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Reviews
All That Is Bitter and Sweet: A Memoir by Maryanne Vollers, Nicholas D. Kristof, Ashley Judd
kkilburn's review against another edition
5.0
I don't read memoirs very often, but was moved to pick this book up based on the glowing blurbs that promised a passionate accounting of how Judd's global activism led to her profound recovery from a childhood of abuse and neglect. I am very glad I did. I give the book 5 stars not because the writing is particularly luminous or the story of abuse and recovery particularly unique, but because I repeatedly found myself deeply, personally moved by the essential truths Judd has discovered and by the fearlessness with which she continues to serve what she calls the "global south", in particular women and girls devastated by gender inequality, poverty, and disease. I don't know that I will reread the whole thing, but I've marked many, many passages that I know I'll return to frequently.
In the book, Judd intertwines the story of her childhood (filled with abuse and neglect) with the work she has done as an ambassador for Population Services International - work that has taken her to the worst slums, brothels, and displaced persons camps India, Southesast Asia, Africa, and South America have to offer. Her experiences on her first such trip ultimately led to her confront the damage done to her throughout her own childhood and to begin her personal journey of healing and recovery. She shares with us the deep pain and the glory of that process, as well as its impact on her relationship with the God of her understanding and on her continued work for social justice. The latter, just for the record, she shares by sharing the stories of the people she meets, from sex slaves to labor slaves to people living in the most abject poverty. Her work goes far beyond that, but it begins there.
Judd shares authorship with journalist Maryanne Vollers. Based on the acknowledgements, I suspect that Vollers' contributions were largely structural and editorial; I am fairly confident that the voice we read is Judd's own. That voice is true, powerful and articulate, but doesn't always make for the smoothest reading - I had to go back and read many sentences more than once to make sense of them. But that was a minor annoyance - in all other ways, the stories here are well told and well worth reading.
In the book, Judd intertwines the story of her childhood (filled with abuse and neglect) with the work she has done as an ambassador for Population Services International - work that has taken her to the worst slums, brothels, and displaced persons camps India, Southesast Asia, Africa, and South America have to offer. Her experiences on her first such trip ultimately led to her confront the damage done to her throughout her own childhood and to begin her personal journey of healing and recovery. She shares with us the deep pain and the glory of that process, as well as its impact on her relationship with the God of her understanding and on her continued work for social justice. The latter, just for the record, she shares by sharing the stories of the people she meets, from sex slaves to labor slaves to people living in the most abject poverty. Her work goes far beyond that, but it begins there.
Judd shares authorship with journalist Maryanne Vollers. Based on the acknowledgements, I suspect that Vollers' contributions were largely structural and editorial; I am fairly confident that the voice we read is Judd's own. That voice is true, powerful and articulate, but doesn't always make for the smoothest reading - I had to go back and read many sentences more than once to make sense of them. But that was a minor annoyance - in all other ways, the stories here are well told and well worth reading.
vixenchick's review against another edition
I'm sorry. I hate giving up on books, I just couldn't stay awake through this.
bibliomaineiac's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could give half stars, because I'd give this 3.5. It wasn't quite up to my rating for 4 stars. I liked her writing. However, it felt like her stories were out of order. I'm not sure if they were, or if it was just the way it came across. She is an amazing woman, and such a humanitarian. It almost deserved the fourth star for that. It wasn't a book I could sit down and binge read. Possibly because the subject matter was often so dark. I needed to take it in parts.
hstuart3's review against another edition
3.0
The most interesting parts of this book are those that teach about Ashley Judd's travels and her views and work in human trafficking. I learned quite a bit and had my mindset on several issues turned around.
appletonkelli's review
2.0
This book is actually two books in one. I don't mean for that to sound as complimentary as it comes across, by the way. When i say that this is two books in one I mean that this is one book that tells a good story and one book that should have remained in Ashley Judd's head, or at least in her therapist's head.
I could not figure out what this book was supposed to be. It's kind of like "My mom is a famous superstar but as a mom she is awful. I like kittens. My entire family is dysfunctional. I like puppies too."
But I learned that there was an actual rhythm to the book. You just have to figure it out.
Some chapters are all about the naval gazing. You can skim or skip those. I mean really. Dysfunctional families? Who does not have one? If everyone whose family is less than stellar wrote a book there would be no trees left. Make peace with your past. Or don't. But don't subject the rest of us to it. That's a pretty bad punishment for the innocent act of picking your book up from the library, isn't it?
