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bethgtramel's review against another edition
5.0
5 ⭐️
"I now understand that life, and living it, is more about being present. I’m now aware that the not-so-happy memories lie in wait; but the hope and the joy also lie in wait."
SUMMARY:
Viola Davis' life and story that explores extreme poverty, abuse on every level, motherhood, disease, career chasing, and strength.
THOUGHTS:
This is favorite non-fiction of all time, and my second favorite book overall of all time.
Viola, THANK YOU. For sharing your story. For being raw & real. For showing the truth in your life. For inspiring every person that ever opens this book.
Her stories are so heartbreaking, but an overall story that every person needs to read.
I sobbed, laughed, and stared at my Kindle in SHOCK. It was every single emotion.
My life is changed forever and ever.
"I now understand that life, and living it, is more about being present. I’m now aware that the not-so-happy memories lie in wait; but the hope and the joy also lie in wait."
SUMMARY:
Viola Davis' life and story that explores extreme poverty, abuse on every level, motherhood, disease, career chasing, and strength.
THOUGHTS:
This is favorite non-fiction of all time, and my second favorite book overall of all time.
Viola, THANK YOU. For sharing your story. For being raw & real. For showing the truth in your life. For inspiring every person that ever opens this book.
Her stories are so heartbreaking, but an overall story that every person needs to read.
I sobbed, laughed, and stared at my Kindle in SHOCK. It was every single emotion.
My life is changed forever and ever.
bacchanaliae's review against another edition
5.0
Learning about Viola Davis's history turned an already incredible woman, actress, and advocate into an even greater inspiration for me in my professional and personal endeavors. I love this woman and her story, and I'm so glad she shared this with the world. I can't believe it took me so long to read this!
sofi0518's review against another edition
5.0
This memoir was both heartbreakingly tragic and incredibly uplifting. Viola Davis presents her incredibly difficult childhood with grace and heart-rending detail but never seems to be complaining. It's all very matter of fact, this is what it was, but now here is where I am. She is so grateful for her success and so forgiving of her parents, who were obviously doing the best they could with the limited resources they were dealt. I love her enthusiasm for every new opportunity and her journey to love herself and her life. I know people say this all the time, but Viola seems like someone I could totally be friends with and learn from her experiences. Highly recommend the audio version which was read by Viola herself.
tiff_rose's review against another edition
5.0
I don't give books five stars. I certainly don't give memoirs five stars; they usually are a miss for me. This is a book everyone should read. I was blown away. Thank you, Viola for sharing your story with complete authenticity. You are a beautiful woman.
Also, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Davis, and it made the experience that much more powerful. This book should be listened to.
Also, I listened to the audiobook narrated by Davis, and it made the experience that much more powerful. This book should be listened to.
ashleyeila's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.5
mommaneedswine_n_books's review against another edition
5.0
What a powerful story. There aren’t enough words to even express how much I loved this book. Hearing Viola Davis tell her story had me crying. I’m left wanting to watch every single film and show she has ever done. If you haven’t read this book, pick it up and get going. There is nothing I can say that can prepare you for all she came from.. all she battled.
ryliemcbreen's review against another edition
5.0
I have no words for this book. It is one of the most profound, courageous and beautifully written stories I have read. I found myself wanting to highlight every line; remember all of the revolutionary words, feelings, advice portrayed. I could not put it down (clearly, as I read it in 2 days). The effortlessness, openness, rawness of this book is indescribable and anything I write will not do it justice. She is brutal, straightforward, honest and so, so vulnerable in her writing.
The words extend beyond Violas story and provide a sense of relatability to your own trauma, your own story, with guiding words of encouragement and healing, while also, through her immersive writing style, allows you to understand the extent of her own pain and healing that is unthinkable to most. Before reading, while I was familiar with her stage presence and acting, I was unfamiliar with her personal life and the journey she has went through. My respect and admiration for her, her strength, her perseverance is astronomical. Through poverty, racism, abuse, hatred she persevered with courage, determination, and passion.
The way in which Viola wrote perfectly communicates her pain, growth and reflection. She skillfully intersects complicated family dynamics and love, gut-wrenching topics of abuse, poverty, addiction, anxiety, race, colorism, sexuality and her journey from her childhood to her professional life and adult private life. She extends compassion and forgiveness (to others and herself) and truly takes on a difficult and remarkable healing process. You walk away from the story with a weight of sadness but a massive sense of pride. It is an honor to us all that Viola found the comfort later in life needed to share this story.
The words extend beyond Violas story and provide a sense of relatability to your own trauma, your own story, with guiding words of encouragement and healing, while also, through her immersive writing style, allows you to understand the extent of her own pain and healing that is unthinkable to most. Before reading, while I was familiar with her stage presence and acting, I was unfamiliar with her personal life and the journey she has went through. My respect and admiration for her, her strength, her perseverance is astronomical. Through poverty, racism, abuse, hatred she persevered with courage, determination, and passion.
The way in which Viola wrote perfectly communicates her pain, growth and reflection. She skillfully intersects complicated family dynamics and love, gut-wrenching topics of abuse, poverty, addiction, anxiety, race, colorism, sexuality and her journey from her childhood to her professional life and adult private life. She extends compassion and forgiveness (to others and herself) and truly takes on a difficult and remarkable healing process. You walk away from the story with a weight of sadness but a massive sense of pride. It is an honor to us all that Viola found the comfort later in life needed to share this story.