Finding Me

I love this book for its stark, raw depiction of Viola Davis’s ascent to stardom. Her narration of the audiobook adds a poignant and often wrenching dimension to growing up in abject poverty, overt racism, and fear at the hands of a terrorizing and abusive father.

I was further compelled by her description of therapy in later life, where she struggled against the demons of her past, often in the form of her inner child, battered and belligerent, lacking any confidence to become the stellar human being and actress she was meant to become. Davis’s voice and courage left me… show more.

This gripping story shows you the true power of perseverance and how stories of pain can end with us.

It is hope bottled up in a book that helps us to understand how the stories that we come from don’t have to be the same stories that come from us. Viola Davis will leave you feeling like you had an intimate conversation with a longtime friend and now you understand her with greater depth and deeper compassion.

The language she uses to tell her story will tug at your heart, perhaps because of the beautiful prose, or maybe because for… show more.

If I could give this book six stars, I would.

Viola Davis's childhood is something a fiction writer wouldn't or couldn't create. It would seem too made up and cruel. It is inspiring to see how she was able to grow and learn from such trauma and be so successful, which is the epitome of resilience and grit. I opted for the audio version read by the author, and it did not disappoint.

Viola Davis is one of my favorite actresses. Her rise from the first time I saw her over 20 years ago as a young actress in the army to now being one of the few EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony) winners in the world has been extraordinarily pleasing to my soul. I love that she has never tried to hide who she is or where she came from, and she doesn’t allow her past to define her present or future.

This book is a biography of Viola’s life, and it is brutal and beautiful. She spares no one – not… show more.

To come from where Viola came and to be where she is now is so inspirational. From a snotty-nosed kid to a superstar is quite the leap. Filled with self-doubt for much of her career Viola Davis persevered and won. Despite the racist views of her, there was no denying her great talent. Viola showed me the value of believing in yourself no matter how small that initial kernel.

This book inspired me so many times. I sat down with my therapist and re-told, very poorly, about Viola’s story of sitting down with Will Smith and him asking her “Who are you?” I must admit, I was with Viola…that seemed like a weird question. But Will explained he will always be that 15-year-old heartbroken boy. I sat with that…who am I? I’m still convinced that I am the boy-crazed girl that didn’t allow myself to laugh or smile. Viola’s book is cathartic in the way that it gave me a strong feeling of hope. I had to pause a… show more.