Ashley Judd's memoir: ALL THAT IS BITTER AND SWEET

Ashley Judd is an award-winning film and stage actor known for her roles in both box-office hits and art-house gems, and the daughter and sister of country-music royalty. In 2002, drawing on a deep well of empathy, she found her true calling: as a humanitarian and advocate for those suffering in neglected parts of the world.

Asked why she was opting out of a successful career, walking away while she was one of the highest-paid women in Hollywood, Ashley herself could not provide an answer. She simply knew that after her first trip to the notorious brothels, slums, and hospices of southeast Asia, her own life depended on advocating on behalf of the vulnerable. Promising each new sister, "I will never forget you," Ashley began writing extraordinary diaries—on which this memoir is based—expanding her capacity to relate to, and to share with a global audience, stories of survival and resilience.

Along the way, Ashley realized that the coping strategies she had developed to deal with her own emotional pain, stemming from childhood abandonment, were no longer working. Seeking in-patient treatment in 2006 for the grief that had nearly killed her, Ashley found not only her own recovery and an enriched faith but an expanded kit of spiritual tools that energized and advanced her feminist social justice work.

Now, in this deeply moving and unforgettable memoir, Ashley Judd describes her odyssey, as a left-behind lost child attains international prominence as a fiercely dedicated advocate. Her story ranges from anger to forgiveness, isolation to interdependence, depression to activism. In telling it, she resoundingly answers the ineffable question about the relationship between healing oneself and service to others.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• ashley judd
• all that is bitter and sweet
• wynona judd
• naomi judd
• dario franchitti
• faith
• god
• africa
• PSI

[bgsu1993]

Today I picked up Ms. Judd's book while in Barnes and Noble on a whim. I opened the book and started reading about her time in the hospital. I had anticipated reading for only a moment before putting the book back on the shelf. Several minutes later I found a seat in the cafe and continued reading. I not only learned something about Ms. Judd in those pages, but also about myself as I too have battled depression most of my life. I left the store with tears in my eyes... wondering...

[ElleSerif]

Just look for “the fox who is guarding the hen-house” and the rest is very clear. It is sad that Ashley has had so much abuse and neglect in her life as a child, but after losing my daughter to speed and reckless driving, at the hands of an immature Indy car racing fanatic, just before the Honda Grand prix 2005-my tolerance for “Harvard” rhetoric is limited. Since I was born and raised in Cambridge MA and am also very familiar with all that is elite and noble please stand up for the kids.

[ElleSerif]

Ashley Judd is doing a fantastic job of exposing the legitimazing of businesses of childrens exploitation and illegitimate child labor in our civilized world today. This weekend at the Long Beach grand prix in Long beach CA, a trained eye can see how exploitation occurs every day in America.

See the pubclub

As you will see the 2011 Long Beach Grand Prix and the auto-sport Spring break Beach Party is in full form and some of these beautiful girls may pay-

[luckydogla1]

I am in awe and inspired by you humanity, humility and your honesty. We have led very similar lives you and I and what I know for sure is that I didnt have a choice to have the very best childhood but I have a choice to have a very best adulthood and that is the choice I have made. I am at peace with the family I chose and more importantly the family that chose me. Your book is as great of tool as a Pema Chodron session for me, you "get it" this thing called life and the world is a better place

[Victorian9322]

The first memoir I will read voluntarily. :D

[sbubbb]

Love you, Ashley. Go Cats!