#wouldve been nice to get coping mechanisms out of it but whatever im self aware thats the same thing to them

[sfucked]

trauma wouldn't be so bad if I didn't get to see what it could've been

[femalebookworm]

Funny story… I clicked on this newsletter link by mistake and it took me to a gossip site, and the front story was Gisele’s book with some quotes… for whatever reason, I read it and thought nothing of it. A few days later my mom was browsing some magazine and I saw an ad from one of Gisele’s projects and commented on the article I read somewhere not long ago about this said book. Much to my surprise, my mom thought I wanted to read it, and she’s gifted me this book on my birthday this past Nov. 4th. So, here I’m for the first time in forever, back to reading the paperback and in Portuguese (for those unaware, it’s my mother tongue. Which would explain why I fail to write awesome reviews in English for forever now!). So, since it’s paperback you won’t get any screenshots but I’ll try my best to round down what it was talked about... but first: summary:

Gisele Bündchen's journey began in southern Brazil, where she grew up sharing a bedroom with her five sisters and bullied by her classmates. At the age of 14, fate intervened suddenly in Sao Paolo in the form of a modeling scout. Four years later, Gisele's appearance in Alexander McQueen's runway show in London launched her spectacular career as a fashion model, while also putting an end to the "heroin chic" era in fashion. Since then, Gisele has appeared in 600 ad campaigns, over 2000 magazine covers and walked in more than 800 fashion shows for the most influential brands in the world. 

But until now, few people have gotten to know the real Gisele, a woman whose private life stands in dramatic contrast to her public image. In Lessons, a work of deep vulnerability, courage and honesty, Gisele reveals for the first time what she's learned over the past 37 years that has helped her live a meaningful life--a journey that takes readers from a childhood spent barefoot in Brazil, to a internationally successful career, motherhood and marriage to quarterback Tom Brady. (less)

I have read reviews mid-reading and some were emphasizing Tom Brady’s life - honestly, she mentions him a lot, but it’s not his book. It’s hers. Her struggles, her coping mechanisms, her guiding self, etc -, but another reason to jump onto someone else’s review was that I was feeling swamped in the “meditation” mentality (I do meditate, not often, and my process is a lot different from hers. My meditation is something I have been doing since I was little. I am told my eyes go off into the distance and I don’t move at all, and my eyes are always open!), which this book was pushing for a good % of it. Gisele’s meditation has basically made her aware of herself and guided her on every big decision in her life — going nonstop about it became annoying to me.

Gisele started this book in a way that the last paragraph was far more interesting and compelling than her actual introduction. I wanted to read more at the ending than I did on the beginning. But yes, it was a very touching book (her dog’s death, her children birth, her life, her struggles). But the few questions I’ve had while reading it, it’s answers are unknown to me since I have never followed her career very closely. For me, Gisele has always been someone from the south (like my father) who is very tall with nice hair (yeah, that’s Gisele for me since I was old enough to observe the “modeling world”). But I do ask myself what is like for an American to be married to a Brazilian. My mind can’t go past the language barrier for other family members, my mind can’t wrap around many tiny details this woman will never share and the only way to find out is to marry an American dude, preferably one open-minded and non-misogynistic, maybe I should get a dating profile next. 

I don’t know what else to say. It was nice. Took me forever to end it. Took me forever to organize my thoughts on it, and I didn't do a good job at all. I feel conflicted for whatever reason. I’m also blaming this lack of wording and going on circles with my not being a close fan or casual fan of her, my mom just thought we’d have a few thoughts in common and that maybe her journey could shed some light on me. Maybe that’s it, maybe I’m labeling this book as biography self-help, and I hate both genres. But again, it was touching and interesting, but I think a hard follower and stan (hate that word) would’ve enjoyed this book from page 1 to 240! 

Thank you for taking your time reading this review, and see you all in the next book.