Reviews tagging Cancer

Finding Me: A Memoir, by Viola Davis

22 reviews

rebekah_florence's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

What a treat to hear her own story in her own words in her own time.  I love Viola Davis. Her work meant so much to me from the moment I saw her in The Help at 12 years old.  Immediately after returning home, I furiously searched everything I could about her, her acting career, and how I could EXACTLY what she did- represent dark-skinned Black women on screen. Viola tells stories in such a captivating way that, even in time jumps, they flow seamlessly.  I don’t know if I believe in rating a memoir below 5 stars. I don’t know if I believe in rating a memoir at all, however, if someone has the courage to share their story, amen to that. Viola exposes some of the deepest parts of herself- trauma, abuse, bullying, self-doubt and ultimately forgiveness.  So many parts of the book had me in tears because I could relate to them.  I see how the stories she decided to share connect to her work.  This was raw and inspiring and beautifully done.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Cancer, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Cursing, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Abortion, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Chronic illness, Death of parent, Medical content, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Rape

Minor: Drug abuse

kcwreads's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Incest, Emotional abuse, Racism, and Alcoholism

Moderate: Abortion, Death of parent, Cancer, and Death

mecmccann's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

This book was everything I needed and more. When she said “The purpose of life is to live it” agghhhhhh I needed that 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Rape, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Body shaming, Cancer, Drug abuse, Infertility, Sexism, Child abuse, Classism, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, and Mental illness

maemiller_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, Alcoholism, Bullying, Animal death, Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Cancer

Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Abortion, Drug abuse, Excrement, and Infertility

seullywillikers's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

I've always admired Ms. Davis as an actor, and this memoir is the catalyst for falling in love with her as a person. Raw, honest, brutal, and beautiful, listening to Ms. Davis tell her story without flinching, pulling punches, or apology, has been an incredible experience. Her compassion and empathy are without compare, and her focus on seeing the humanity in all people is a testament to her strength and inner goddess.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Cancer, Grief, Infertility, Medical content, Mental illness, Misogyny, Alcoholism, Excrement, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Racism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Terminal illness

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

One of the most powerful biographies I’ve ever listened to.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Child abuse, Death of parent, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Animal cruelty, Addiction, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Cursing, Rape, Domestic abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, and Sexual assault

Moderate: Abortion, Pedophilia, Incest, Infertility, and Pregnancy

Minor: Terminal illness, Cancer, and Medical content

aishallnot's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Racism

Moderate: Sexual assault and Racial slurs

Minor: Cancer and Death of parent

leonormsousa's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Injury/injury detail, Racism, Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, Violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Vomit, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cancer, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Pedophilia, Abortion, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, and Infertility

librariangeorgia's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

This book is exactly what I want from a memoir. I want to know about the nitty gritty of celebrities lives, not the jobs they’re known for or the name-dropping of who’s good/bad in Hollywood. 

 

I found this even more interesting to know more about the racism and bullying that black people experience - as it’s not something I have experience in being a white person. 

 

Before reading this I honestly knew nothing about Viola, other than the fact that she’d stared in HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER, THE HELP, WIDOWS, etc. So it was really fascinating for me to found out about her childhood (the amount of trauma she experienced I did not expect) and her long journey in acting to get to the place that she is today. 

 

Honestly, this book has given me a new found respect for this woman for publishing such a raw insight into her life. I really wish I’d listened to the audiobook for this! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abortion, Alcoholism, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence, Addiction, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

oliviapincin's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Chronic illness, Abortion, Cancer, and Death

Moderate: Alcoholism and Sexual assault