This Is Just My Face: Try Not to Stare

Gabourey Sidibe is a really talented writer. She manages to effortlessly move from comical to serious; she manages to be portray the complex people in her life (including herself) as three dimensional people. There are no villains or heroes, even those people who may occasionally do villainous or heroic things. There are just people. There is so much honesty in this book, and it could be really dark, but her sense of humor keeps the darkness from overwhelming. I am a fan.

I picked this up because I love Gabourey Sidibe's Twitter feed, and I thought it might work for some of our teens. Also, the cover is amazing and I love it. It's a great read, with lots of fascinating details about her childhood and jobs before she was an actress, and her voice is incredibly funny and easy to read. The tone reminds me a bit of [a: Mindy Kaling|194416|Mindy Kaling|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1440718587p2/194416.jpg], and it made me immediately want to get my hands on a copy of the audiobook since Sidibe reads it.

I'm not totally sure about bringing it on school visits (she spent a few years working as a phone sex operator which was really interesting to read about but probs not school friendly content), but I do show more think it could be a great choice for teens who are interested in what it's like to go from regular person to movie star or teens who are working through body image stuff. She had bulimia, and I think the way she talks about weight, self care, mental health, family, and bodies is done beautifully and could really be a great resource for teens. show less

Funny, witty, and also tender and insightful. Sidibe wrote a delightful memoir that you should definitely read.

I was a little skeptical of this memoir, coming into it. I mean, Sidibe is younger than me. What life experiences has she had? Turns out, plenty and they are hilarious! And heartbreaking. Sidibe is so honest with her and her family’s story, I was blown away. And she is a talented writer with a strong voice and an even stronger sense of self. I definitely laughed and was definitely moved at times. She is willing to really put herself out there, at the some time interrogating her experiences and your perception of them

Best for: People who like a good memoir.

In a nutshell: Actress / director Gabourey Sidibe share stories from her life, from youth through Precious and beyond.

Line that sticks with me: “I’m struggling to find the healthy balance between food, feelings, and actual hunger while people on social-media sites continue to make fun of me. Meh. Fuck ’em. I’m prettier than they are anyway.”

Why I chose it: I know very little about Ms. Sidibe, and also I love a good memoir.

Review: If you know who Ms. Sidibe is, it’s probably because you saw her in Precious, or you watch her in Empire or American Horror Story. She’s fantastic on Twitter, and seems to have a confidence about her that I dream of having. Her book gives us insight into her show more life, and how she got to where she is now.

A few things stood out to me. One is a bit of a parallel between her life and Anna Kendrik’s in that they both were in movies that were clearly going to be wildly successful and people thought of them as rich and famous when in reality they were still quite broke. Another is how Ms. Sidibe is able to explain, without sounding like an ass, some of the troubles she faces now that she has a successful acting career.

The sections I found to be most interesting, however, were the ones where she talked about her relationships with her family and her attempts to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. The story of her parents’ relationship with each other, her living situation, her attempts to figure out how she could be her healthiest, all let the reader in to knowing this person better. I’ve read some memoirs that seem to linger about an inch below the surface; Ms. Sidibe makes the reader think we’ve gone to the Marianas Trench with her. It’s possible she’s holding back; either way that’s some masterful storytelling.

The book ends a bit abruptly, but near the end, as she talks about why she chose the write the book, I was reminded of how the exercise of autobiographical writing — whether for millions or just yourself — can be illuminating and cathartic. I know some view ‘celebrity’ memoirs as cash grabs or narcissism, and I’m sure some are, but ones like this feel organic and honest, which is what I’m looking for. show less

In her memoir, actor Gabourey Sidibe recounts her New York City childhood (the child of a would-be polygamist Senegalese father and a subway-singer Southern mother), her teenage battles with depression and eating disorders, and her sudden rise to fame for her Oscar-nominated debut movie role in Precious. Parts of This Is Just My Face are a bit too self-consciously slangy, as if Sidibe really wanted the reader to get that she's being conversational with a capital C—but she's honest, funny, and self-aware enough to make the book a quick and engaging read.

One of the few "celebrities" I'd ever want to hang out with in real life. Gabourey's story is told with refreshing honesty, transparency, and (of course) humor. Everyone who ever had a big dream but didn't really know what their dream was until they'd already made the leap should read this book. I got goosebumps when she talked about being on Oprah's show. With her being so young still, I read this more as a "journey to being famous" than a full-fledged "memoir." Hopefully she'll write another book when she's older, like in her 40s or 50s. I'd love to read all the stories she'll have by that age.

5 stars

"How many psychics does it take to convince a sad little girl that she can be much more than the world is telling her she is? None. show more She's got to be able to convince herself to show up for her own life. I still don't see any real value in fame...But fame isn't what gets me out of bed in the morning. It's purpose. I've found my purpose and this is it. I love what I do. I'm grateful to be a two-time college dropout who finally believes in psychics. I'm not recommending it, but I'm not not recommending it." show less

"When you're both looking over the menu and trying to decide what you want and if he orders the same exact item as you, flip the table and run out of there as fast as possible to escape that psychopath. Even if this is a date, you don't need that bullshit in your life. What kind of person sits down at a restaurant with another person and orders the same exact thing? This is a restaurant, homie! There are so many options! if I'm ordering something you want, it's your duty as an AMERICAN to get the second-most-desired item so that we can have both! Are you even serious right now? You think Jay Z and Beyonce go to restaurants and order the same meal?"

This is one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Probably because it speaks to me so much. show more It doesn't speak to me because I can relate...it speaks to me because it's honest. Gabby writes her truth. She shares it with brutal honesty and she recognizes that some people might not get it, but that's okay because it's hers. I appreciate her sharing her life in this way. I also laughed quite a bit, because if you don't know it yet, this girl is dope. show less