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readingtofeedthesoul's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
3.0
Autobiography, inspiring story of a women in the creative industry
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Rape
sthurma22's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I’ve always enjoyed Constance Wu’s performances and was appalled to hear about her attempt following social media backlash. It was nice to have a more rounded picture of who she is outside of social media and television/movies. I will say, the overall story telling was hard for me to stay engaged with which is why it’s a 3 star read for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Rape
thatbookbinch's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
Moderate: Fatphobia
mattyvreads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Incredible. Another one of my favorite books that I read this year. Wu is an artist with her words. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always true.
The book is a page-turner. When I picked it up, I thought that it was going to be a story about fame and sex and scandal and stardom. It was all of that, but so much more. Much of the memoir focuses on her growing up, becoming who she is today. The lessons that she learned and the people that she loved.
There are heartbreaking and emotional moments, as Wu courageously recounts and explores her traumas, but the book is also filled with hope and love. It is like a biting shot of liquor followed by a warm hug.
One of the bravest and noblest aspects of the book, and what makes it so successful for me, is that she presents such a seemingly fair account of events. She is the first to admit when she’s made mistakes in her life. She reflects on those “bad” decisions: people that she hurt and actions that she regrets, in a way that challenges them and how they helped her to grow. In that way, she illustrates in an unpretentious way, how we can be better people, too. As if to say, “I made this decision so you don’t have to.”
But moreover, she defends some of her past decisions and sheds new light on those situations in an extremely meaningful and empowering way. It was fascinating to read about her experience on “Fresh Off the Boat”. It was a show that was important and meaningful to many, but which had such a negative association for Wu due to her adverse experience on set with abusive and manipulative producers. So insightful.
I am excited to read this book again. It is one of my favorite memoirs I’ve ever read.
The book is a page-turner. When I picked it up, I thought that it was going to be a story about fame and sex and scandal and stardom. It was all of that, but so much more. Much of the memoir focuses on her growing up, becoming who she is today. The lessons that she learned and the people that she loved.
There are heartbreaking and emotional moments, as Wu courageously recounts and explores her traumas, but the book is also filled with hope and love. It is like a biting shot of liquor followed by a warm hug.
One of the bravest and noblest aspects of the book, and what makes it so successful for me, is that she presents such a seemingly fair account of events. She is the first to admit when she’s made mistakes in her life. She reflects on those “bad” decisions: people that she hurt and actions that she regrets, in a way that challenges them and how they helped her to grow. In that way, she illustrates in an unpretentious way, how we can be better people, too. As if to say, “I made this decision so you don’t have to.”
But moreover, she defends some of her past decisions and sheds new light on those situations in an extremely meaningful and empowering way. It was fascinating to read about her experience on “Fresh Off the Boat”. It was a show that was important and meaningful to many, but which had such a negative association for Wu due to her adverse experience on set with abusive and manipulative producers. So insightful.
I am excited to read this book again. It is one of my favorite memoirs I’ve ever read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, and Addiction
Minor: Fatphobia
zombiezami's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, and Mental illness
Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Racism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Vomit, Death, and Excrement
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Constance Wu seems really down to earth and humorous and I liked a few of these essays, particularly the ones about her time on Fresh Off the Boat and her Twitter villain era (I guess X villain era now, ugh), the time her middle school teacher accused her of plagiarism (that was fucking cruel), and the final one about her parents.
That said, there's not much tying these essays together and I wish she'd gone into some more interesting anecdotes, particularly around her time in Hollywood, or that there'd been more introspection into the anecdotes we got. I kind of don't want to be like "she needed to share more" because god knows sharing this much about your life with the world must be hard, but also if you're writing a memoir you need to either have really interesting experiences like Jeanette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died or the ability to show what your experiences mean to you like Michelle Zauner's Crying In H Mart. Though there are essays with both these traits, there are some without that drag the book down, especially in how random it feels.
