Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness

8 reviews

cozy_academic's review

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Addiction, Homophobia, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Cursing, and Pedophilia

pacifickat's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I'm not sure I could have read a memoir about someone with more different life experiences to my own, but here's to a year of reading broadly! 

The audiobook absolutely made this book work for me as a reader. There were so many jokes and moments that relied on anticipating the correct voice intonation in order to completely land, and it was fun hearing JVN's humor come through in the audio narration. Plus, I would have hopelessly butchered all the Russian pseudonyms in my head.

Lots of trigger warnings could be applied to this book (childhood trauma, sexual content, drug use, self harm, bullying, etc.), but I have rarely heard more accurate or compelling descriptions of addictive behaviors and the self-destructive-yet-all-consuming mental state behind them than here. This felt like an extremely honest and open account of the author's most formative life experiences, and I can't help but admire that. 

I also really appreciated learning a bit about AIDS/HIV stigma, treatments, and current positive prognoses when caught early and managed carefully. This kind of information is truly a public service to get out there in the open.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Homophobia, Drug abuse, Bullying, Chronic illness, Self harm, Addiction, Death of parent, Drug use, Cancer, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Dementia, Terminal illness, Alcoholism, Sexual content, Death, Sexual assault, and Alcohol

Minor: Eating disorder and Fatphobia

minaegg's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

4.75

Very vulnerable and heavy read with difficult subject matter. The book is still beautiful and uplifting, with some lovely humor. Jonathan shows that despite experiencing trauma and adversity, we all have the capacity to heal and thrive. Ultimately his story is about learning to love yourself and to forgive yourself, to care for yourself, to know that you matter, always. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Medical content, Homophobia, Mental illness, Blood, Eating disorder, Cursing, Fatphobia, and Grief

Moderate: Drug use, Addiction, Child abuse, and Terminal illness

bebidocrimes's review against another edition

emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

This captures Jonathan's voice so so well, it feels like we were just chatting at a coffee shop. I have been told time and time again, directly or indirectly, that I am too loud, I'm too much, I won't stop rambling on and on when I'm excited about something. It just feels so good to be reminded that I can find people who will love me for all that I am. Looking forward to getting my hands on his next book!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Body shaming, Grief, Homophobia, Mental illness, Cursing, Death, Sexual assault, Vomit, Bullying, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Drug use

amyspag's review

challenging emotional funny inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

A wonderful book by a wonderful human

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual assault, and Suicidal thoughts

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, and Eating disorder

leahlovesloslibros's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

Jonathan Van Ness - commonly referred to as JVN - is the grooming expert on Netflix's reboot of Queer Eye. This memoir details his upbringing, including many traumatic experiences he has endured, some of which include: sexual abuse, eating disorders, bullying, and addiction. **See below for further TW/CW. This is a heavy book, as noted by many reviewers [myself included] and the author himself.**

This book was like chatting with an old friend. Listening to the audio told by JVN himself is absolutely the way I'd recommend reading this book, if that appeals to you. I was totally engrossed in the author's story, from childhood Jack all the way to adult Jonathan, and eventually the well-known JVN. The book was kind of a mix of his life story (the highs and the many lows), reflection, and self-help/advocacy, all of which were beautifully woven together into this one work. 

Every bit of this book highlighted Jonathan, from beginning to end. The language and phrasing; the matter-of-factness and telling it how it is; the sheer beauty that is this gorgeous human being. I laughed and cried my way through this book, and I VERY rarely cry at books. Van Ness' book is one I will not soon forget.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, and Sexual content

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Dementia

**More TW/CW: sexual abuse, sex with a child, divorce, body image issues, gay slurs, masturbation, prostitution

caseythereader's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, and Vomit

caitlinsbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Sexual content, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault

Minor: Death, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Infidelity, Medical content, Pedophilia, and Self harm