Review – Inside Out by Demi Moore

Posted on January 28, 2024 by Monica @ Hit or Miss Books

The more celebrity memoirs I read, the more I realize just how bad some artists had it growing up. In various cases, it’s the lack of attention, love and respect in their childhoods that makes them crave love and admiration from an audience. Of course, not in all cases, and not for everyone, but there is a pattern I’m starting to see. As someone who is emotionally expressive herself, I can understand the need to unleash feelings of anger, sadness, disappointment, in creative ways, and the need to be seen and acknowledged.

Demi Moore’s upbringing was even worse than I expected. It’s still impressive to see, even after reading hundreds of personal stories, just how far some people can go, and how much they can overcome, with time. Demi’s coming-of-age was at once abrupt and quite tumultuous. She had to grow up quickly after witnessing her mother try to commit suicide, and she had to constantly adapt to new circumstances and environments as her emotionally unstable parents did what they knew best: sabotage themselves, and so their family.

It was quite heartbreaking, and at times triggering, to bear witness to so much suffering and selfishness. I’m happy Demi Moore realized, just as Minka Kelly did in her memoir TELL ME EVERYTHING, that her parents—especially her mom—did love her, even though neither could love her in the way she needed to be love. Neither could see her as she needed to be seen, or care for her the way every child is entitled—yes, entitled, to be taken care of.

Generational trauma is very sad, because you can tell someone, over and over, that they are worth of love; that they are good and beautiful; that they have nothing to be ashamed of or feel guilty about, but in most cases they won’t believe it. They might even think they managed to fool you into seeing them in a good light. It’s frustrating for the person who is trying to help, but just try to picture how heartbreaking it must be for someone to want to believe that they are good and deserving, and not be able to.

I liked this book, but it is quite an info-dump. This happened, and then I felt this way and this other thing happened and then that didn’t happen after all. It was interesting to read, but it would have read even better, and been even more impactful, if Demi had slowed down even more while telling her story, and focused on a few specific events rather than try to cover almost every hurtful/triggering situation she could remember. Still, worth a read.

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Review – Pretty Boys Are Poisonous by Megan Fox

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Monica @ Hit or Miss Books

I hate to say it, but this was “surprisingly” good. I wish I could say I totally saw this book coming, and definitely expected to be delighted by it, but I just didn’t know Megan Fox enough to voice that. I only knew what most of you do: that she’s a sex symbol and a pretty good actor. But I just love it when someone can take you by surprise in the best way possible, and since I’m a reader, book blogger, and librarian, this book is basically my definition of a good surprise.

I definitely got to know Megan Fox better by reading this, so I understand why it’s categorized as memoir in addition to poetry book. I especially learned more about what Megan Fox feels on the inside, more so how she feels about herself and how she felt about the man who was supposed to be a source of safety, comfort and joy to her. Yet, he was anything but that.

It’s easy to assume that someone as beautiful and successful as Megan Fox would value herself highly and never put up with abusive behavior, with being strangled, insulted, stripped of her dignity and self-respect, but that just shows that everyone is fighting a battle that may be invisible to the rest of the world. I applaud Megan Fox for putting this gutsy and impactful collection of poems into the world, and for giving it life by pouring her lingering heartbreaking memoires and possibly post-traumatic stress as well.

I also adored the illustrations, which beautifully conveyed Megan’s soul, her sensuous and elegant nature, with an undertone of sadness, misery, and pain. She put it well when she said that, in the case of the partner she had, it was trauma meeting trauma, and trauma bonds are very powerful and emotional. But she did mention being happier with her new partner, that he treats her so much better, makes her feel more like the woman she is, so I know Megan Fox’s heart is more at peace, and I wish her a great healing journey ahead.

Purchase this book through Amazon using this link so I can buy myself a cookie while I write more reviews 🙂

Review – The Woman in Me by Britney Spears

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Monica @ Hit or Miss Books

I was so excited to get my hands on this book when it came out. I remember going to Wal-Mart and seeing it in the book section for the first time, and seriously considering standing there and getting a head start on the book. But because I was already Wal-Mart-reading Kerry Washington’s memoir, I decided to be loyal to Kerry.

I can’t be the only one who sometimes store-reads books, can I? It’s a great motivation to walk thirty minutes to the store and back, and of course I’ll buy a little something to thank the store for giving me this beautiful opportunity. Haha.

Anyway. This book. This book felt like the kind of story that needed to be published. It needed to get out there and land itself into the hands, minds, and hearts of millions of people. Not just because this is America’s Sweetheart we’re talking about, but because what Britney Spears went through needed to be known, and I could tell reading it that this was very cathartic for the singer to get off her chest.

If you aren’t aware, for thirteen years, Britney Spears’ family – more specifically her father – had almost complete control over her professional life and, in some ways, her personal life as well. From keeping her hard-earned money from her, save for the little allowance she was allowed to have, to basically forcing her to perform shows and controlling her diet, Britney Spears’ family did not have her best interest at heart. On the contrary, her Conservatorship had a detrimental effect on her body, mental health and her emotional growth as a woman.

I was terrified to read about how small her world became after the Conservatorship was put in place, and how stuck she felt during that time. Part of me loved the hell out of Britney for being so courageous as to divulge some of the horrendous things that were done to her, but another part of me felt so anxious and claustrophobic reading about all of these personal details that I couldn’t wait to get to the last chapter.

There’s also a lot of mature introspection from the author, which made her much easier to understand and emphasize with. She’s not only telling, and showing, but also feeling and, at times, sharing her life and thoughts as though from a witness’ standpoint. I could tell she understood that what had happened to her was unacceptable, especially now that she finally got out of that toxic sphere she was in. It’s hard to realize sometimes that the way the people closest to us are treating us is not normal and it’s not okay.

Like all of us, Britney Spears still has a lot to learn, and a lot more power to grow into, but I’m so proud of her, and I’m so excited to see her thrive as a much freer woman. I follow her on Instagram, and it’s lovely to watch her dance again because it makes her happy, not because she has to.

Purchase this book through Amazon using this link so I can buy myself a cookie while I write more reviews 🙂