Published: April 26, 2022
Pages: 304
Genre(s): Nonfiction, Autobiography-Memoir
In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran from her past until she made a life-changing decision to stop running forever.
This is my story, from a crumbling apartment in Central Falls, Rhode Island, to the stage in New York City, and beyond. This is the path I took to finding my purpose but also my voice in a world that didn’t always see me.
As I wrote Finding Me, my eyes were open to the truth of how our stories are often not given close examination. We are forced to reinvent them to fit into a crazy, competitive, judgmental world. So, I wrote this for anyone running through life untethered, desperate, and clawing their way through murky memories, trying to get to some form of self-love. For anyone who needs reminding that a life worth living can only be born from radical honesty and the courage to shed facades and be . . . you.
Finding Me is a deep reflection, a promise, and a love letter of sorts to self. My hope is that my story will inspire you to light up your own life with creative expression and rediscover who you were before the world put a label on you. - Goodreads
I’ve never been one to read many memoirs or autobiographies of public figures and celebrities because I didn’t feel I could relate to any of them – too busy navigating the struggles of my own life as a common citizen in society. Therefore, I was never really concerned with how these folks made their way to the top and to their millions. As I grew older, I began to understand more that they are only human, just like I am.
I first took notice of Viola Davis in her role in, ‘The Help’ back in 2011. My first impression was that she didn’t look like all the other actors that Hollywood shoves down our throats. I recognized an authentic talent that was set apart from society told me a woman should look like or sound like. As a black girl at the time who didn’t find herself attractive, worthy, or desirable based on society’s standards, Viola Davis became someone I respected and kept my eye on.
I didn’t pick this book up when it first came out in 2022, but I’m glad that I finally got around to reading it because I was not disappointed! The beginning of this book was a horror story! There were moments where I couldn’t continue reading because of triggers brought on by my own trauma. Some of these things Viola went through in her childhood just hit too close to home. The weight of the words I could literally feel in my chest as I navigate my own personal healing journey. To use the word relatable would be an understatement.
From abuse, racism, generational curses, poverty, and all-around lack of self-awareness – Viola laid it all out in this memoir. It’s painful, its raw, it’s her truth – I’m honored that she would share this story in finding herself with the world, with me. I could go on and on about what I grasped and related to within the pages of this book, but that would just lead me to writing my own memoir! I highly recommend it to anyone trying to find themselves, anyone trying to tap into the weight of their self-worth, anyone trying to heal and forgive the transgressions brought on by the ones they love – especially their parents.
No wonder Viola received many, many flowers and accolades for this book, as it’s well deserved!
I rated this book 5/5 stars on Goodreads!
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