Some chapters are about a rising star, a gifted actress with fame and fortune in front of her, who sets all that glitter aside to chase what is gold by joining an NGO and spends months at a time in ghettos. This story of this woman who learns to respect and even glean from the teachings of other faiths and yet never wavers in her commitment to the Way, the Truth and Life of Jesus Christ and takes the Light into dark places without ever having to utter a word of Scripture. She just lives it. And it radiates from her into the lives of prostitutes and orphans and even pimps and johns.
I don't read celebrity memoirs. Often I don't know who the celebrities are. To me, actors and actresses are just "Oh she looks familiar, wasn't she in that movie we watched that one time?". I don't care about celebrities. But I like Ashley Judd and I have actually wondered why she was not in more movies. Now I know why, she has more important things to do.
I could not figure out what this book was supposed to be. It's kind of like "My mom is a famous superstar but as a mom she is awful. I like kittens. My entire family is dysfunctional. I like puppies too."
But I learned that there was an actual rhythm to the book. You just have to figure it out.
Some chapters are all about the naval gazing. You can skim or skip those. I mean really. Dysfunctional families? Who does not have one? If everyone whose family is less than stellar wrote a book there would be no trees left. Make peace with your past. Or don't. But don't subject the rest of us to it. That's a pretty bad punishment for the innocent act of picking your book up from the library, isn't it?
Some chapters are about a rising star, a gifted actress with fame and fortune in front of her, who sets all that glitter aside to chase what is gold by joining an NGO and spends months at a time in ghettos. This story of this woman who learns to respect and even glean from the teachings of other faiths and yet never wavers in her commitment to the Way, the Truth and Life of Jesus Christ and takes the Light into dark places without ever having to utter a word of Scripture. She just lives it. And it radiates from her into the lives of prostitutes and orphans and even pimps and johns.
I don't read celebrity memoirs. Often I don't know who the celebrities are. To me, actors and actresses are just "Oh she looks familiar, wasn't she in that movie we watched that one time?". I don't care about celebrities. But I like Ashley Judd and I have actually wondered why she was not in more movies. Now I know why, she has more important things to do.
daisychainbookco's review against another edition
4.0
I was so impressed with Ashley’s story. I had no idea about her family background, and it overwhelmed me. The uncertainty and the loneliness of her youth, and the callous insensitivity of her mother made me incredibly sad. I admire her search for true humanity and justice for women, children and those who are suffering. I was unaware of how much she had invested into these pursuits, her dedication to her faith or of the struggles she had with depression and the instability of her mental health. I am grateful to have read her story. Not an easy read, but oh so valuable. Reading books about women who OVERCOME is so critical. I’m glad that this book is available for those who struggle with similar concerns, because Ashley is quite vulnerable and honest in ways that reach beyond the page right to the heart of a reader.
jcm's review against another edition
2.0
DNF
I love her, and the kindness and compassion she exudes, but I couldn't get through this.
I love her, and the kindness and compassion she exudes, but I couldn't get through this.
carrs52's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked it! Not a quick read, but very interesting!
ekloretto's review against another edition
3.0
From seeing some of Ashley's press for this book I knew that it wasn't going to be a detailed account of her time making movies I love. No glamorous recounting of the "Hollywood" life. That is not the life that she leads.
It is her travel diaries interspersed with her personal stories. She is honest! You can just tell that she is not holding back, whether its the deplorable stories of women and children that she meets along the way or her own childhood. She even opens up as much as is allowable about her 42 days in recovery. She definitely relates to the stories she has heard and she helps the reader find ways to relate as well; to understand what is really going on out there in the undeveloped countries of our world.
As good as this the message of this book is, it definitely has some slow/low points. The writing style can be verbose and especially when traveling it can become repetitive. It just feels long. I unfortunately found myself counting down the pages and excited when I finished.
It is her travel diaries interspersed with her personal stories. She is honest! You can just tell that she is not holding back, whether its the deplorable stories of women and children that she meets along the way or her own childhood. She even opens up as much as is allowable about her 42 days in recovery. She definitely relates to the stories she has heard and she helps the reader find ways to relate as well; to understand what is really going on out there in the undeveloped countries of our world.
As good as this the message of this book is, it definitely has some slow/low points. The writing style can be verbose and especially when traveling it can become repetitive. It just feels long. I unfortunately found myself counting down the pages and excited when I finished.