And seven months later… it’s the first post for The Fake Book Club! Indecision paralyzed me for awhile, so I just decided to go with one of my favorites so far this year - Finding Me by Viola Davis. It was recommended by Danyelle, who loves cake so I trust her implicitly. She told me that this book probably changed her life, and to listen to the audiobook if I could because Viola reads it. I am going to pass that advice along to you, because listening to the book feels like sitting face to face with Viola, who is telling you the most tragic and beautiful story. It is not a glimpse into her life, but a door flung open. It is so honest and so raw.
There’s a part in the book where she is on set with Will Smith. He asks her, “Who are you?” She says that she is Viola Davis.
He asks her again. She repeats her answer.
He asks again, “Who are you?”
Then he explains how he sees himself. He says he will always be that 15 year old boy whose girlfriend broke up with him.
Viola says: “There I was, a working actress with steady gigs, Broadway credits, multiple industry awards, and a reputation of bringing professionalism and excellence to any project,” she writes, “Hell, Oprah knew who I was. Yet, sitting there conversing with Will Smith, I was still that little, terrified, third-grade Black girl.”
It was one of my favorite moments of her story, the realization that despite the dream-filled life she had created for herself, she was still letting the bullies who tormented her define who she was. She chiseled her way out of her circumstances, but the escape had only been physical. She was still living in her past and in the poverty, the abuse, and the racism that shaped her. But she found that she could re-create her life. And in that discovery, there was love and hope and even forgiveness for the broken things and broken people that surrounded her. Your life is always yours.
It is a book that stays with you, because how could you look away when someone shares their soul? It shows so clearly the dichotomy of human life - the love and hurt, the joy and pain, the hope and despair - in the most extreme circumstances. It leaves you with that unassuming question suspended between the pages - who are you?
The details:
Book: Finding Me by Viola Davis
Genre: Autobiography
Audiobook: Do it
No. of days I think about this in a week: 5/7
Recommended supplies: Tissues, comfort food, headphones if you listen around kids
Can I binge: Yes
*Trigger warning: Lots of heavy things like child abuse, domestic violence, etc.
