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kaseywylie's review against another edition
I officially don’t give star ratings to memoirs as someone has poured their heart and soul into a book that allows us to enter their inner thoughts. It doesn’t feel right to rate their experiences as it is their own.
Emily is a wonderful writer and I loved her essay style approach. She covers some heavy topics as she dissects cult beauty from her experiences. I was addicted to listening to the audiobook (read by her) and truly felt connected to her. I highly recommend!
Emily is a wonderful writer and I loved her essay style approach. She covers some heavy topics as she dissects cult beauty from her experiences. I was addicted to listening to the audiobook (read by her) and truly felt connected to her. I highly recommend!
micahhall's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This book was so fucking good. I’d heard about this book but never thought to take the time to read it… I’m so happy I did!
lanaboz's review against another edition
4.0
I couldn’t put this book down. Emily’s take on gender power dynamics were so interesting to read.
mdarceyhall's review against another edition
2.0
I knew this wouldn't have the heart of Chanel Miller, the brain of Rebecca Solnit, or the sharp tongue of Jia Tolentino, but I still expected more from this book. Each essay is an observation and only that - there are no revelations or growth. I don't think Ratajkowski knows herself what she should take away from her experiences, only that she wanted to write a book that serves as more of a journal than an essay collection. Over the course of the book, the only claim she makes with any certainty is that she's a model for money and power, not pleasure. Her book should be called "My Power" rather than "My Body" because she speaks about her desire for power as much, if not more, than her body. To Ratajkowski, power equals money and control. She has the former, but contradicts herself about the latter. She claims nudity and modeling offers her control, yet in the same breath, reveals that she has no control as a model; she's a self-described mannequin who is told where and when to undress, how to pose, what to do, and when to stay or leave. Perhaps most disappointing is her belief that, while capitalism is bad, she has no other choice. She explains she can either play the system as a rich model or live off the grid as a nobody, failing to realize how many other choices she has, if only she weren't so driven by the two things that she admits multiple times consume her: making money and being told she's pretty. If there's any disappointment in her calling herself a feminist, it has nothing to do with her exposing her body (nudity and sexuality is not a barometer of feminist allegiance) and everything to do with the fact that, instead of rebelling, she continues to serve as a cog in the harmful cultural machine that teaches women that our value depends on the elasticity of our skin and size of our breasts.
micheleamar's review against another edition
4.0
"I suppose this is the life cycle of a muse: get discovered, be immortalized in art for which you're never paid, and die in obscurity...I think of [Audrey Munson] and the other naked women who line the walls and fill the halls of museums, some so ancient the color has washed from their bodies and their marble heads have fallen off. It would be easy to mistake these displays for symbols of respect, for an honor. But what were their lives? And what were their names? No one remembers."
"Beauty Lessons", "My Son, Sun", and "Buying Myself Back" are the true standouts of the collection of essays, but they all hit some sort of chord with me. Emily Ratajkowski has a simplistic sort of writing style that still manages to get her point across in a very hard-hitting way. There were contradictions throughout the essays and I did like that—it showed that there's still a lot of growing to do.
Whoever is writing their review saying that she's still part of an industry that sexualizes and abuses women—nearly every woman in the industry feels this way, and one of the main purposes of this book was to use the voice she's gained in the public eye to bring light to this. If you're bitter that someone is writing a book sharing their personal struggles with body dysmorphia, sexual assault and violation in multiple ways, and the ways women are forced to reckon with the fact that they don't actually hold the power over men by weaponizing their beauty because the man is still inherently in charge, just because the author is traditionally pretty, just say so.
"Beauty Lessons", "My Son, Sun", and "Buying Myself Back" are the true standouts of the collection of essays, but they all hit some sort of chord with me. Emily Ratajkowski has a simplistic sort of writing style that still manages to get her point across in a very hard-hitting way. There were contradictions throughout the essays and I did like that—it showed that there's still a lot of growing to do.
Whoever is writing their review saying that she's still part of an industry that sexualizes and abuses women—nearly every woman in the industry feels this way, and one of the main purposes of this book was to use the voice she's gained in the public eye to bring light to this. If you're bitter that someone is writing a book sharing their personal struggles with body dysmorphia, sexual assault and violation in multiple ways, and the ways women are forced to reckon with the fact that they don't actually hold the power over men by weaponizing their beauty because the man is still inherently in charge, just because the author is traditionally pretty, just say so.
adelevarley's review against another edition
4.0
I watched Black Swan with my mom last night (mistake- do not watch Black Swan with your mom!) and thought that reading this would be the logical next step. I was correct.
I really want to write a review for this but I don’t think I can form a cohesive thought right now as I just got off of work, so a more comprehensive review will be coming!
I really want to write a review for this but I don’t think I can form a cohesive thought right now as I just got off of work, so a more comprehensive review will be coming!