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Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment
I admit that I don't know anything about her, and I've only heard her name once or twice. but even 70% into the book didn't give me a speck of who she is. There's no introspection that could explain her choices and actions. So, as a reader, I can only see her as a person who has a poor upbringing brought upon by neglectful parents, and so, she went through a lot in life.
That's my whole takeaway from this memoir, that growing up with bad people around you, especially neglectful and abusive parents play a significant role in shaping and molding your personhood. In Julia's case, she lived a thousand lives surrounded by all sorts of bad influence.
I had highlighted so many bad and terrible moments inflicted by her parents, friends and even herself in red that it's concerning. I was alarmed by how much she went through. But without introspection, she comes across poorly from my perspective. I don't care for the cruel and terrible people that were introduced because I don't need to justify their actions. But for a memoir, she leaves no explanation for her own decisions and choices which lead to bad influences in return.
It was always, "I had sex with...", "I did drugs...", "I went to...", "I did..." without giving any reason. When the book did, it's a therapist diagnosing her as bipolar. But I think that makes for a poor justification for her. To me, without any reason outside her diagnosis, she doesn't hold herself accountable. Therefore, it appears like she's okay and entitled to being mean and cruel and a bad influence on others as well.
So, this is not a memoir. This is just a telling of events.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Rape, Stalking, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide
Moderate: Abortion
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Moderate: Abortion
SHES SOOO JULIA!! Jesus christ what a fuckING woman!!! Also maybe my favorite last line of a book ever?
But for the love of god do not read this before checking TW. And not just mine bcs i did not get them all.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Gore, Mental illness, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Abortion
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship
Moderate: Death, Suicide, Violence, Vomit
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment
Minor: Cancer, Eating disorder, Terminal illness, Excrement, Pandemic/Epidemic
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Abortion, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Outing
Minor: Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Pandemic/Epidemic
The writing fell a bit flat for me in that she gives a very as-it-happened with very little reflection about it now that she has grown. Given the recency of some of the events, however, there may not have been enough time for her to process it yet. This really prevented me from being able to enjoy this memoir fully, especially since I have read some really thoughtful and introspective memoirs in the past couple of years.
Check trigger warnings prior to reading.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail