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candeegirl's review
5.0
Minor: Suicide attempt, Rape, Death, and Death of parent
graff_fuller's review against another edition
4.5
This is the case with this book. Honestly, I have seen her in some movies, but not enough to say..."hey, that's Selma Blair." I also had heard of her MS flair up and her recovery, but it was always peripheral to whatever was happening at the time.
So, when I picked up this book...I was geniunely interested in her life...knowing near to nothing about her.
Wow, what a brutally honest book. She didn't hold back about her mistakes, her childhood, her alcoholism, her drunken periods, and many other things...you just have to read about. A callous could say that she put herself in "those" positions, so it was her fault, but honestly...I felt empathy.
My wife and I have raised three children. Two of the are daughters. We've had talks with them about the "real world", but we also told them that we will be there for them no matter what. They could count on us to support them. Thank goodness nothing as horrible has happened to them, but they've suffered trauma from the way boys/men have taken advantage of the them. As a parent, you never want anything to happen to your children, but IF something does happen, you want them to ALWAYS come to you. Thank goodness they have.
In this book, poor Selma really didn't have this basic support system. She was actually alone. AND, it hurts my heart that she's suffered so many times...when most could've been avoided. Ugh.
She became a star in Hollywood, being a "mean girl" type figure. She's very dramatic, but there is STILL a person under that façade, that needs love.
In her book she talks about different stars that she's come in contact with. One that seems SO odd, but also SO perfect...was Carrie Fisher. That they had a friendship...makes my heart swell. I love Carrie Fisher (with her ups and downs). She was unapologetically honest about her struggles...which in a lot of ways...paved the way for this current book by Selma Blair.
If only we could've had Carrie Fisher see Selma Blair through her MS. What an advocate she would've had...though, through this whole ordeal, she's had many people championing her and her stuggles, and most of them women.
Her reliance on mediums and the like...isn't our cup of tea, but her desire for help...what truly understood. She was/is looking for answers in her life. She is Jewish, but basically a non-practicing Jew.
There is something about her...the pulls you in. She reminds me of the Classic movie stars of a bye gone age...but she's stuck in our times, instead. She really is a drama queen, but there's something endearing about her...even with/without the antics that have grown up around her (some real and some fake).
Her MS diagnosis...and the questions of why it took THIS long for her to be diagnosed with this disease?
The idea of talking to a dead parent resonates. Not that I've experienced it with my parents, but with my grandpas and grandpas. I was really clost to them...so I often think of them...and speak to them...as if they are present. My way to not forget them. Selma's version is good, too.
Also, Selma's love of her son is unbounded. Hearing stories about their releationship is sweet. There really is a bond between Ma's and sons.
AND, her acknowledgements are beautiful to read. She really is loved...and I'm happy to have read this book.
Moderate: Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Rape, Sexual violence, Self harm, and Miscarriage
zehrrz's review
4.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, and Rape
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Eating disorder
decembermagpie's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Deportation, Medical content, Rape, Addiction, Suicidal thoughts, Animal death, Grief, Eating disorder, Ableism, Alcoholism, Gaslighting, Suicide attempt, and Mental illness
mereileen's review
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, Alcoholism, and Rape
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, and Abortion
Minor: Medical content, Cancer, Grief, and Sexual assault
claudianeureads's review
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Chronic illness, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Sexual assault
thenovelbookshelf's review against another edition
5.0
We all like to think that stardom and celebrity is easy, beautiful, graceful, healthy. This proves that you never know what people have gone through in their lives.
From the first drink at age 3, to daily drinking to numb the pain from unbeknownst MS, Selma Blair tells a frank & honest recollection of her memories.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Chronic illness, and Addiction
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Medical content, Animal death, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Rape
Minor: Dementia, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
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
abbysbookadventure's review against another edition
Graphic: Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Suicide attempt, and Chronic illness
Moderate: Animal death
Minor: Eating disorder and Toxic relationship
zarazuck's review
4.0
Moderate: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Eating disorder and Death of parent