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leefox's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
sprimus18's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction and Racial slurs
Minor: Sexual assault
kathshiroma's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Incest, Pedophilia, Abortion, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
darlingmoira's review against another edition
4.5
I have so much respect for her and her drive. I would love to just sit with her and continue to hear her life’s stories. She deserves all the praise she is getting and I hope she realizes the power she has brought to women (especially black women) by telling her story.
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent
agworek's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Sexual assault
dazzlingreader_'s review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Racism, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Violence, Abortion, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
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, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Excrement, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Classism
megbetweenthepages's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
mattyvreads's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual assault
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: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Violence, Grief, Abortion, and Death of parent