and model, she could never quite shake the periods of darkness that overtook her, the certainty that there was a great mystery at the heart of her life. She often felt like her arms might be on fire, a sensation not unlike electric shocks, and she secretly drank to escape.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I've been on a celebrity memoir kick lately, and Selma Blair's was up next on the docket. Going in, I knew very little about the author aside from having seen her in a few movies (most notably Legally Blond - a favourite of mine). And I must say Mean Baby didn't wow me like some celebrity memoirs have.
Selma narrates her story in a non-linear manner, touching on her childhood - particularly her strained relationship with her parents, - her alcoholism and depression, her MS diagnosis, and life with her son. The first half has a fair amount of name dropping and superficial meandering, when in fact there could have been a lot more reflection and emotion. The strength of this memoir lies in her opening up about her MS diagnosis and living with a chronic illness. Yet even here there could have been a lot more depth.
I can't pinpoint exactly what this memoir was missing, but I know it was lacking something. It didn't pack the emotional punch I'd been anticipating, despite some extremely difficult and heartbreaking circumstances. It's Selma's right to remain very surface level in telling her story - but as a reader I wanted so much more depth.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• celebrity memoir fanatics
• readers wishing to learn a bit about MS
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Someone once told me that grief is love you can no longer express."
"I learned how it feels when someone else’s thoughts touch a part of you that you haven’t felt before."
"Books also taught me how to notice things, how a moment can be a whole story."
Graphic: Mental illness, Drug abuse, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Eating disorder, Drug use, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Self harm, Rape, and Body shaming
Minor: Cursing, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Cancer, Animal death, Medical content, and Vomit
caseythereader's review against another edition
4.25
- This book is a hard read. Blair has been through a lot in her life. I also read the audiobook, read by Blair herself, and she breaks into tears at many points in the story.
- However, MEAN BABY also delivers on the celebrity front. Blair name drops with abandon, and takes us with her to fancy award show parties, photo shoots, and to hang out with the likes of Carrie Fisher and Karl Lagerfeld.
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Ableism, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical content, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
tiredtori's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Rape, Vomit, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Animal death, Blood, Body shaming, Cancer, Death of parent, Death, Dementia, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, and Pregnancy