tomaind's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in one day. Think of Richard Pryor's raunchy wild stand-up routines and that is exactly the life that Rain and her half siblings were raised in. With all the craziness in her life when she spent time with her father, her mother was not always a nurturing parent either. It is amazing how well adjusted she became as an adult, with the screwed up parents she was raised by. Even through all of Richard's faults, Rain still loved her father and knew he was doing the best he was able to do. She does not down play his faults, but also show his caring side. It was very hard to read of his struggles with MS and how quickly he deteriorated. The book also includes some wonderful pictures of Richard and Rain as she grew up. The pictures of Richard stricken with MS are very sad to see. All in all, this was a loving tribute to her father and the amazing entertainer that he was.
kateleos's review against another edition
3.0
Very slim. On the one hand, I wish it was longer, but on the other hand, it was pretty brutal and a longer story would have been really hard. Rain has been through a lot, at the hands of both her parents, as well as others - there's sexual abuse that's pretty glossed over - and she still seems to be trying to wrap her brain around it a bit.
sammah's review against another edition
4.0
A quick, but interesting, look at the life of Rain Pryor who is the daughter of comedian Richard Pryor. While Rain isn't the best writer I've ever seen, she does write so honestly that I had to give this four stars. She doesn't shy away from the truth in this short little memoir, and that makes me appreciate her. The use of language is incredibly raw and even hurtful, but that's also what makes this so powerful. You can imagine Richard Pryor saying and doing all of the things Rain talks about, and while he will forever be a treasured comedian...he wasn't always necessarily a very good person.
Most comedians have a lot of demons, and Richard Pryor was no different. He struggled with drugs, depression, and then illness later in his life. He entertained a lot of us though, he still does, and it's hard to imagine growing up with someone like that. I feel for Rain, especially since her life with her mother wasn't sunshine and roses either, and while I know she loved her father having to deal with all of that has to have taken a toll on her.
Most comedians have a lot of demons, and Richard Pryor was no different. He struggled with drugs, depression, and then illness later in his life. He entertained a lot of us though, he still does, and it's hard to imagine growing up with someone like that. I feel for Rain, especially since her life with her mother wasn't sunshine and roses either, and while I know she loved her father having to deal with all of that has to have taken a toll on her.
gingerrachelle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
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