That said, there's not much tying these essays together and I wish she'd gone into some more interesting anecdotes, particularly around her time in Hollywood, or that there'd been more introspection into the anecdotes we got. I kind of don't want to be like "she needed to share more" because god knows sharing this much about your life with the world must be hard, but also if you're writing a memoir you need to either have really interesting experiences like Jeanette McCurdy's I'm Glad My Mom Died or the ability to show what your experiences mean to you like Michelle Zauner's Crying In H Mart. Though there are essays with both these traits, there are some without that drag the book down, especially in how random it feels.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Rape, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Misogyny and Racism
brittanylee0302's review against another edition
emotional
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.5
This book was nothing at all what I anticipated. That being said, its definitely a very raw read. Wu addresses her issues she faced becoming an actress, & her issues with her relationships later in life. A little dry at times, but still pretty good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual harassment, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Alcohol and Bullying
Minor: Pregnancy, Suicide attempt, and Violence
bhan_bhan2687's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
I enjoyed this Snapchat of Constance Wu in her late thirties but I think the book she writes in her fifties or sixties we’ll be much better.
Her mostly low self esteem in the book can be odd in the book and at times make it seem like she’s being overly hard on herself or making herself more of an underdog then she might be but given what she meant through and the idea of being easily replaceable was what one Asian American producer dangled over her to sexually harass her for years I think it make sense if you step back even if it can make you wish she stepped back a bit when recounting certain events. Largely though I thought a weakness of the book was Wu being what seemed afraid of being too easy on herself, or hard on others that leads to a lot of acceptance and forgiveness of men who frankly don’t deserve it. That said in her own words Wu finds forgiving others how they harmed her a way to free herself from victim blaming herself which I think is important to be patient with, though I think some people who experienced similar harm will find really foreign to their experiences and needs if not more averse to it.
I really liked her like many other women of color talking about harm within the community being used to silence you because you’re afraid of harming the community by talking about how you are experiencing harm from someone within it or a prominent “ally”. I also really liked how she talked about when she gave a disjointed but frankly understandable and over judged response to the show she was abused being renewed no one cared that an out of character out burst signaled something was probably wrong in her life in some way but care at the idea she lost face or wasn’t grateful enough for crumbs. Similarly how she talks about how both non Asians and Asians try to force her mom to fit a Tiger mom stereotype she doesn’t to suit their comforts and limited ideas of Asians and women.
I loved the taxi Can story in NYC though I understand why someone could look at this essay collection and wonder why some were included at all and while non linear essays or books are fine there definitely were times the transitions were rough and it seemed like starting all over even if multiple events and things layer to make us who we are now.
Her mostly low self esteem in the book can be odd in the book and at times make it seem like she’s being overly hard on herself or making herself more of an underdog then she might be but given what she meant through and the idea of being easily replaceable was what one Asian American producer dangled over her to sexually harass her for years I think it make sense if you step back even if it can make you wish she stepped back a bit when recounting certain events. Largely though I thought a weakness of the book was Wu being what seemed afraid of being too easy on herself, or hard on others that leads to a lot of acceptance and forgiveness of men who frankly don’t deserve it. That said in her own words Wu finds forgiving others how they harmed her a way to free herself from victim blaming herself which I think is important to be patient with, though I think some people who experienced similar harm will find really foreign to their experiences and needs if not more averse to it.
I really liked her like many other women of color talking about harm within the community being used to silence you because you’re afraid of harming the community by talking about how you are experiencing harm from someone within it or a prominent “ally”. I also really liked how she talked about when she gave a disjointed but frankly understandable and over judged response to the show she was abused being renewed no one cared that an out of character out burst signaled something was probably wrong in her life in some way but care at the idea she lost face or wasn’t grateful enough for crumbs. Similarly how she talks about how both non Asians and Asians try to force her mom to fit a Tiger mom stereotype she doesn’t to suit their comforts and limited ideas of Asians and women.
I loved the taxi Can story in NYC though I understand why someone could look at this essay collection and wonder why some were included at all and while non linear essays or books are fine there definitely were times the transitions were rough and it seemed like starting all over even if multiple events and things layer to make us who we are now.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Misogyny, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, and Rape
rachreads925's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
2.5
Discombobulated since it isn't linear. Some of the essays felt irrelevant to an overall story that the author Constance Wu was trying to tell about who she is and how she got there. There were a few interesting parts, but overall it just wasn't that insightful or exciting. I don't feel I know more about the author than I could have learned from reading a few interviews and Wikipedia (and sometimes less, since she doesn't even name the boyfriend she had a baby with). This isn't really a memoir, more like an essay collection about her life. I wouldn't recommend it, and only kept reading to see if it got better but it didn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment and Rape