Author: Demi Moore
Published: 2019
Genre: Memoir
Grade Level: Adult
-Trigger Warning: Domestic violence, child sexual violence, addiction
-Movie Rating: R for child sexual violence
Audiobook:
Narrated by: Demi Moore
Length: 6hrs 31min
Recommend: Yes, I enjoyed hearing her tell her own story.
Blurb (from goodreads):
For decades, Demi Moore has been synonymous with celebrity. From iconic film roles to high-profile relationships, Moore has never been far from the spotlight—or the headlines.
Even as Demi was becoming the highest paid actress in Hollywood, she was always outrunning her past, just one step ahead of the doubts and insecurities that defined her childhood. Throughout her rise to fame and during some of the most pivotal moments of her life, Demi battled addiction, body image issues, and childhood trauma that would follow her for years—all while juggling a skyrocketing career and at times negative public perception.
As
her success grew, Demi found herself questioning if she belonged in Hollywood,
if she was a good mother, a good actress—and, always, if she was simply good
enough.
In this deeply candid and reflective memoir, Demi pulls back the curtain and opens up about her career and personal life—laying bare her tumultuous relationship with her mother, her marriages, her struggles balancing stardom with raising a family, and her journey toward open heartedness.
Disclaimer: My review of this memoir is not in any way a
reflection upon the author or their life. I am a book reviewer, I review books…
not people.
My Scores:
Writing Style: Good
A lot of times in memoirs, authors are very scatter brained because they’re not sure how to put their entire life down on paper. To Demi Moore’s credit, she kept her work clear and concise, yet genuine. Inside Out was very easy to follow, which is more than I can say for Sally Field’s memoir (In Pieces)…
It’s always interesting to know what’s really going on behind-the-scenes when it comes to celebrities, but I hate when their privacy is pried from them by the paparazzi. That’s why it’s so thrilling when they willingly share their story with the public, because then I can become as big a fangirl as I want with no shame attached.
Characters: Underdeveloped
(I known they’re real people.
I’m referring to them as character’s anyway.)
For obvious reasons, the reader only gets to know Demi Moore, but it’s quite a deep dive. I never would have guessed from her roles on-screen that she would struggle with an inferiority complex (that would rival my own).
Her story is absolutely heart-breaking, but weirdly unifying at the same time. It brings about a kind of reality check; that big stars do not suddenly become immune to trauma. They have to work through it and fight for happiness same as everyone else.
Others who say that she’s blaming everyone else for her problems must have been reading a different book. Demi Moore simply tells her story. She does analyze her actions and mindsets throughout her life, and how she was influenced by those around her, but that is a far cry from just blaming people.
I can respect that she kept the other characters in her life in general terms, but I can’t score the novel any higher.
Plot: Enjoyable
I enjoyed the pacing, she presented her life evenly, all the way through. I honestly feel that she left little to nothing out because what she did revel was quite shocking to me. Even in this day and age, it’s still brave of her share her trauma, addiction, and marital troubles with the world. If I wasn’t a big enough fan after G.I. Jane, I sure am now.
Towards the end she felt a bit redundant, but since she was trying to impress upon the audience her overall message for writing the novel, I can understand why she felt the need to extrapolate.
Overall: Enjoyable
Overall, I’m glad to have read it. It’s a look into what was going on inside Demi Moore’s head as she was acting in some of our favorite movies, as she became a mother, and as she battled with trauma and addition.
It’s a story that was written to give us all the courage to feel like we matter, whether we’re a big star or an average joe.
Goodreads Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
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