Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

Finding Me by Viola Davis

20 reviews

bookingitwithmaria_ann94's review

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Rape, Abortion, Physical abuse, and Mental illness

Minor: Alcoholism and Addiction

bimess_'s review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced

5.0

The narration done by Miss Viola Davis, is done beautifully. I'm in awe of this amazing woman. I'm glad I took the chance of listening to the audio book. But I'll definitely buy the book and read it along with her narration. I just know it would be a godly experience. 

The emotions that she portrays through narration are so on point, you feel dragged into her world.

This is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Please give this a chance if you haven't.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pedophilia and Terminal illness

mecmccann's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

This book was everything I needed and more. When she said “The purpose of life is to live it” agghhhhhh I needed that 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug abuse, Infertility, Sexism, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Mental illness

seullywillikers's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I've always admired Ms. Davis as an actor, and this memoir is the catalyst for falling in love with her as a person. Raw, honest, brutal, and beautiful, listening to Ms. Davis tell her story without flinching, pulling punches, or apology, has been an incredible experience. Her compassion and empathy are without compare, and her focus on seeing the humanity in all people is a testament to her strength and inner goddess.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Cancer, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Excrement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Racism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

leonormsousa's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

QUOTE 

"It is a widely held belief that dark-skinned women just don't do it for a lot of Black men. It's a mentality rooted in both racism and misogyny, that you have no value as a woman if you do not turn them on, if you are not desirable to them. It's ingrained thinking, dictated by oppression." 

THINGS I ENJOYED

• Viola Davis' narration in the audiobook: she is a powerhouse!
• What a life story!
• Great insights into the world of acting (theatre, cinema and tv), including the difficulties in “making it” and the prejudice within it
• The way Viola’s dedication to her art is palpable is incredible and inspiring
• It’s a very raw book and it definitely appeals to your emotions

THINGS I DIDN'T ENJOY

• There are sections where the book jumps back and forward in time, without references, and it gets a bit confusing/hard to follow

RECOMMENDED TO

• If you’re into memoirs, you’ll probably like this one!
• Viola Davis fans and appreciators of the art of acting will probably like this one particularly (the second half especially)
• This is a strong one and I found myself selecting almost every item from the TW list, so be aware of that going in!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Animal death, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Abortion, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Death of parent, Rape, Infertility, and Vomit

drraytay's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Infidelity, Blood, Child abuse, Child death, Bullying, Racism, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Death of parent, and Rape

missbsbookshelf's review

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Grief, Abortion, Addiction, Toxic relationship, Sexual harassment, Rape, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Incest, Domestic abuse, and Death of parent

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Sexism, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Medical content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, and Racism

halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

This was one of the most difficult, emotional yet inspiring, motivational audios I have ever had to endure.

While battling depression, I had to take my time, even though I wanted to listen on. The hardships, abuse of every kind and heartache that Viola endured in her chilhood alone was appalling. 

Just to know that as a light-skinned Black woman, I have not dealt with an ounce of racism, constantly being reminded that I'm "unattractive" and feeling unprotected to the degree darker-skinned Black people do just shakes me to my core.

I loved seeing her progress of being accepted at Julliard to Viola building her portfolio as an actress. 

Then meeting her Julius and seeing their relationship blossom was so heartwarming🥰. Having a family of their  own was a way for Viola to heal from her own childhood.

I truly loved this memoir, this may be my first one, and I was super excited Viola read for the audio herself🥰.

Just to know this background story off what shaped Viola Davis into the person we see today is truly astounding. Viola's memoir is so passionate, inspiring and a journey of finding the strength to revisit dark memories. Healing your younger self, never giving up hope, love and enjoying life to the fullest.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Classism, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Rape, Cancer, and Violence

isabellarob73's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced

4.75

This was a truly beautiful, and difficult book. Viola’s story of growing up in Rhode Island is heavy and deeply complex. It shows the generational pain and trauma that racism, domestic violence, alcoholism, and extreme poverty create. Viola also shares her journey as an actress, with fascitinating tidbits for any women of color who love the theatre. Highly recommend. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Infertility, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Blood, Cancer, Colonisation, Abandonment, Abortion, Alcoholism, Hate crime, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence