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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
oxfordcommas91's review against another edition
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
bzliz's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t want to play the “who had it worse?” game but it’s hard not to compare this to some other memoirs and think to myself what the hell are you whining about? You haven’t faced any real hardship. It’s impossible to not think about how minor struggles can be a person’s complete undoing, yet someone who essentially started life at rock bottom and has had to fight for decades just to get to even ground can still rise above and flourish.
The story’s timeline is jumbled around in that way many memoirs are but I didn’t mind it as much here as I have in others. So much of her life was shaped by chaos so why should her story be told in a straight line?
Graphic: Racism, Medical content, Sexual assault, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Abortion and Death of parent
abbyslittelife's review
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Addiction and Death of parent
clpaige's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Medical content and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Racism, and Infertility
readingqueerly's review against another edition
4.0
This book not only put my own issues into perspective, but it also laid bare some systemic issues (in Hollywood) that I would not have noticed since I've never had to think about it. Looking back now, I see how her work in htgawm is truly game changing in so many ways. Yes there is still a long way to go, but that show truly took the 2010s by storm imo.
The writing style wasn't always my cup of tea. While it mixed the storytelling with the commentary really well, I do feel it was almost literary style. But that's just a personal preference for me as it tends to read a bit slower and I lose my focus quicker.
I truly do recommend this book to anyone who needs a little perspective in life. (But be mindful of content warnings though)
Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Cancer, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
Minor: Drug abuse, Infidelity, and Medical content
keats1787's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Addiction
Moderate: Child abuse, Medical content, Physical abuse, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug use, Incest, and Infertility
inthemoonforcheese's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Infertility, Addiction, Blood, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Cursing, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Medical content, Self harm, Drug use, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Racism, Abortion, Child death, Sexism, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Pregnancy
jessicastephenson's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Violence, Abortion, Terminal illness, Blood, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Grief, Infertility, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
jessspeake's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Medical content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, Alcoholism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Addiction, Body shaming, Bullying, Fire/Fire injury, Incest, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Medical trauma, Racism, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault