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A review by chrissie_whitley
Troublemaker: Surviving Hollywood and Scientology by Rebecca Paley, Leah Remini
5.0
Leah Remini opens up so much despite the fact that I can assume she doesn't like appearing vulnerable or welcome to censure. I can only imagine solely bringing this book together must've been an exhausting and emotionally draining process...never mind how exhausting and draining were the reasons for writing it. I hope this was a cathartic experience for her; she deserves that much. She's a strong woman, and it shows. If I were her friend, I'd tell her how proud I am of her. Proud of forcing herself through a hard decision. Proud of revealing so much of herself and her families' lives in order to brace against the torrent that would surely be unleashed in response to direct criticism of her former church.
Remini lays out her life à la [b:David Copperfield|58696|David Copperfield|Charles Dickens|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461452762s/58696.jpg|4711940]—she begins at the beginning, taking you up to the point of publication, revealing her transgressions paired with that self-deprecating humor and sharp tongue. The expression no holds barred fits well here, if not in the way of being an understatement, and possibly where other celebrities have felt gossipy or drop some names pseudo-casually, I honestly could tell that she was doing neither, and instead was just relaying the events from her point-of-view. So carefully and thoughtfully laid out, like a meticulously constructed investigation—everything to ensure that the reader understands, as best as possible, how she could've remained with such a troubled organization for so long.
As fas as "read by the author"—you win some of those as the listener and you don't win others. With this particular autobiography, it's a clear winner. Remini read this perfectly. She spoke in her own voice with ease, while also reading explanations for the inner workings of the organization. When she gave dialogue, she did so as a practiced actor would. When she read a more lengthy narrative, she kept it casual and appropriately conversational without getting too loose and wild (as some celebs do). She walked the delicate balance of telling her own story so successfully, that I'd recommend this audiobook to anyone over the written book. And, if anyone has this one on their radar, but they've held off—I'd say: go for it. I loved every minute of this memoir.
Remini lays out her life à la [b:David Copperfield|58696|David Copperfield|Charles Dickens|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1461452762s/58696.jpg|4711940]—she begins at the beginning, taking you up to the point of publication, revealing her transgressions paired with that self-deprecating humor and sharp tongue. The expression no holds barred fits well here, if not in the way of being an understatement, and possibly where other celebrities have felt gossipy or drop some names pseudo-casually, I honestly could tell that she was doing neither, and instead was just relaying the events from her point-of-view. So carefully and thoughtfully laid out, like a meticulously constructed investigation—everything to ensure that the reader understands, as best as possible, how she could've remained with such a troubled organization for so long.
As fas as "read by the author"—you win some of those as the listener and you don't win others. With this particular autobiography, it's a clear winner. Remini read this perfectly. She spoke in her own voice with ease, while also reading explanations for the inner workings of the organization. When she gave dialogue, she did so as a practiced actor would. When she read a more lengthy narrative, she kept it casual and appropriately conversational without getting too loose and wild (as some celebs do). She walked the delicate balance of telling her own story so successfully, that I'd recommend this audiobook to anyone over the written book. And, if anyone has this one on their radar, but they've held off—I'd say: go for it. I loved every minute of this memoir.