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darlingmoira's review
4.5
I have so much respect for her and her drive. I would love to just sit with her and continue to hear her life’s stories. She deserves all the praise she is getting and I hope she realizes the power she has brought to women (especially black women) by telling her story.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Addiction, Racism, Sexual assault, Blood, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Dementia, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Pedophilia
googie_puvdan's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Body shaming, Sexual violence, Racism, and Domestic abuse
meraissa_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Racism and Domestic abuse
agworek's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Animal death, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Sexual assault
dazzlingreader_'s review
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, and Bullying
Moderate: Death of parent, Violence, and Abortion
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
m_liz's review
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault and Racism
oxfordcommas91's review
4.5
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.
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
koslo1aj's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Incest, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Racism, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Racial slurs
princesslo's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Death of parent, Child abuse, Cursing, Abortion, Death, Physical abuse, and Racism
lily_sutton's review
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent, Abortion, and Rape