Review by flara - Down the Drain

flara 's review for:

Down the Drain by Julia Fox

4.0

adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

As far as memoirs go, this was a solid one. This is the ultimate book about friendship, drug addiction and fame.

I would have absolutely hated Julia's guts if our paths had crossed in her earlier life. That being said, she is definitely a product of her environment. Reading about her childhood experiences and relationship with her parents was, well, sad. She was given short end of the stick in life and there is no denying that. But she was also given so many opportunities which she completely discarded. This is where I am conflicted about her character. Yes, she fought very hard to get where she is. But she was also very reckless and volatile. She pleads with God to save her from whatever dire situation she currently finds herself in and miraculously she is rescued time and time again. She almost ODs on multiple occasions, but there is no personal inventory, no 'thank fuck I'm alive'. At least she is self-aware of all this, hence the title. I also found it somewhat annoying that she was ready to jump anyone who had crossed her, and yet she's done way worse things to others for which she had received hardly any retribution.

The writing changed as she progressed from girlhood to womanhood and into motherhood, and I found it very satisfying. I just wish she elaborated more on her experience as a single mother, and motherhood in general. We get a glimpse, but it's such a major event, I'm sure there's more.

Fox receives hundred brownie points from me for writing about gender inequality and the role of a woman in modern society (and more specifically in show-business). She makes very smart, thought-provoking observations. I liked the way she recalled her assault and what followed; her dilemma about consent in encounter with the billionaire; and her time with ‘the Artist’. The latter was just wild. She gets additional hundred brownie points for refusing to sign his NDA and staying true to herself despite his attempts to make her his little doll. I’m very put off by his whole persona and the way he gets treated as deity when he is anything but. It also makes me feel sorry for his children. He has very little regard for Julia’s parental responsibilities so I can’t imagine he is very involved in his children’s lives.

Last but not least, the chapter about Gianna's death was absolutely soul crushing. I was walking through a park with the audiobook on and I head tears in my eyes.

You go Julia. I didn’t know much about you except for the Kanye thing and now I am equally impressed and terrified.

Content Warnings