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katofalltrades's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Infidelity, Addiction, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, and Racism
Moderate: Abortion
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
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
booksalacarte's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Abortion, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Hate crime, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Abandonment, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Child abuse, Classism, Cursing, Death of parent, Excrement, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Grief, and Racism
readingrainbowroad's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Alcoholism, Racism, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Addiction
alybarnett02's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse and Classism
Moderate: Bullying, Cancer, and Racism
Minor: Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Animal death
mdavis26's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Blood, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Abortion, Alcohol, Acephobia/Arophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, and Sexual assault
cassidy's review against another edition
Also the discussions on colorism I found both really sad and insightful. At least for me, I found it as a call to talk about it/consider colorism more in my conversations and thoughts about race, and also made me more broadly think about who’s allowed to be the main character on a screen.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Racism, and Alcoholism
bookish_den's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve always admired Viola's impressive acting skills, her powerful award speeches, her funny and kind personality in interviews, her IG acc focused on spreading love and positive stories, but I had no idea about her life and where she came from and how she got to where she is.
With a traumatic past rooted in poverty, racism and abuse, in this book she self reflects on her life and makes amends with the child she once was and who endured so much to be where her adult self is today.
Later on the book touches on some industry insights, I loved how passionately she talked about theatre specifically, it also addresses howprivilege and luck are big factors in making it in Hollywood, the struggles for women in the business and specially black women, the impact of colorism and sexism in role casting and payment, the problem of health insurance and affordable housing without fair living wages (reading it in the context of the Sag Aftra strike made it specially impactful), but above all “Finding Me” is a very vulnerable story of pain and forgiveness and finding joy and love and healing generational trauma.
Memoirs are hard to criticize cause who are we to dissect and debate someone else’s life? this one was flawless and Viola being the great actor she is did a masterful voice work, how matter of factly she sounded at times, or how mad or happy or sad, the accents, the different cadences of speech for different people, all excellent.
Im not gonna lie, at times it was too much for me, too sad, too raw, too distressing, but the hope for her kept me going, knowing where she’d eventually end did help me walk alongside her through all the hard places she went through before.
Im proud of her and the success and acclaim she has achieved but im marveled and wowed at her soul, her unbreakable spirit, her empathy and kindness, her ability to understand and forgive and heal and choose love.
Everyone should read this.
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, and Child abuse
Minor: Abortion, Bullying, and Classism
emily_koopmann's review against another edition
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Bullying, Abandonment, Death, Hate crime, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Racism, and Abortion