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oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
4.5
The majority of her memoir takes place in her formative, early years - first, as a highly impoverished child who is bullied relentlessly for both being black and poor, then as a teen and young adult who was still both black and poor but learning about her true passion and chasing it fervently.
While parts of this book were incredibly difficult to listen to (please do note the content warnings on this book and take them seriously - it dives deep into some very traumatic topics like sexual abuse, domestic violence, and losing a parent to cancer), it somehow remained hopeful. Davis’s story was woven with expertise as she shared her thoughtful reflections on these different points in her life and how she arrived to where she is now. This book gives a true, honest account that doesn’t turn away from difficult topics like racism in the film and acting industry. It forces the reader (or listener) to confront difficult truths about how even at the height of her career, Davis herself still felt like an outsider, forced to take the “fun best friend” roles and not the leading lady roles, reserved for her lighter skinned counterparts.
I laughed, I cried, and am so grateful to Viola for sharing her life with the world.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Excrement, Sexual violence, Grief, Bullying, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Medical content, Physical abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Violence, Dysphoria, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Cursing, and Drug use
imanimckoy's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Incest, Addiction, Violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Infertility, and Abortion
emma_reards's review against another edition
5.0
This book is about Viola learning to love herself despite never feeling worthy of that love. She learns to recognize her trauma rather than suppress them, and gives herself permission to forgive and grow from it.
Viola’s childhood is heartbreaking, but her evolution as a person is inspiring. I think everyone can learn some important lessons from this book.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Racism, Rape, Physical abuse, Animal death, Abortion, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Mental illness
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, Racial slurs, Sexism, Physical abuse, Racism, Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Dementia, Excrement, Grief, Bullying, Alcoholism, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault
youmns's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Animal death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Pregnancy, Abortion, Body shaming, and Infidelity
Minor: Pedophilia, Incest, Injury/Injury detail, Dementia, Infertility, Medical trauma, Kidnapping, and Cancer
yreluctant's review
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Rape, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Animal death
kristinescorner's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Mental illness, Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction and Abortion
morebookspls's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Grief, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Abortion, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Classism, Physical abuse, and Racism
sbcrra's review against another edition
Graphic: Racial slurs, Bullying, Grief, and Abortion
Minor: Animal death
ali1004's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Sexism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Minor: Death of parent, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Infertility, and Sexism