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knod78's review
3.0
Definitely 2.5 stars for me.
I had some time to process this book. I did enjoy reading her story and she writes well. The book is easy to read with a flowy essay format. Her story was so interesting from refugee status, model at a very young age, the sexual harassment, meeting Rick Ocasek (whom I love), their marriage, their divorce/separation, his death. I loved her insights.
However, this was another memoir that needed a good editor. She often repeated herself. Every chapter was filled with the same information about his abandonment, the will, standing in the kitchen, the bullying, etc. There didn't seem to be a great organization of the essays with timeline or themes.
And also, my complaint about the book stems from one chapter where she addresses the criticism. I liked that she did it, but she missed the point. Yes, people on the internet are cruel and horrible, but they weren't wrong. Paulina didn't get the fact that you can't compare athletes to models when models were a part of an industry that actively made girls (especially in the 80s/90s) feel like shit about their bodies. They had no confidence, because they weren't as perfect and as skinny as the models. I was skinny, but I didn't have the face. We were often compared to models. Women didn't get jobs, because their were deemed too fat. Women lost husbands to other women who looked more like a model (looking at you Tom Brady) or didn't get a date, because they didn't live up to the model type. There was even a stupid movie with Jack Black who only wanted to date models even though he was not a good looking man himself. It was the stereotypes that reverberated throughout our world making it difficult to be a young women in it. I'm not saying it's her fault at all; I'm just saying she was part of a system and she should own that. She also admits she was arrogant and could be mean sometimes.
So, it's up to you if you want to read it. I follow her on Instagram and I do like the positive stuff she's putting out there for older women. It's just this book wasn't the best book I've read.
I had some time to process this book. I did enjoy reading her story and she writes well. The book is easy to read with a flowy essay format. Her story was so interesting from refugee status, model at a very young age, the sexual harassment, meeting Rick Ocasek (whom I love), their marriage, their divorce/separation, his death. I loved her insights.
However, this was another memoir that needed a good editor. She often repeated herself. Every chapter was filled with the same information about his abandonment, the will, standing in the kitchen, the bullying, etc. There didn't seem to be a great organization of the essays with timeline or themes.
And also, my complaint about the book stems from one chapter where she addresses the criticism. I liked that she did it, but she missed the point. Yes, people on the internet are cruel and horrible, but they weren't wrong. Paulina didn't get the fact that you can't compare athletes to models when models were a part of an industry that actively made girls (especially in the 80s/90s) feel like shit about their bodies. They had no confidence, because they weren't as perfect and as skinny as the models. I was skinny, but I didn't have the face. We were often compared to models. Women didn't get jobs, because their were deemed too fat. Women lost husbands to other women who looked more like a model (looking at you Tom Brady) or didn't get a date, because they didn't live up to the model type. There was even a stupid movie with Jack Black who only wanted to date models even though he was not a good looking man himself. It was the stereotypes that reverberated throughout our world making it difficult to be a young women in it. I'm not saying it's her fault at all; I'm just saying she was part of a system and she should own that. She also admits she was arrogant and could be mean sometimes.
So, it's up to you if you want to read it. I follow her on Instagram and I do like the positive stuff she's putting out there for older women. It's just this book wasn't the best book I've read.
hatrireads's review
1.0
Essays about her life by this super model who has faced her share of challenges from being separated from her parents because of politics in the Czech Republic as a child to being cut out of her husband of thirty years’ will after his tragic death. A lot of the book is about the perils of being beautiful and what beauty means, as well as aging naturally and loss and grief.
mikebarbre's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
melhara's review against another edition
3.5
I didn't know who Paulina Porizkova was until she appeared on the Red Table Talk to promote this book. I really liked her personality and knew that I would be interested in reading her book (particularly the audiobook).
I quite enjoyed the audiobook. I listened at x1.2 speed which seems closer to Porizkova's regular speaking speed. She shared really interesting stories about leaving communist Czechoslovakia for Sweden, her experience in the modeling industry (and the sexual harassment that would occur), and her seemingly amicable separation from her husband and rock star Ric Ocasek which was complicated by his untimely death.
I thought Paulina was a good storyteller. I really enjoyed listening to her stories via audiobook - it was like listening to a friend or family telling me their drama-filled life story in an engaging way and imparting some of their wisdom.
I quite enjoyed the audiobook. I listened at x1.2 speed which seems closer to Porizkova's regular speaking speed. She shared really interesting stories about leaving communist Czechoslovakia for Sweden, her experience in the modeling industry (and the sexual harassment that would occur), and her seemingly amicable separation from her husband and rock star Ric Ocasek which was complicated by his untimely death.
I thought Paulina was a good storyteller. I really enjoyed listening to her stories via audiobook - it was like listening to a friend or family telling me their drama-filled life story in an engaging way and imparting some of their wisdom.
babysoosh410's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
doomtoboggan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.25