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sprimus18's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Bullying, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Addiction and Racial slurs
Minor: Sexual assault
juliaarcisz's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Violence, Physical abuse, Bullying, Addiction, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexual assault, Abortion, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infertility, Racial slurs, Rape, and Sexual violence
nataliebootlah's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, Bullying, and Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Misogyny
Minor: Child death and Abortion
gabi_715's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcoholism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Violence, Medical content, Addiction, Grief, Sexual content, and Blood
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
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
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
imanimckoy's review
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Incest, Addiction, Violence, Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction, Grief, Infertility, and Abortion
emma_reards's review against another edition
5.0
This book is about Viola learning to love herself despite never feeling worthy of that love. She learns to recognize her trauma rather than suppress them, and gives herself permission to forgive and grow from it.
Viola’s childhood is heartbreaking, but her evolution as a person is inspiring. I think everyone can learn some important lessons from this book.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Grief, Racism, Rape, Physical abuse, Animal death, Abortion, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Violence, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, and Mental illness
sunshinegirl01's review
5.0
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, and Racism
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Terminal illness, Violence, Racial slurs, Sexism, Physical abuse, Racism, Addiction, Animal death, Cancer, Dementia, Excrement, Grief, Bullying, Alcoholism, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Blood, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault