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.

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