Finding Me: An Oprah's Book Club Pick

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I mean Viola had to deal with racist bullying from kids at school and when she was in grade school her teacher told her she would never be anything because she's Black.

Can we all exude a bit more kindness and compassion and freaking assistance when someone is struggling? At the age of forty-seven Viola got one of her best known roles, playing Annalise Keating in the television series 'How to Get Away With Murder. I believe her story probably has potential to be great but I personally could not enjoy it in this casual, overly descriptive narrative format. Paul listened to ‘parts’ - but not all of this book —-(he and I had several conversations—but he missed a lot of poignant parts)….

There was a lack of intentional investment in us little Black girls… There was an expectation of perfectionism without the knowledge of emotional well-being… How do I get to the mountain-top without legs? After getting past the early(nightmare) childhood years —-Viola began her career (so damn interesting of even how she got from A to B), in Central Falls, Rhode Island…. Davis also explores the complexity of the entertainment industry and how so few actually make it to high levels of fame. She has bared her heart to the public to be an example and to let others know it is okay to be yourself, even if that is different from whatever B. This is one of my most anticipated reads, ever, because I’m such a big fan of Viola Davis, and it quickly became one of my favorite memoirs, ever.

The abuse ranged from random old men on the street trying to get a kiss, to men at birthday parties playing catch the girl, to older neighborhood boys who 'babysat', to Viola's brother - whose sexual curiosity crossed the line to penetration of two of his sisters. Every painful memory, every mentor, every friend and foe served as a chisel, a leap pad that has shaped “ME! Viola had me ‘hanging-by-a-tread’ when she took a 4 hour train ride — to audition - to get into Juilliard ….

I enjoyed too her journey of growing up and getting out of that household, to develop into the talented and amazing actress she is today. Career-wise, after Viola got a role in the 1998 HBO movie 'The Pentagon Wars', there was a domino effect, and more television work came along.

It's the story of a scared child geared up in a warrior armor, of a person who climbed her way out of her own personal hell hole with clenched teeth and an impressive amount of talent. When Viola was very small, the Davis's and their three youngest children moved to Central Falls, Rhode Island, where Dan Davis worked as a horse groomer at racetracks. Viola Davis is very open with her mental health journey and the therapy she has worked through to deal with past traumas. The feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you have stage fright or humiliation, that was the shame of living in 128. She tells her extraordinary journey filled with poverty, love, hatred, racism, and achievements in her life in this book.My heart broke listening to the stories Viola shared, including befriending kids who she knew would invite her over after school so that she would be fed at their houses. From the extreme poverty, the intense physical and sexual abuse, and all the way to Hollywood, Viola paints a perfect image to show you and let you understand her life. Overall, recommended to those who are interested in memoirs about difficult families, the lives of those who work in the arts, or Viola Davis fans!