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Reviews tagging 'Drug abuse'
Scenes from My Life: A Memoir by Jon Sternfeld, Michael K. Williams
11 reviews
conniejoy529's review
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
I thought this was a great book. We read it for my Beyond Black History month book club. I knew Michael K. Williams' face but I didn't know much about him as a person. This memoir really went into depth about his life experiences, all that he struggled with and had to overcome and how he tried to use his platform to bring about positive change for his community.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Drug abuse
fkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
His life was too short. He had just started doing the most important work of his life. Cannot imagine not the depth of his reach has he lived. What a beautiful man he was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Drug abuse
Minor: Abandonment
adiajamille's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
“Heavier than the blood in our veins, are the stories we inherit about ourselves”
This book is so hard to read/ listen to knowing that ultimately he lost to his demons. It’s heartbreaking that he wasn’t able to find the peace he deserved in life. But I think that ultimately that’s part of the gift he’ll always leave with us. This tragic story of an imperfect person who spent his life trying to find his voice and space, while simultaneously struggling. It’s a portrait of the ups and downs of healing, and how it’s not linear. And it serves as a reminder that you can never get too comfort in your healing, remembering there’s always more. And I think the gift for him is that now he has this beautiful legacy of complex and compelling characters that helped reshaped Black identity as seen on film. He’s left behind this legacy of lives he impacted directly. And with his life and memoir a reminder of how we can do more within our communities. And he’s given a multifaceted view of addiction, humanizing it in a way many Black folks are never afforded. His final, public, words being words of love and encouragement.
This book is so hard to read/ listen to knowing that ultimately he lost to his demons. It’s heartbreaking that he wasn’t able to find the peace he deserved in life. But I think that ultimately that’s part of the gift he’ll always leave with us. This tragic story of an imperfect person who spent his life trying to find his voice and space, while simultaneously struggling. It’s a portrait of the ups and downs of healing, and how it’s not linear. And it serves as a reminder that you can never get too comfort in your healing, remembering there’s always more. And I think the gift for him is that now he has this beautiful legacy of complex and compelling characters that helped reshaped Black identity as seen on film. He’s left behind this legacy of lives he impacted directly. And with his life and memoir a reminder of how we can do more within our communities. And he’s given a multifaceted view of addiction, humanizing it in a way many Black folks are never afforded. His final, public, words being words of love and encouragement.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Suicidal thoughts
dpearson5257's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Violence
destheesquire's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
buxomfloozy's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
Absolutely one of the best memoirs I have ever read.
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Drug abuse, Violence, Racism, and Homophobia
jules6469's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Grief, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Police brutality, Child abuse, Pedophilia, and Homophobia
micklesreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This was a beautiful memoir and so bittersweet knowing he died just before it was published. There is so much we didn't get to see from him, not just as the incredible actor he was, but in his work with youth of color who are over-policed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, and Drug abuse
ashp's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Michael’s memoir gets to the point without shying away from his childhood, pursuing his dreams, and enduring from addiction. This book is a gift that encapsulates his legacy as an artist, advocate, and Brooklyn king.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcohol, Addiction, Drug abuse, and Violence
mila_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
I picked up this book at a Little Free Library, not having any idea who Michael K. Williams was or what his story might be about. Let me tell you, this was a rollercoaster, covering dark topics that need to be addressed such as addiction and racism. I think that this memoir was written in such a manner that it could be accessible to anyone who didn't already know the author, such as myself, and is written in the style of fiction. This book was easy to get into, and I think rather important, considering all of the things that were covered. The writing style was not particularly memorable, but hey, he was an actor, not a writer, and he was not a bad writer by any means. Rest in peace, Michael Williams, and thank you for sharing your story with the world.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Drug abuse, and Drug use
Minor: Mass/school shootings