kabornman's review
emotional
informative
medium-paced
4.0
The audio book is an amazing experience. Davis was open and vulnerable with us, and I really enjoyed the story structure.
carolynmorgan's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing. So beautifully crafted and layered. Highly recommend the audiobook.
zglanton26's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first audiobook ever AND my first memoir that I actually read and finished. I really enjoyed Viola Davis’ story. She described in great detail her upbringing of poverty, witness and victim of physical, verbal, and sexual abuse and how she used it to drive her acting career and her passion.
Viola had to deal with the physical and verbal abuse of her white counterparts growing up and then having to face the trials and tribulations of a black female actor that was not considered “beautiful” but she remained driven and passionate about her art.
I enjoyed when she spoke of her big roles and how her role in “Doubt” she couldn’t quite understand the character but once she did grip the viewpoint of the character she was able to perform and it took her a while to land something else. She details how it was hard because everyone looks for this beautiful sexy black woman, feisty, and all these things that she doesn’t really portray on the outside. It wasn’t until Shonda Rhimes wanted her to play Annalise Keating that she finally found her footing. She was able to provide input to the character and really come into her own and bring that fierceness and sexiness that others didn’t think she could possess.
It was a really great story of where she began and where she is now. She found herself through her art.
Viola had to deal with the physical and verbal abuse of her white counterparts growing up and then having to face the trials and tribulations of a black female actor that was not considered “beautiful” but she remained driven and passionate about her art.
I enjoyed when she spoke of her big roles and how her role in “Doubt” she couldn’t quite understand the character but once she did grip the viewpoint of the character she was able to perform and it took her a while to land something else. She details how it was hard because everyone looks for this beautiful sexy black woman, feisty, and all these things that she doesn’t really portray on the outside. It wasn’t until Shonda Rhimes wanted her to play Annalise Keating that she finally found her footing. She was able to provide input to the character and really come into her own and bring that fierceness and sexiness that others didn’t think she could possess.
It was a really great story of where she began and where she is now. She found herself through her art.