Reviews tagging Alcohol

Finding Me: A Memoir, by Viola Davis

9 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.  

---

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

micalyia's review

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Blood, Bullying, Sexual content, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Racism, Abortion, Addiction, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence

anpen's review

dark emotional inspiring

4.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Racism, Abortion, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Pedophilia

kcelena's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring relaxing sad tense medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Addiction, Alcohol, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Incest, Infertility, Injury/injury detail, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Violence

mjscooke's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Finding Me is a moving memoir of overcoming life’s difficult hand, pursuing and ultimately achieving your dream & learning about yourself in the process. Viola narrates her own story with the same care, consideration and deep emotional connection she gives her on screen performances and allows us the privilege of witnessing her vulnerability through some difficult memories. She doesn’t sugarcoat the entertainment industry either which I always appreciate. 

---

Content Warnings

Minor: Abortion, Domestic abuse, Racism, Rape, Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Death of parent, and Infertility

kerrygetsliterary's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Abortion, Sexism, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Medical content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Gaslighting, Grief, and Racism

slythjetta's review against another edition

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

4.75

This was one of the most difficult, emotional yet inspiring, motivational audios I have ever had to endure.

While battling depression, I had to take my time, even though I wanted to listen on. The hardships, abuse of every kind and heartache that Viola endured in her chilhood alone was appalling. 

Just to know that as a light-skinned Black woman, I have not dealt with an ounce of racism, constantly being reminded that I'm "unattractive" and feeling unprotected to the degree darker-skinned Black people do just shakes me to my core.

I loved seeing her progress of being accepted at Julliard to Viola building her portfolio as an actress. 

Then meeting her Julius and seeing their relationship blossom was so heartwarming🥰. Having a family of their  own was a way for Viola to heal from her own childhood.

I truly loved this memoir, this may be my first one, and I was super excited Viola read for the audio herself🥰.

Just to know this background story off what shaped Viola Davis into the person we see today is truly astounding. Viola's memoir is so passionate, inspiring and a journey of finding the strength to revisit dark memories. Healing your younger self, never giving up hope, love and enjoying life to the fullest.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Chronic illness, Classism, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Stalking, Dementia, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Grief, Infertility, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Rape, Cancer, and Violence

claudiaslibrarycard's review

dark emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

Finding me by Viola Davis was a memoir that I really looked forward to. I love her work as an actress and I could tell that this would be a raw and honest look at her life. I was surprised to discover how much Davis went through to get to where she is today. It was a very heavy read and she has an incredible amount of understanding and forgiveness for the trauma that has been a part of her life. She makes it clear that this has been a very intentional process, she has not arrived where she is without significant internal effort and the help of therapy.

Because of the traumatic content, this was a book that I had to read slowly and intentionally alongside other books that were less overwhelming. By the end, I was so glad that I read it and I loved how Viola Davis concludes her memoir. If you are ready to hear someone really tackle an exceptionally difficult childhood and how they healed and made a different path for themselves, I highly recommend this book. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child abuse

Minor: Alcohol and Addiction

zalouis's review

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Grief, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Rape, Alcoholism, Addiction, Alcohol, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Medical content, Pregnancy, Biphobia, Alcoholism, Classism, Cultural appropriation, and Death of parent