Reviews tagging 'Fatphobia'

Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love by Jonathan Van Ness

13 reviews

abelh's review

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emotional hopeful inspiring slow-paced

3.5


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tieflingmom's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

5.0


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pacifickat's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

I'm not sure I could have read a memoir about someone with more different life experiences to my own, but here's to a year of reading broadly! 

The audiobook absolutely made this book work for me as a reader. There were so many jokes and moments that relied on anticipating the correct voice intonation in order to completely land, and it was fun hearing JVN's humor come through in the audio narration. Plus, I would have hopelessly butchered all the Russian pseudonyms in my head.

Lots of trigger warnings could be applied to this book (childhood trauma, sexual content, drug use, self harm, bullying, etc.), but I have rarely heard more accurate or compelling descriptions of addictive behaviors and the self-destructive-yet-all-consuming mental state behind them than here. This felt like an extremely honest and open account of the author's most formative life experiences, and I can't help but admire that. 

I also really appreciated learning a bit about AIDS/HIV stigma, treatments, and current positive prognoses when caught early and managed carefully. This kind of information is truly a public service to get out there in the open.

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minaegg's review

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dark emotional funny hopeful sad fast-paced

4.75

Very vulnerable and heavy read with difficult subject matter. The book is still beautiful and uplifting, with some lovely humor. Jonathan shows that despite experiencing trauma and adversity, we all have the capacity to heal and thrive. Ultimately his story is about learning to love yourself and to forgive yourself, to care for yourself, to know that you matter, always. 

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sarahs_booknook's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

3.25

JVN is lovely and has been through a lot. I finished this feeling like it was a light read even though the topics are heavy.  
The structure is a bit flighty as we move very quickly through things so sometimes i was getting lost. There are however some insightful reflective moments. 
Do be mindful of the tw topics as lots are touched on. 

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cayleeguy's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative sad tense medium-paced

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itstheconnorsbookclub's review

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dark emotional funny informative inspiring sad fast-paced

4.0


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carly_the_librarian's review

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emotional funny inspiring fast-paced

4.0


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belle2008's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring medium-paced

3.75


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stormwise's review against another edition

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emotional funny informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

4.0


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