Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

Yours Cruelly, Elvira: Memoirs of the Mistress of the Dark by Cassandra Peterson

17 reviews

lizacorn's review against another edition

dark emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Miscarriage, Murder, Sexual violence, Animal death, Misogyny, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Drug use, and Sexism

Minor: Alcohol, Addiction, Cancer, Homophobia, Infidelity, War, Animal cruelty, Abortion, and Trafficking

hexedmaiden's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

5.0

Elvira is one of my biggest influences. She was one of very few female horror icons and I wanted to be her. Getting to read where she came from and how she became the legend that she is was amazing. I laughed, I cried, and even got angry on her behalf. Reading this felt like I was listening to her speak to me, meaning she writes how she talks. Elvira also being a spooky bi icon is still the best thing to happen to us in 2021 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexism, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Drug abuse

grey_jayne's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

5.0

This memoir does what the best of them do: I now feel like I know who Elvira is. Yours Cruelly, Elvira is a fearless tell-all of both a life of showbiz and a tireless journey into the spotlight and acceptance. The narrative covers 70 years of her life and is candidly thorough. This book is also fantastically queer throughout and should be read by both horror fans and lovers of queer memoirs. Check the content warnings though.

I chose to listen to the audiobook because Cassandra Peterson read it herself. I really don't know if there could be a better way to experience it, if possible. Elvira does the voices, like all great storytellers. Loved it and love her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Miscarriage, Sexism, Emotional abuse, Death, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Animal death and Animal cruelty

rachbake's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, and Sexism

xxteabeexx's review against another edition

dark emotional funny inspiring slow-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexism

leahkarge's review against another edition

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Sexual content, Body shaming, Addiction, Alcoholism, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

marigoldgem's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

*PLEASE check the trigger warnings before hand* 
I grew up loving Elvira and all things strange and unusual. Now I just love her more and admire Cassandra so much for being so bad ass. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Addiction, Child death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Grief, Murder, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

doomluz's review against another edition

emotional funny informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

I loved this! Mostly I checked this out because I had heard how she came out as being married to another woman, but that doesn’t come up until the last few chapters. Peterson recounts her childhood and adolescence, but also a lot of the celebrities she’d met throughout her life. It had humor and some interesting stories, but she also went into some of the hardships she's endured.
The only thing that bugged me was in Chapter 15, when she spoke about sexual assault and rape. She used a hypothetical example for men to understand how rape can be terrifying by describing being overpowered by a man. Then she explained that she used a man in the example because if it was a woman it would actually be more of a fantasy for most men. The hypothetical example felt unnecessary, but the main problem is that this kind of logic makes it harder for male victims to find support, especially if the woman is more conventionally attractive.
Other than this, I loved hearing about how she got the role of Elvira and what that was like.
I also recommend listening to the audiobook. My partner made me realize that memoirs read by the author feel more personal. Peterson has a great voice and I think the humor and emotions come through a lot stronger.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Miscarriage, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming

Minor: Cancer, Death, Death of parent, and Drug use

mandkips's review against another edition

lighthearted reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, and Sexism

Minor: Drug use

littleredhat's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

Have you ever seen that viral tweet about someone hearing the expression "Dress for the job you want", and winding up sat in a disciplinary meeting dressed as the Goblin King? Well, if that was me, I'd be there as Elvira. The Queen of Halloween with a deep love of the dark. Incredibly funny and witty, and fully aware of her sexiness, whilst never solely being a sex object. I was a fan from the second I saw clips of "Movie Macabre", and when this popped up on my audiobook service recently, I knew I had to snap it up. 

Written around her 70th birthday (I can't believe it either), Cassandra Peterson - Elvira's actress and creator - takes us right through her life - from her troubled childhood where an accident left her badly scarred, to her days as a go-go dancer and Vegas showgirl, up to her metamorphosis into the Mistress of the Dark and the years beyond. 

Whilst being packed to the hilt with funny and even spooky stories, Peterson's memoir also covers her many experienced hardships. In terms of content warnings, I will say that almost any sort of abuse or assault you can think sadly of features here, as well as addictions, miscarriages, and even murders. As such, the book is troubling and unnerving in places, but very moving: something about Peterson's warm, soothing narration made me able to stomach it. In fact, you admire her all the more for getting through everything she has faced. 

A must-read, or must-listen, for all Elvira fans.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence, Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Addiction, Rape, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Minor: Murder