Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis

53 reviews

itscassie's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Viola’s storytelling ability coupled with the depths of vulnerability and healing she shares had me in awe throughout each chapter. I felt I saw a distant relative telling me their life lessons and speaking to the young girl, adolescent in me. 

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lea's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

Amazing audiobook. Her childhood was unfortunately so relatable and hit me hard. I don't watch TV or movies much so I didn't know her but I'm definitely a big fan now. This was beautiful written.

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venetiana's review against another edition

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gigireadswithkiki's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

5.0

Every single performance I’ve seen Viola Davis in, her acting ability has taken my breath away. I’m usually reticent toward celebrity memoirs but this takes the cake for one of the best memoirs I’ve read. As Davis takes readers through her difficult and tumultuous backstory with searing candidness, we begin to understand the many layers of who she is and how she came to be the person she is today. From the racist climate of the East coast to the colorism glaringly prevalent in both film/stage and the Blck community, Davis’ voice is emotionally intelligent and critically astute. There are definitely very dark moments layered through out this story, so I would definitely recommend checking content warnings on those, but each of these moments is handled with immense care and grace. I really loved this read, it’s definitely made me want to watch “How to get away with murder”.

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inthemoonforcheese's review against another edition

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4.5


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booksalacarte's review against another edition

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5.0


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alybarnett02's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Absolutely amazing audio book. Violas story of growing up in poverty is heartbreaking yet inspiring. Just wow. Then into her acting career as a black woman. Can’t recommend enough 

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bookish_den's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

This was a stellar memoir, as you would have expected from such an acclaimed actor, ofc it won a Grammy 👏 

I’ve always admired Viola's impressive acting skills, her powerful award speeches, her funny and kind personality in interviews, her IG acc focused on spreading love and positive stories, but I had no idea about her life and where she came from and how she got to where she is.

With a traumatic past rooted in poverty, racism and abuse, in this book she self reflects on her life and makes amends with the child she once was and who endured so much to be where her adult self is today.

Later on the book touches on some industry insights, I loved how passionately she talked about theatre specifically, it also addresses howprivilege and luck are big factors in making it in Hollywood, the struggles for women in the business and specially black women, the impact of colorism and sexism in role casting and payment, the problem of health insurance and affordable housing without fair living wages (reading it in the context of the Sag Aftra strike made it specially impactful), but above all “Finding Me” is a very vulnerable story of pain and forgiveness and finding joy and love and healing generational trauma.

Memoirs are hard to criticize cause who are we to dissect and debate someone else’s life? this one was flawless and Viola being the great actor she is did a masterful voice work, how matter of factly she sounded at times, or how mad or happy or sad, the accents, the different cadences of speech for different people, all excellent.

Im not gonna lie, at times it was too much for me, too sad, too raw, too distressing, but the hope for her kept me going, knowing where she’d eventually end did help me walk alongside her through all the hard places she went through before. 

Im proud of her and the success and acclaim she has achieved but im marveled and wowed at her soul, her unbreakable spirit, her empathy and kindness, her ability to understand and forgive and heal and choose love.

Everyone should read this.

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emily_koopmann's review against another edition

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buud_w0rm's review against another edition

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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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