Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

My Body by Emily Ratajkowski

15 reviews

amelianotthepilot's review

emotional medium-paced

4.0

autobiography of a famous female model. She discusses her relationship to her body and how society and modeling have shaped it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual violence

toofondofbooks_'s review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

I've been living under a rock for years and did not know who Emily Ratajkowski was before I started seeing this book pop up in the TBRs and wrap ups of booktubers I watch. I went into this hearing her be described as the "Blurred Lines" girl and walked out of the book knowing she is so much more. Ratajkowski writes so vulnerably about her experiences working in the modeling industry, how her body has been bought and sold - most of the time without her consent, how she marvels at the wonderful things her body can do to her (i.e. the birth of her son), and how it can make people think they know all about who she is based on what she looks like. 

I think this memoir does a beautiful job of stomping on the narrative that no matter what a woman looks like, it doesn't give them more power. Ratajkowski cites a quote by Halle Berry: "My looks have spared me no hardship." She's RIGHT. Your looks do not protect you from abuse at the hands of men and patriarchal norms in society. It's so insidious to go around believing that beautiful women don't have problems simply because they are beautiful. 

Anyway - that was a tangent, back to what I thought...

There were sections listening to this audiobook where I flat out cried, especially when at times, Ratajkowski herself, narrating the book, would get choked up herself. I wanted to hug this woman every time that happened. It felt extremely intimate to listen to her read her own words.

Additionally, Emily Ratajkowski's writing is beautiful. The pictures she paints with her words are both lovely and grotesque, they can be joyful or heartbreaking, but they are consistently vivid. I will definitely be adding anything else she writes to my TBR. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Misogyny, Rape, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Drug use, Alcohol, Addiction, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death and Eating disorder

citrinuke's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Chronic illness, and Toxic relationship

junji_ito_hoe's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

No rating because it feels wrong to rate personal stories about another human's life, as if it can be accurately assessed on a scale of 1-5. I really enjoyed these essays because of both the writing and how vulnerable Emily was throughout this book (applause for her ability to be so open with the reader). She discussed important issues within Hollywood and working as a model and about the female experience. I found many of the essays relatable, as though Emily and I were two old friends catching up. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Rape

Moderate: Sexism, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny

Minor: Chronic illness

booked4theweeknd's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Mental illness, Misogyny, and Sexual assault