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A review by tweader
My Body by Emily Ratajkowski

challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

3.75

Ratajkowski presents really difficult parts of her life in this collection of essays to speak about her bodily autonomy, her power and powerlessness in being a woman and commodity, and her beauty that enabled her to have these experiences and opportunities.

I’m not a huge fan of the non-linear storytelling, but I will say that it was an excellent narrative choice for her memoir. The slow buildup of all the awful predatory and manipulative situations Ratajkowski lived through from such a young age, made me livid and sad for her. In her personal life to her career in modeling and entertainment, she and many other girls, were so young and vulnerable. I was sick to my stomach learning about the sexual violence and female objectification she endured and continues to battle. Especially knowing that her ex-husband participated in this predatory sexual behavior makes me feel even worse for her.

I believe the ending is supposed to be empowering and hopeful through anecdotes of her therapy and pregnancy, but I finished feeling quite powerless and frustrated by the sexism and state of the world that enabled this kind of behavior. I understand these essays are more of a reflection of her experiences, so as such I felt an incompleteness in the work. I was hoping for more answers and conclusion in her thoughts. I wish there were more time in her memoir spent reflecting on her relationship with her mother and/or father. I would have also been interested in how motherhood has affected her opinions and experiences.
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