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late-in-life lesbians
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late-in-life lesbians
bpd baddies
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anyone who related to "mean girls" by charli xcx
late-in-life lesbians
When the book originally came out, I heard the rave and was weary after reading other celeb memoirs (not in the fact that their stories weren't necessary and worth telling, but because the writing was boring or in need of serious edits). Instead of buying myself a copy, I waited in my local library's queue behind 45 eager readers before eventually giving up. Having finally borrowed a copy from a friend, I'm kicking myself for not having a copy of my own.
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment
Graphic: Addiction, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use
Moderate: Alcoholism, Death, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Vomit, Pregnancy, Pandemic/Epidemic
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: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Abortion
Graphic: Rape
Moderate: Miscarriage
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: Drug abuse, Drug use
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Suicide attempt
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