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All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir by Maryanne Vollers, Nicholas D. Kristof, Ashley Judd
sarahfonseca's review
2.0
This was a stall out.
Adore the Judds and have even enjoyed hearing Ashley speak to her personal grief and trials in very recent years, but this memoir was turning into another Mother Hunger entirely too fast: By which I mean, I open my mind to a popular authority on healing only to have her attempt to lobotomize me by insulting or mischaracterizing lesbianism, sex work, people of color, so on and so forth.
I believe Judd is an intelligent broad, enjoyable performer, and capable scribe. All That's Bitter may benefit bereft and/or soul-searching white suburbanites who encounter an unprecedented hardship or fork in the road of their own lives, and especially those who do not pay mind to front matter.
Takes an hour or more to get through the book's pretext, which includes a forward by Nicholas Kristoff; a prologue detailing one of Judd's missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo; blurbs from Morgan Freeman, Gloria Steinem, Desmond Tutu, Marianne Williamson; and epigraphs from Kahil Gibran, Thomas Kempis, and Rabbi Hillel. Paradoxically, this international and interdisciplinary cast of scenes and human rights characters keeps one from seeing the humanity which Judd's lived biography is poised to offer.
Instead, Judd and/or her editors chose legitimization, obfuscating her amid a crowd of impoverished, besieged, nameless, faceless children in the book's prologue, likely triggering many a reader looking for Judd beneath her initial prose's metaphors: these human shields.
Adore the Judds and have even enjoyed hearing Ashley speak to her personal grief and trials in very recent years, but this memoir was turning into another Mother Hunger entirely too fast: By which I mean, I open my mind to a popular authority on healing only to have her attempt to lobotomize me by insulting or mischaracterizing lesbianism, sex work, people of color, so on and so forth.
I believe Judd is an intelligent broad, enjoyable performer, and capable scribe. All That's Bitter may benefit bereft and/or soul-searching white suburbanites who encounter an unprecedented hardship or fork in the road of their own lives, and especially those who do not pay mind to front matter.
Takes an hour or more to get through the book's pretext, which includes a forward by Nicholas Kristoff; a prologue detailing one of Judd's missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo; blurbs from Morgan Freeman, Gloria Steinem, Desmond Tutu, Marianne Williamson; and epigraphs from Kahil Gibran, Thomas Kempis, and Rabbi Hillel. Paradoxically, this international and interdisciplinary cast of scenes and human rights characters keeps one from seeing the humanity which Judd's lived biography is poised to offer.
Instead, Judd and/or her editors chose legitimization, obfuscating her amid a crowd of impoverished, besieged, nameless, faceless children in the book's prologue, likely triggering many a reader looking for Judd beneath her initial prose's metaphors: these human shields.
justicepirate's review
2.0
This was definitely a hard book to get through. Ashley Judd jumps around at times from her current life of advocacy in speaking up for AIDS/HIV victims, those who suffer from hunger and poverty, those who are victims of human trafficking, and then backtracks through her own struggles and upbringing. I will honestly say these should be two separate books or it should just be shortened.
I have no disrespect for Ashley Judd, and believe it or not her story actually made me relate to her more than I thought I would (as someone who was alone a lot feeling "left behind" or "left out" of the lives of those around me as I suffered from childhood and pre-teen/early teen depression). This definitely was something I didn't realize she had endured. I actually forgot that The Judds (singers) were actually related to her (whoops).
This also revealed to me why I can understand why I myself love animals so much as well as love to fight for justice for the same things she does (I too am a part of an organization): When you have so much emptiness from your childhood you don't want to see others have that emptiness so you do whatever you can to help them out. That is truly what I learned from this book.
Therefore, even though the book was a bit boring and a run-on about her life and struggles at times, it showed the beauty of giving God the strings and doing your best to live for him and those around you. I usually read books between 1-7 days depending on the time frame I have alone, but this one took me far too many days to read! I had to take a break to read another book within a day. I hope others are able to get through it faster than I did.
I have no disrespect for Ashley Judd, and believe it or not her story actually made me relate to her more than I thought I would (as someone who was alone a lot feeling "left behind" or "left out" of the lives of those around me as I suffered from childhood and pre-teen/early teen depression). This definitely was something I didn't realize she had endured. I actually forgot that The Judds (singers) were actually related to her (whoops).
This also revealed to me why I can understand why I myself love animals so much as well as love to fight for justice for the same things she does (I too am a part of an organization): When you have so much emptiness from your childhood you don't want to see others have that emptiness so you do whatever you can to help them out. That is truly what I learned from this book.
Therefore, even though the book was a bit boring and a run-on about her life and struggles at times, it showed the beauty of giving God the strings and doing your best to live for him and those around you. I usually read books between 1-7 days depending on the time frame I have alone, but this one took me far too many days to read! I had to take a break to read another book within a day. I hope others are able to get through it faster than I did.
teriboop's review against another edition
3.0
Ashley Judd is not only an award-winning actress, she is an advocate for human rights and an ambassador for Population Services International (PSI). In her memoir, Judd details her involvement with PSI, traveling to Asia and Africa touring the brothels and slums while teaching the residents how to protect themselves against AIDS / HIV. Many women she encountered were trafficked into sex slavery or simply had no other choice to make money. While embarking on this humanitarian cause, Judd wrestles with her own demons. Born into a very dysfunctional and abusive home, the actress often found herself on her own, abandoned by her family while they pursued a career in music. In between tours overseas, Judd checks into rehab to help herself, so she can help others.
I have always liked Judd as an actress. I counted her as one of my favorites to watch; except for Bug, oh Lord, what was she thinking about that one? I had the opportunity to see her speak in person, about her work with PSI and a bit of her own family history. I came away from the talk conflicted and find myself feeling the same after reading this book. No doubt she is a wonderful humanitarian. You can tell that she immerses herself in the cause to help people, especially women and children in the slums of places like Rwanda and the Congo. At the same time, she has had a lot to deal with in her own personal life. At times, she comes across as angry at average people that she has come across who don't know what she's been through or that know nothing about her work. One passage in the book that took me aback was in chapter 9, "Back at the hotel, a perky tourist from Texas recognized me in the business center and asked me if I was on safari. I let her blithe obliviousness and her expensive khakis irk me, and I blurted out bitterly, "No. In fact, I am on a HIV / AIDS prevention trip and have just been to three brothels." I hoped I had ruined her evening." I would think that would be a great opportunity to educate others on the conditions of the area she was touring and her work with PSI. I know she has been in the news for being rude like this to people, so this passage reinforced the idea that she may be a bit unapproachable to fans and others she comes across in everyday life.
There was just something in her tone throughout the book that didn't settle with me. She wasn't "bragging" but yet, she had an air of "see what I've done, I'm making a difference" then would follow that up with how broken she was during this time. I don't want to diminish what she went through, obviously, her childhood was traumatic and was unfairly treated. She is also a great humanitarian, but I get the sense that she is not so humbled by it and that she still deals with some duality to her personality.
If the book does nothing else, it does bring awareness to the global issues of sex trafficking and HIV / AIDS in other countries. She is certainly passionate about helping others and has formed bonds with many of the people she has met during her tours. These issues are the sad reality that many face every day and it is not just in "third world" countries, but happens in the US as well.
