Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

Finding Me by Viola Davis

64 reviews

oxfordcommas91's review

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

This memoir blew me away. I listened to it on audiobook and listening to Viola Davis narrate the story of her life was powerful beyond belief. Her story is at once heartbreaking and inspiring - she persevered through nearly impossible odds to be the famous Hollywood A lister she is today. 
The majority of her memoir takes place in her formative, early years - first, as a highly impoverished child who is bullied relentlessly for both being black and poor, then as a teen and young adult who was still both black and poor but learning about her true passion and chasing it fervently.
While parts of this book were incredibly difficult to listen to (please do note the content warnings on this book and take them seriously - it dives deep into some very traumatic topics like sexual abuse, domestic violence, and losing a parent to cancer), it somehow remained hopeful. Davis’s story was woven with expertise as she shared her thoughtful reflections on these different points in her life and how she arrived to where she is now. This book gives a true, honest account that doesn’t turn away from difficult topics like racism in the film and acting industry. It forces the reader (or listener) to confront difficult truths about how even at the height of her career, Davis herself still felt like an outsider, forced to take the “fun best friend” roles and not the leading lady roles, reserved for her lighter skinned counterparts. 
I laughed, I cried, and am so grateful to Viola for sharing her life with the world.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Excrement, Sexual violence, Grief, Bullying, Cancer, Fire/Fire injury, Death of parent, Medical content, Physical abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Violence, Dysphoria, Infidelity, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Drug abuse, Cursing, and Drug use

princesslo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

Quite unrelenting in the pain but also inspiring 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Child abuse, Cursing, Abortion, Death, Physical abuse, and Racism

yreluctant's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Abortion, Blood, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Rape, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Cursing, Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infertility, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcohol, Child death, Death of parent, Miscarriage, and Animal death

shantellelandry's review

emotional inspiring slow-paced

5.0

WOW. An incredible story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Cursing

Moderate: Emotional abuse and Sexual assault

kristinescorner's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Cursing, Mental illness, Bullying, Cancer, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Hate crime, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction and Abortion

itscassie's review

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Viola’s storytelling ability coupled with the depths of vulnerability and healing she shares had me in awe throughout each chapter. I felt I saw a distant relative telling me their life lessons and speaking to the young girl, adolescent in me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Sexual violence, Classism, Death of parent, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Addiction, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Bullying, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual violence, Abortion, Alcohol, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Medical trauma

ayandell5's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

Such a powerful story.  One that is absolutely heartbreaking and painstakingly beautiful at the same time.  If you can listen to this audiobook, I highly recommend that option.  Viola is, as many know, a magical storyteller.  I shed a few tears throughout, and wept at the end of the last chapter.  I jotted down so many quotes from this book.  I didn’t expect to relate and yet there were moments I did, and she gave me new perspective in those moments.  I have been a fan of Viola’s for some time now, but this just gives me a new level of respect and love for her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Addiction, Racial slurs, Racism, and Infertility

pagesandpixels's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

So poetically written. I listened on audiobook and it was beautiful and engaging. What a life Viola lived and what an honor to listen. Another great book that reminds us why we need to buy/listen to women voices and stories.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Rape, Racism, Death of parent, Torture, Slavery, Blood, Abortion, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, Drug abuse, Excrement, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, and Racial slurs

hellokaley's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

Viola describes the definition of a hero as someone born into a world where they don't fit in, they are then summoned on a call to an adventure that they are reluctant to take. This is her hero’s journey from poverty, abuse, and trauma to an Oscar-winning actress. 

This story is heavy with content warnings galore. And truthfully, after the first half of the book, I was ready for the second part of the story- the part where she is triumphant. Because that first half is hard and uncomfortable and her circumstances were unimaginable. Her story is truly phenomenal. 

I loved her approach with talking about the Hollywood industry. She not only talks about the work of character development and figuring out how to understand and portray the person on the script, but she spoke about the challenging logistics of working actors. From auditioning, rejections, pay, insurance, traveling, and often not always a place to call home, it’s not all glamorous. She also highlights the challenges that Black actors face in the industry. 

Viola’s performance in the audiobook is powerful. She is honest and raw in her words and her delivery and did a beautiful job. I have learned so much about her through her book and am happy I read it. “The purpose of life is to live it” and Viola Davis is doing just that.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Racism

Moderate: Cursing, Death of parent, Grief, Pedophilia, Bullying, Abortion, Cancer, Alcohol, and Child abuse

lea's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.75

Amazing audiobook. Her childhood was unfortunately so relatable and hit me hard. I don't watch TV or movies much so I didn't know her but I'm definitely a big fan now. This was beautiful written.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Abortion, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Bullying, Violence, and Racial slurs

Moderate: Grief, Classism, Cancer, and Addiction

Minor: Blood, Child death, Cursing, Slavery, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury