Paulina PorizkovaRecensioni

When I posted that I was listening to Paulina’s memoir on Instagram, she responded herself (!) to tell me that she wouldn’t really call it a memoir. And she’s right – it’s a collection of essays that are meditations on grief, beauty and aging. One of the central themes is grief. When her husband of thirty years, Ric Ocasek, lead singer of the Cars, died unexpectedly in 2019, Paulina discovered he’d written her out of his will. At the time of his death, they were separated but still living together. She still considered him her best friend so she was shocked that he left her out of his will. His will stated that it was due to her abandoning him, which she did not understand. A large portion of the book is her reconciling the fact that she is simultaneously grieving Ric while feeling betrayed by him.

She also writes about transitioning from a young model who was valued mainly for her beauty to an older woman who is finding her voice. She’s candid about her struggles with the process.

I was impressed with how well-written this book was. Since she wrote a novel without a ghostwriter in 2007 (which I’d like to read now), I’m assuming she didn’t use a ghostwriter for this book either. She didn’t graduate high school but educated herself by reading a lot when she started modeling at fifteen. She’s not just a pretty face.

No Filter wasn’t what I expected and got a little repetitive at times but I still enjoyed listening to it.

Way, way darker than I expected -- but oddly better, too. I wouldn't call this a beach read, even though it's written by a former supermodel / former America's Next Top Model judge. I love Paulina and thought she seemed bright and cheerful in interviews and on ANTM, but this novel -- although *good*, was a little depressing. Reminded me a little bit of White Oleander, although I *loved* that book and gave it five stars. This is in a similar vein though.

Paulina can spin quite the Bridget Jones as teen model tale...
wonder how much of it is autobiographical½

I enjoyed the first two thirds or so of this novel. The ending was another story however. It felt like the author just stopped, it was so incomplete and empty.

pretty good; a little predictable, but a fun read

This book surprised me. I was totally engrossed in this story and could not put this book down. It is very edgy and sexy and overall an amazing read.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I wasn't expecting much, but Porizkova entertained me throughout. Although this is fiction, I found myself wondering just how much is based upon PP's real life experiences. Funny at times, it's also sad to
'see' what is behind the glamourous world of modeling.½

A surprisingly poignant novel about a young girl starting out in the modeling business, written by one of the first supermodels of the 1980s. The old maxim "write what you know" appears to be true, as Porikova spins a tale that is at once mesmerizing and unsettling. She reveals the Potemkin-village like nature of the modeling business through the eyes of a 15 year old girl, living away from home for the first time. Well worth the read, although it feels slightly clunky at the end.½