I have always liked Judd as an actress. I counted her as one of my favorites to watch; except for Bug, oh Lord, what was she thinking about that one? I had the opportunity to see her speak in person, about her work with PSI and a bit of her own family history. I came away from the talk conflicted and find myself feeling the same after reading this book. No doubt she is a wonderful humanitarian. You can tell that she immerses herself in the cause to help people, especially women and children in the slums of places like Rwanda and the Congo. At the same time, she has had a lot to deal with in her own personal life. At times, she comes across as angry at average people that she has come across who don't know what she's been through or that know nothing about her work. One passage in the book that took me aback was in chapter 9, "Back at the hotel, a perky tourist from Texas recognized me in the business center and asked me if I was on safari. I let her blithe obliviousness and her expensive khakis irk me, and I blurted out bitterly, "No. In fact, I am on a HIV / AIDS prevention trip and have just been to three brothels." I hoped I had ruined her evening." I would think that would be a great opportunity to educate others on the conditions of the area she was touring and her work with PSI. I know she has been in the news for being rude like this to people, so this passage reinforced the idea that she may be a bit unapproachable to fans and others she comes across in everyday life.
There was just something in her tone throughout the book that didn't settle with me. She wasn't "bragging" but yet, she had an air of "see what I've done, I'm making a difference" then would follow that up with how broken she was during this time. I don't want to diminish what she went through, obviously, her childhood was traumatic and was unfairly treated. She is also a great humanitarian, but I get the sense that she is not so humbled by it and that she still deals with some duality to her personality.
If the book does nothing else, it does bring awareness to the global issues of sex trafficking and HIV / AIDS in other countries. She is certainly passionate about helping others and has formed bonds with many of the people she has met during her tours. These issues are the sad reality that many face every day and it is not just in "third world" countries, but happens in the US as well.
brynners89's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
skysbooknook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Genocide, Murder, Abandonment, and Torture
amlewis's review
1.0
Ashley cries, sobs, weeps and bawls seemingly on every page. This downbeat memoir, in which she makes herself the main character in stories about her half-sister's paternity and therapy, is not worth the $1.99 that I paid for it.
The author is much more like her narcissistic mother than she cares to admit. That is the memoir she needs to write.
The author is much more like her narcissistic mother than she cares to admit. That is the memoir she needs to write.
jpartlan's review against another edition
5.0
A touching book. That I really enjoyed and got a lot out of. For anyone who has troubling relationships in their family.
I love Ashley Judd and knew she had some hard times growing up so I wanted to read about. Now I LOVE Ashley Judd. I love her because she is such a great example and role model for girls everywhere. Before reading this I didn't know that she had been raped. I find it interesting how her faith got her through all those difficult times. Because for me once I was old enough my similar experiences caused me to turn away. I thought "If there is a God why would he let these things happen to innocent little kids?!?". I still don't know if I believe in God or not but Ashley's book has made me think about it some more. She has also made me realize I probably, in the very least, need therapy.
One line in the book totally struck a cord with me. "I really needed to get over it." Ashley talking about telling her family all that they had put her through and the family was not aloud to talk only listen. My mom tells me that I need to get over it, ALL the time when I try to explain to her that she had done something that bothered me.
This book also is enlightening while Ashley explains her work with PSI. Similar situations that women all over the world are going through. Similar to Half the Sky: turning oppression into opportunity. It definitely makes me glad to have been raised in the United States.
I love Ashley Judd and knew she had some hard times growing up so I wanted to read about. Now I LOVE Ashley Judd. I love her because she is such a great example and role model for girls everywhere. Before reading this I didn't know that she had been raped. I find it interesting how her faith got her through all those difficult times. Because for me once I was old enough my similar experiences caused me to turn away. I thought "If there is a God why would he let these things happen to innocent little kids?!?". I still don't know if I believe in God or not but Ashley's book has made me think about it some more. She has also made me realize I probably, in the very least, need therapy.
One line in the book totally struck a cord with me. "I really needed to get over it." Ashley talking about telling her family all that they had put her through and the family was not aloud to talk only listen. My mom tells me that I need to get over it, ALL the time when I try to explain to her that she had done something that bothered me.
This book also is enlightening while Ashley explains her work with PSI. Similar situations that women all over the world are going through. Similar to Half the Sky: turning oppression into opportunity. It definitely makes me glad to have been raised in the United States.
tjmcq's review against another edition
4.0
Ashley Judd’s upbringing, dysfunction and humanitarian work. Good book. A-