Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Finding Me: A Memoir by Viola Davis

204 reviews

xereads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

This is in my list as top 3 memoirs okay! Anyone brave enough to share their story I applaud but it definitely hits different when it’s someone you’ve enjoyed watching. Viola’s story is so moving and of course I was rooting for her as I read even though I know of her successes. As a social worker and former school social worker my heart BROKE for her early education experiences and her family. But I’m so glad my book club selected this book because it allowed me to explore so much (my post it’s are many). Her relationship with her sisters brought me so much joy. And I loved loved loved her and Julius’s story; I was absolutely grinning and touching my heart as I read about their relationship. I can’t wait to explore the artists that inspired Viola and her earlier works (I kept a list lol). I think anyone could take away so much from her story and I’ll recommending it from now on!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Incest and Rape

erinreadsbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.25

A harrowing and enlightening telling of Viola Davis’ childhood and career so far as narrated by herself. This memoir is emotional but level-headed and Viola Davis speaks with a sort of clarity and intellectualism that I doubt many people have while viewing their own lives. I am in awe of her—I was already in awe of her talent and now I am also in awe of her as a human. 

Read if you like powerful memoirs and stories of battling through life, and especially if you like memoir audiobooks performed by the author themselves. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism

Moderate: Addiction, Infertility, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, Abortion, and Death of parent

Minor: Cancer, Drug abuse, Incest, Racial slurs, and Suicidal thoughts

book_reader_lover's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

5.0

Holy Moly!  To say Viola Davis had a hard life growing up is such an understatement! From poverty, sexual abuse, and growing up with an alcoholic father, which I know personally is very hard, bullying and being ashamed to becoming a wonderful actress, she overcame a lot. Very few times did I laugh when listening to this memoir.  That was when she talked about her mom protecting them from Bull Frogs Eyes kids. Most of the time, I was stunned or had tears in my eyes.  I saw myself,  other than the famous and being a star or being black, in her story.  It is very moving and powerful.   She finally came to love herself and accept herself when she got the role of Annalease Lee on 'How To Get Away With Murder'.  Highly recommend if you enjoy memoirs.

😊Happy Reading 😊

#libbyapp #carlislepubliclibrary #lonokecountylibrarysystem #audiobook #violadavis #findingme #readaway2024 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, and Racial slurs

Minor: Cancer, Infertility, Slavery, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury

shnez's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment

ddrosche's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cancer, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Death of parent, and Alcohol

teryn's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, and Racism

kathleentcarroll's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

Viola Davis has such a unique but universally relevant story and listening to her tell it was such an incredible experience. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Abortion, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

whosbradpitt's review against another edition

dark inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

I had no reason to pick this up other than I loved Viola Davis in How to Get Away with Murder and a celebrity memoir can be fun. While I wouldn't describe this as fun in the slightest, it is moving and compelling. Davis lived an incredibly hard life and expresses compassion for those who lived it with her, including some who contributed to her resulting trauma. Heed the content warnings - I likely missed some - but it's worth the read, and as a bonus for the audiobook, she narrates it herself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racism, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Cancer, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Abortion, and Death of parent

lknittel1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

5.0

I loved learning more about my favorite actress and national treasure.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction and Physical abuse