Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me by Lily Collins Book Review

Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me by Lily Collins Book Review

by | May 30, 2017 | Blog, Health, Home, Reviews, Wellness

Earlier this year, in March, Lily Collins published an autobiographical book on what she calls her deepest unshared secrets.  Collins presents a number of both unique and relatable experiences from her childhood in Unfiltered: No Shame, No Regrets, Just Me.  She encourages readers to follow in suit and open up about their own struggles, quirks, and stories.  The sooner we can do that, the sooner we can live life with a better, more loving version of ourselves.

unfiltered lily collins quote

What I Knew Before Reading Unfiltered:

I have always viewed Lily Collins as the epitome of elegance, class, and free-spirited perfection.  While she certainly is, there is much more about her life and story that I didn’t know.  Just like Anna Kendrick, whose self-written book Scrappy Little Nobody I also reviewed here, Collins is a young Hollywood actress who has made a mark on the millennial generation, to say the least.  Collins’ list of acting gigs is short but I knew she would have something meaningful to say beyond actor life.

I remember first seeing Lily Collins on Nickelodeon (back when Nickelodeon and Disney Channel were the only channels I would watch) reporting on the presidential election of 2008.  From Unfiltered, I’ve learned her journalism interests go much further than that.  As a young girl, she wanted to see others her own age represented in media and writing.  During teen years, she used her skills to report live on TV for Nickeloden and in writing for magazines like Elle Girl UK.  With this in mind, Unfiltered targets an audience of similar age to her.  More on this later.

unfiltered lily collins quote

What I Like About Unfiltered

Unfiltered is inspirational as it starts each chapter with a quote pulled from the chapter’s content.  Each chapter takes on a different topic or lesson.  Put together, they have helped shape Lily Collins into who she is today.  It is not the most original concept for a celebrity-written book but it is full of fun facts about Collins.  She touches on her childhood, life in the UK and LA, and reveals details about the eating disorder that she kept well-hidden all these years.  It means so much to read her thoughts on surviving her most challenging times growing up.

Collins’ book reads like a girl friend or older sister comfortably talking about obstacles that teens and young adults face.  She takes on a mentor-like role to explain the lessons she has learned and the advice she wishes to provide.  She genuinely hopes to touch others with what she has gone through and offer helpful suggestions as well as a glimmer of hope that things get better.  Such moments are conveyed in chapters like My Battle For Perfection or Food As Fuel, Not Punishment.

Who Should Read Unfiltered:

While her book seems most appropriate for teens to young adults, adults beyond her age could still enjoy it.  It is fascinating to read Collins’ stories and recollections about notable moments in her young life–including an “unfiltered” look at her relationship with her dad.  I’m only a few years her junior, so I could relate to some experiences she had growing up.  The ones that I couldn’t relate to still shed light on a new perspective for me.

Celebrity news junkies, movie buffs, fans, or casual observers of Lily Collins could enjoy this book.  I think Unfiltered offers a valuable perspective about someone’s life that may appear picture perfect but isn’t.  Though, there is no pity involved, only empowerment.  A glimpse into Lily Collins’ reality is one worth checking out.

unfiltered lily collins quote

 

Highlights of Scrappy Little Nobody

Highlights of Scrappy Little Nobody

by | Jan 21, 2017 | Blog, Health, Home, Reviews, Wellness

If you’ve been following celebrity news, then you might be aware of Anna Kendrick’s memoir titled Scrappy Little Nobody.  Alternatively, if you do not follow celebrity news then, perhaps, you might be like me and randomly stumble upon the above mentioned book at a local library or book store.

Here’s how it happened: I caught a glimpse of Kendrick’s sly smile from the shelf of the New Arrivals section at my public library.  I read the first page.  It seemed tolerable.  So, I checked out the book thinking that, at the very least, it would be mildly entertaining and make me laugh (at her or with her, who’s to know?).  I really think I must have been desperate for new reading material because I am not a fan of Anna Kendrick.

To my pleasant surprise, Scrappy Little Nobody has got to be one of the most hilarious and enjoyable celebrity-written books I’ve ever read.  That’s not to say that I’ve read many but…well, let’s get to the point.

If you are curious about what you can get out of this book, there is: drama, anecdotes from her youth, awkward adventures in dating, a voyeuristic look into awards shows, musical theater, and what goes into filming a movie, and much, much more!

The unexpected part about this book was that, even though the life Anna Kendrick has lived so far is not the life of the average person, it is still relatable.  She describes her stories and thoughts in a way that make you feel like she is right there in the room with you, having a one-on-one chat.  I’m not saying she’s the nicest person to chat with—(she’s not)—but she does have a unique perspective and insight.

I do not want to give too much away because what’s the fun in reading the book if I do that?  I will, however, state my 5 favorite things about Scrappy Little Nobody:

  1. Anna Kendrick looks much younger than she actually is.

I’m in the same boat so I can empathize!  It is a curse that also brought her a multitude of advantages, particularly in the acting world.

  1. She tells things as she sees them. No holding back.

I have always gotten the impression that Kendrick was a girl with a bratty attitude.  After reading this book, I now know Kendrick is a woman with a bratty attitude.

  1. She knows what it means to rough it.

I’ve got to hand it to her.  Even when fame seemed to be picking up for her, she was still living in a crumb of an apartment with roommates.  It was eye-opening to learn that not everyone from Hollywood lives in a mansion and owns expensive shoes (okay, I’m exaggerating, but the latter does describe her—see book for complementary story).

  1. The woman knows she isn’t “nice” and is completely okay with that.

She does not expect you to like her.  Though, in her defense, there are a number of characteristics that she does value and hope to improve.

  1. The Scrappy Little Nobody has as many talents as she does hang-ups.

I say this in a kind, joking manner because I feel like Kendrick and I are almost, kinda, sorta friends.  I did read her book after all.  She has mega vocal chops and has tried her hand in a number of roles but she has also gone through some challenging times to get there.  So, maybe it’s the rocky climb to the top that has made Anna Kendrick a feisty little squirrel or maybe she is just naturally gifted with those traits.  We may never know….

I learned a lot about Anna Kendrick and have a newfound admiration for her.  That’s not to say I would go up to her if I ever spotted her in public.  Heck no!  I’ll just keep my admiration to myself and here on this blog.

Have you read Scrappy Little Nobody? If not, have I piqued your interest? Let me know in the comments.

Xoxo,

Melanie