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Tuesday 19 April 2011

Review: All That Is Bitter & Sweet: A Memoir - Ashley Judd

Ashley Judd's perspective on herself - and her famous family, April 5, 2011
By 
K. Corn "reviewer" (midwest, United States)


All That Is Bitter And Sweet: Memoir - Ashley Judd
This is not the first time where Ashley Judd has provided revelations about her early life as well as her difficult road towards independence and individuality.

But this time she has provided additional details, the kind of details that could provide hope and inspiration for others who have suffered difficult and extremely painful bouts of anxiety, depression and/or a lack of passion for work.

Perhaps Judd's greatest courage comes in chronicling the various sexual abuses she endured. As of this writing, her family is reportedly (according to media coverage) unhappy with Ashley's revelations.

But breaking the silence surrounding childhood sexual abuse is an act of courage and every celeb and other person who doesn't flinch or waver from the hard truth can help others cope as well. Even more admirable? Judd transcended her own personal pain to reach out for social justice instead of remaining mired in depression and fear - and instead of feeling powerless for the rest of her life.

Hard for adults to understand, perhaps, but Judd makes clear that children don't automatically understand that sexual predators are being "abusive." Instead, children can feel a range of emotions, from confusion to fear ...or even shame.
 
 
For anyone familiar with the press surrounding the Judd family, it is no secret that there have been tensions, even outright breaks in the family. Unlike Wynonna and Naomi Judd, famed as singers, Ashley opted to become primarily an actress - and then she seemed to fade from the spotlight. "All That is Bitter and Sweet" explains why this happened and how Ashley's feelings affected her decision to veer from acting.

Among other challenges, Judd struggled with depression and a loss of passion for her acting craft - even while she was still strongly in demand. But read about her early abuse and family struggles and it becomes clear that she worked hard to face her painful past and continuing struggles - instead of living in denial and finding it harder and harder to keep up a facade that hid so much.

By coming forward and writing about her own painful past, Judd provides hope for others who have suffered neglect, abuse, depression, and other potentially crippling problems. Judd also reveals her own methods for finding peace, including work with others who need help.She connects intimately with those who have HIV/AIDS. She trys not to be a celeb who stays distant from those she helps. It is also clear that Judd finds solace and help from the people she meets along the way.

It must have been hard for someone like Ashley Judd to reveal so much about herself. Whenever I watched her in movies,I got the sense that she was a deeply private person and some of that reserve came through - and ironically,even strengthened the believability of the characters she played - on screen. But it is far different to play a movie role than it is to strip away the celeb facade and write such an open memoir. 

She has finally found peace within herself & declares her painful past as her greatest asset! On overall, this is a great emotional roller-coaster ride (bitter) memoir with a positive (sweet) that is candid/engaging, a highly recommended book/memoir reading. 

You can grab a copy here and here.

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