I love Geena Davis. I had only ever seen three of her movies but I knew the second I first saw her in Beetlejuice that she was someone I could look up to. After reading her book (yes another signed one) I am completely certain in my choice of role model. Are you aware of her role in the balancing genders we now see on tv today? Are you aware that she is the reason we are seeing an increase in female roles on the telly? I wasn't. But I am proud of her. Because of her I have the opportunity to be whatever or whoever I want to be. As she says 'if you can see it, be it'- or something along those lines.
Just on the topic of female role models and the ratio of men to women in film, she'd sure be proud of a film I recently saw called Call Jane. What a powerful movie that was. More on that later.
Can I just say how brilliant the title of this book is- Dying of Politeness. Sums up her personality (you will notice a theme) and is so delicate and sort of challenging at the same time. I just really like it.
Now I intended to publish this review a few weeks back after actually finishing the book. But once again my life just got in the way and I've been making office christmas decorations as well as trying to go to the cinema and juggling my work to social life ratio. Long story short I have barely had the time to breathe let alone write a review. But I forgot my lunch break book so I'm taking the opportunity to write my blog posts which are steadily stacking up.
Geena is a genius. There we have it. That sums it up nicely.
She sees something, she wants it, and she gets it. Simple. Why can't we all be like this? Set a goal, achieve it, move onto the next. Instead we let self doubt overrule us, we shouldn't do that anymore.
Geena has lived through a lot, she's had horrible things happen to her that I had no idea of. But she has also lived and loved so fiercely that there is no room to feel sorry for her (although that was an awful thing to happen to a child and I do feel sorry for her), we can only admire her for everything.
It is so, so hard to review or hold judgement on a memoir, this is someone's life not a fiction. Who am I to say I didn't like this part or this bit gets points blah blah blah, this wonderful woman lived everything between these pages, who the hell am I to give my opinion on her life?
But my hobby is books and giving my opinions on them. This book is excellent. Geena is a natural storyteller and with so many fascinating stories of her life to include, this couldn't not be brilliant. I can only be grateful that she chose to share it with us as it has certainly helped inspire me.
I loved the stories she shared of her family, I could feel the love she has from them radiating from her words. I appreciated the insight into her love life as to be honest it isn't my business, but it shows love is completely fluid. I appreciated more the insight into her career, how she wanted to be something and then was, and inventing her own job at a shop, I really loved that.
More so, I cannot say enough how everyone should have Geena Davis as a role model. She is funny, kind, good natured, and entirely inspiring. I want to be her friend, and I feel as if I am as this book feels like we are having a chat over afternoon tea. Swapping stories and learning. *chefs kiss*
My favourite thing about this whole masterpiece is the insight of her movies and how each character helped define her and inspire her. Character growth stories are a love of mine and when it falls into real people growth I am happy as sometimes real life can be like the movies- in a really good way. I liked having a glimpse into the world the younger version of me wanted to be a part of, and I liked that I got to live through Geena for a second, and I saw how things inspired her and how she decided to take up a niche hobby and excel, and then stick up for us (the female gender) and make it clear that we are worth something too. If a man can do it so can we, peoples is peoples my friend.
As I said above and possibly even in the Tom Felton post, it is so hard to put a score on these types of books, but for my personal opinion this book is a 9/10. I have challenged myself to be more confident because of Geena, I want to be seen and the only way that will happen is if I make it happen.
Thank you Geena.
I PROMISE I will try to be more present. I know I keep saying this but I have a whole new year new me self care scheme coming up as my resolution and this is part of my self care regime (indulging in hobbies I care about). I'm going to bash out my backlog of posts and then do it properly come January. Sorry peeps, you are in for a wild ride over the next 2 days or so...
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