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doomluz's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Rape, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Addiction, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
Moderate: Body shaming, Incest, Abortion, Classism, and Grief
entropydoc's review
5.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Racism, Medical trauma, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Classism, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Drug abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Animal death, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Bullying, and Fatphobia
rheagoveas's review
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, Sexual violence, and Medical trauma
stoleyourfoodinthelibrary's review
5.0
Graphic: Infertility, Domestic abuse, Stalking, Death of parent, Bullying, Grief, Child abuse, Body shaming, Racism, Violence, Terminal illness, Emotional abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual harassment
Minor: Toxic relationship and Vomit
kshertz's review
4.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Abandonment, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Drug use
blueeyedshook's review
3.75
I knew quite a bit about Davis from interviews and articles but of course this was a whole deeper level. And it was HARD. Such pain and darkness that she has lived through that the beginning was hard to get through simply because of her difficulty and the gravity with which she wrote it. But out of pain, has come beauty. I think the pain was focused on quite a bit more than the beauty though. Although, my hope is that this leaves room for her to write another book in the future.
The book leads right up to her winning the Oscar for Fences, but really passes over the successful years around that with a light hand. We do get a glimpse of meeting her husband and how he is (their relationship seems precious). And introduced very lightly to when she adopts her daughter.
I appreciated that she focused on her experiences. (it definitely wasn’t a Hollywood tell all or even tell some about any of the people in her movies or shows with her. Barely a tidbit about how Denzel Washington challenged her when he directed.) This was a book about Viola. And of course it focused on how poor she was, her love for her family (even in their own pain), and the experiences she faced in school, work and life with the color of her skin. Not only being black but being dark skinned black. Being a white woman, I have never experienced anything like she has, and I find it utterly ludicrous that she was considered not only different but ugly because her skin is so dark (even among other people of color). Makes my heart hurt. So much of this book just broke my heart for her and for all the little girls out there who have experiences prejudices and atrocities.
What a glorious thing that she can attest that all of that difficulty she faced and the trouble she had finding self-love was faced and began healing in her roll on How to Get Away With Murder. Watching that show made me feel like she was really coming through in the character, and she confirmed that to be true. Such breakthrough, not only for her but for all woman who look like her as well.
My favorite part, though, was the way she talked about her parents. How even through the pain, she loved her father and how he grew and healed as well. And the way she talked about her sisters, ugh. Heart wide open.
(My less than favorite part was how her favorite word must be the f word with mf taking a close second. But I digress.)
A beautiful, heart wrenching, aching memoir that I hope is not her last.
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Abortion, Medical trauma, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship
halfbloodprincess_hogwarts's review against another edition
4.75
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.
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
mimccub's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Violence, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Stalking, Abortion, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug use, Infertility, and Incest