Reviews tagging 'Suicide'

Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame by Mara Wilson

6 reviews

stellahadz's review against another edition

emotional funny reflective medium-paced

4.0

I've seen some criticism that this book didn't contain anything "worth writing about," but I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing that it focused on the everyday, seemingly mundane happenings of Mara Wilson's life and inner world. While memoirs like Finding Me and I'm Glad My Mom Died, (which focus heavily on childhood trauma) were some of my favorites of 2023, I want to push back against the idea that the only things worth sharing are deep, dark secrets. I think Where Am I Now? is relatable to lots of people, myself included, in ways that other popular memoirs usually aren't. 

This isn't the story of Mara Wilson's life told chronologically as memoirs tend to be. It's more a collection of essays, organized thematically, telling stories from different periods in her life. She's a great writer, and she comes across as an intelligent, introspective person who knows herself well, which is refreshing in a world that wants desperately to label and define women instead of letting them define themselves.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide, Terminal illness, and Death of parent

Minor: Sexual content

linnylionheart's review

adventurous emotional funny fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Abandonment, Bullying, Death, Death of parent, Cancer, Grief, and Medical content

Moderate: Pregnancy, Suicide, Sexual content, and Religious bigotry

Minor: Abortion, Alcohol, Incest, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcoholism, Kidnapping, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Rape

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

I've been wanting to read this for a while because of Ms. Wilson's discussion of OCD, and it was a good read.  I feel like we would end up chatting for a long time at a party. I also love when child stars are doing okay!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Grief, Cancer, Death, Death of parent, Chronic illness, and Mental illness

Moderate: Fatphobia, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Alcohol, Sexual content, Suicide, Eating disorder, Drug use, and Rape

beklovesbooks's review

dark emotional medium-paced

2.0

Very reflective. Interesting about the journey of a child actor, celebrity name-dropping, engaging to see her real regular person life behind the scenes. Lots of panic and explains her religious path to atheism. I wouldn’t read it again, but I wanted to finish it once started. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, Death of parent, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Terminal illness

Minor: Cancer, Drug use, Eating disorder, Addiction, Bullying, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Suicide

Lots of references to masturbation, fetishes, puberty, normalizing pornography

lowkeymarie's review

reflective relaxing fast-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide

meganmagicmusings's review

funny inspiring medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief and Mental illness

Moderate: Bullying

Minor: Suicide