By Carmen J.

As a general rule, I don’t enjoy audiobooks. Call me Lady Old School, but I prefer the tactile ritual of turning the pages of a book. Not to mention, my thoughts tend to drift and instead of being engrossed by the audiobook of, say, The Hate U Give, I’m idly thinking about the film version or the name of the actress playing the lead and so on. However, I made an important, no regrets decision to listen to Finding Me by Viola Davis.

I’m often drawn to the real-life stories of powerful women, especially those who have battled obstacles in life and not only weathered those storms but prevailed. I knew very little about Davis’ life, with the exception of her award-worthy and, often times, award-winning turns in films such as Doubt, The Help, and Fences. She’s been through some major stuff. Born in South Carolina and raised in Central Falls, Rhode Island, Davis grew up in poverty, wet the bed until age 14, and experienced taunts from classmates for being Black and smelling like urine. Raised by an alcoholic father who abused her mother for years, Davis took on maternal duties in caring for her younger siblings, in particular her youngest sister Danielle.

Readers will be entranced by Davis’ audiobook, which is narrated by the author herself. Davis’ rich and soothing voice transforms from her own to the various family members or characters in her life; the narration is what I would imagine captivated audiences during the Golden Age of Radio. Her voice draws laughs; her voice haunts and inspires, in equal measure.

Davis shares her journey to Hollywood after college (including Juilliard), marriage, and motherhood. In Finding Me, you will find tales both heart-breaking and motivating of an actor grateful for her place in life.

You can borrow Finding Me by Viola Davis as a print book, e-book, audiobook on CD, and an e-audiobook.

Carmen J. is a teen instructor at HCLS East Columbia Branch. Among her favorite things are great books, all things 80s, shamelessly watching The Bachelor, gardening, and drinking anything that tastes like coffee.

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