Finding Me: A Memoir
Written by Viola Davis
Narrated by Viola Davis
5/5
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About this audiobook
Winner of the 2023 Grammy for Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording!
Audie Award Winner for Audiobook of the Year!
Narrated by Viola Davis
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.
Editor's Note
Dedication…
“It’s an eenie, meenie, miny, mo game of luck, relationships, chance, how long you’ve been out there, and sometimes talent,” says Davis when pressed to describe her professional triumphs. While the Oscar and Tony winner remains modest, her emotional memoir chronicling her journey from growing up in a rat-infested apartment to Julliard and beyond is an uplifting story of hard work and dedication.
Viola Davis
VIOLA DAVIS is an internationally acclaimed actress and producer, known for her exceptional performances in television shows like 'How to Get Away with Murder' and movies like 'Fences' and 'The Help.' She is the winner of an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards, and in 2021 she won a Screen Actors Guild award for her role in 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'. In both 2012 and 2017, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Davis is also the founder and CEO of JuVee Productions, an artist driven production company that develops and produces independent film, theater, television, and digital content.
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Reviews for Finding Me
3,192 ratings418 reviews
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Every word was an awakening of self. Thank you for your vulnerability.
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Oh my.... so captivating!I vividly saw every word she spoke! Thank you for sharing your life with us! Bless you!
2 people found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It's Viola Davis
Human touch
I am from India, still felt so related to her story.
I am also an actress and got great and truthful learning lessons on acting.. it's all about finding oneself ?
Paridhi Sharma
India1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Viola’s is a powerful story that leaves you drained but not hopeless. brilliantly read!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Finished today, yes 1 day and done! Love it. Such provocation of thought, inspiration, empathy, and compassion is sparked.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Such a poignant, honest retelling of her life. I couldn’t stop listening to it. Through the tears and triumphs, I was able to walk with her every step of the way.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5So much experience, strength and hope. I love how she speaks so candidly.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Awesome, honest, pure, and lovely. I loved it and finished it in one day!!!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5What a wonderful autobiography of a beautiful soul. I love the way she came through the diversities of life like the firebird myth. I think everyone who wants change in their life for the better can benefit from this book.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5While I enjoyed reading Viola Davis’ store, this book made me sad. Sad that her childhood and family life was so hard. Her life however is a great testimony to be determined to pursue your dreams. We really don’t know what people do to get where they are. There’s a saying that goes, you just see my glory but you don’t know my story. This book is a must read and an encouragement that all things are possible.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely wonderful!! What an exploration into self-discovery. My heart is full for her and have even more respect after learning about her life and story of triumph. Loved every word!
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I enjoyed every bit of listening to Viola's story. I could literally visualize everything she narrated. I would recommend this book for anyone who needs to find him or herself.
Good read!!!1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Book was rather sad, but really enjoyed listening to Viola's story. She a magnificent actress and she wonderful story teller. She really beat the odds.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Best book I’ve ever read ! The narration won a Grammy and it was well deserved.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Two nuggets: You never know what other people are going through or have been through. Be a beacon of hope for somebody. I doesn’t cost you anything to be nice- you might make somebody’s day.
2nd, live your life- that’s what you are here for!
Stay Blessed!1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5It is the most powerful and empowering memoir I have read this year. Absolut magic.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Exquisite, masterful telling by Viola Davis. Absolutely loved this book.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5To listen to Viola in the audio version was such a treat. It was a serious look at today's obstacles for the black actors. Just wonderful!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved it. She is a warrior and I’m soo happy for her..great book and she let us in to her heart space and that’s what I loved the most. ??
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Interesting. Eye opening. Raw. Great read!
Read by the author. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I loved her before but wow, what a powerful beautiful woman.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Masterful. When we live and tell our truth, it can be nothing less than masterful.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Viola, thank you. You’ve shown me how magnificent a human can be.
Honoring your life, many others and mine. Thank you - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The best autobiography I have ever read. I can listen to it again and again.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I have learned so much. Firstly the act of faith, prayers and having specific asks. I’m encouraged that God hears my prayers, His timing and game plan might be different than how we wish but God keeps to His words that when we ask, we receive that our joy may be full. This is such an uplifting read for a little girl like me who was born into a poor household but has been helped, favored and used by God to change status-quo for even the generations to come.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Quite revealing and down to earth. Worth every minute of my time
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Thank you to Viola Davis for sharing this honest glimpse into her life! I feel that I will be forever changed and will approach life differently after reading this memoir.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5SO beautiful... Relateable and deep. Honestly made me look at myself in a different way! Thank you Viola Davis ??
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I love her honesty and how she let us into the world she grew up in. She fought hard to survive and overcome.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Superb! The fact the its Viola who narrated her own book made it so profoundly viseral. I LOVE IT!