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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
Although JVN and I share very different life experiences, so much of his story is so relatable to me as well. An entertaining, thought-provoking, hilarious, heart-wrenching, and uplifting read.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
dark
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
I enjoyed this well enough but it was a bit confusing given I'm not into ice skating or hair dressing and a lot of it talks about that. I really appreciated hearing about the dark side of someone who is so bubbly on TV and it brings home that point of "everyone is dealing with their own shit". There were some really quotable bits in this book like "normal honey? Who even is she?!" That I've written down to look at again in future :D
I really enjoyed this book. Jonathan’s story is a wild ride and my appreciation for his humanness just grew with his story.
My only qualm was that sometimes his timeline was difficult to follow and I didn’t always connect with his writing style. Still, I loved learning more about him and his life! His advocacy for challenging beauty image ideals and talking openly about his positive HIV status was both enlightening and refreshing.
My only qualm was that sometimes his timeline was difficult to follow and I didn’t always connect with his writing style. Still, I loved learning more about him and his life! His advocacy for challenging beauty image ideals and talking openly about his positive HIV status was both enlightening and refreshing.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Ok, everyone stop what you're doing and go listen to this audiobook if you haven't already. JVN has quickly become my favorite of the new Fav 5 on Queer Eye (on Netflix for those living under a rock). I had heard great things from my coworkers about this audiobook and it absolutely did not disappoint. JVN has a magical way of breaking my heart and then the next moment soothing it and then the next moment cracking me up into hysterical laughter. I've read a lot of memoirs on the topic of overcoming obstacles such as addiction but this book was something more than that. I'm still in awe of how "raw" (an appropriate word for the subtitle of the book) JVN was in writing this, sharing his truth of his early 20s and the mistakes he's made along the way. He shines a brilliant light on the LGBTQ+ community and issues that are still prevalent today despite all the media perception of tolerance and acceptance. I (and I imagine the majority of JVN's fandom) had no idea of his past experiences with drug use, dangerous sexual encounters and his HIV+ status. I don't know of another story of a person living with HIV+ status that has been able to "overcome" the virus and is now undetectable and thus non-contagious thanks to modern medicine. It is truly amazing to know the progress that science has made in the past 40 years whilst media perception has yet to catch up.
I think everyone should listen to this book and hear JVN's story. No one else could narrate this book better and his voice soothes my soul and brightens my day.
I think everyone should listen to this book and hear JVN's story. No one else could narrate this book better and his voice soothes my soul and brightens my day.
What a sassy audiobook! I really enjoyed listening to this memoir. It was laugh out loud funny and heartbreaking. He told some hard stories with interesting zest. It was a ride, for sure!
Johnathan Van Ness! What a life they’ve lived so far. Only know them from Queer Eye. The book is very much written in that same voice from Queer Eye. The trauma that baby Jack dealt with- it’s written in that same voice. It’s not off putting but I wanted more. However this is a memoir so however Johnathan write it, is up to them. It’s also not an easy story to share. However Jonathan does a good job at giving words to those experiences from childhood and gives grace to the people as well. That even though this event was traumatic to Jonathan, Jonathan acknowledges that the other person was doing the best they could. This did not apply each story though. However like every great book, it made me think more and the words will stick with me.
Queer. Sexual abuse. Drug use. Divorce. Rehab. Caring for elderly relatives. Death.
Queer. Sexual abuse. Drug use. Divorce. Rehab. Caring for elderly relatives. Death.