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Close to the Bone
'How fortunate it is when life alters you without warning.' One of India's first supermodels. Actor. Cancer survivor. Mother of twins through surrogacy. Woman of no fixed address. This is the story of Lisa Ray. An unflinching, deeply moving account of her nomadic existence: her entry into the Indian entertainment industry at sixteen; her relationship with her Bengali father and Polish mother; life on the movie sets and her brush with the Oscars; her battle with eating disorders; being diagnosed with multiple myeloma at thirty-seven; her spiritual quest; lovers and traitors, mentors and dream-makers; and the heartaches and triumphs along the way. It is also about Lisa's quest for love. Funny, charming, and gut-wrenchingly honest all at once, Close to the Bone is Lisa Ray's brave and inspiring story of a life lived on her terms.
412 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2014
69 people are currently reading
541 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Ray
33 books23 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
May 12, 2023
I came across this book a couple of years back and had made a note to read it. It is a well written memoir which has balanced coverage of – her family & early years, career, relationships, pursuit of self-discovery and fight with multiple myeloma. Lisa Ray was a familiar face many years back as a model and later as an actress. ‘Kasoor’ is the only movie of hers I have watched though, and remember that she carried herself well in it. Her ads and the music video ‘Afreen Afreen’ are mostly what I remember her by. I realized there is so much more to her career I had not followed, after reading this book.
The book covers her childhood starting with a brief background of her mixed parentage – her father being a Bengali and her mother Polish. The family having settled in Canada visited India regularly. Lisa’s modelling career took off when she was just 16, being noticed during one of the family’s visits. The cover of Gladrags magazine became popular and more ads such as for Bombay Dyeing followed, making her one of the first supermodels in India. Maureen Wadia was her initial source of support and mentor. Once she was back in Canada, a car accident was to be a sad turning point as her mother was confined to a wheelchair after that. After some time off to cope with this, she returned to continue her work in India. She mentions an incident when she was jogging at Juhu beach and someone alongside her suggested she should enter the movies. She later realized that this was Shekar Kapur, a film director who was getting to be popular at that time.
The music video ‘Afreen Afreen’, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar and composed & sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan came later and was very popular as well. There are more films and ad work to follow. She holds the movie ‘Water’ as her one of her best (I have not yet watched it) considering the depth of the story and the preparation required. She discusses her relationships over the years - Mr X, an influential man in Bombay who was possessive and coercive; one A while she was at acting school in London; Marco in Europe and one Bobcat in Canada all of which run their course. She auditions for a Bond movie, though is not selected. There is a period where the need for increased awareness & self-discovery beckons and she makes a trip to India again – taking courses in Buddhist meditation, yoga & ayurveda. The last 30% of the book covers her fight with Multiple Myeloma, which in her case hits her at the age of 37. After a bone marrow transplant and some new medication, her cancer goes into remission. Though she has a relapse, she comes out of it and is cancer free. She meets Jason Dehni, who is all she had been wanting in a partner and they get married. The afterword includes a note by Jason and also mentions their becoming parents through surrogacy.
This is a better written memoir than most others I have read. It is comprehensive and mature, though too detailed in parts. It is nevertheless scrubbed like almost all memoirs are with almost nothing which can be regarded as a folly. There are sections with deeper thoughts but also some which are too literal – for instance the checklist she draws up for what she wants to see in her partner. The descriptions of her attempts at finding peace and self-discovery are interesting, as it shows her maturity as a person who is on a quest to reach beyond the regular. The descriptions of her experiences could have had greater depth though. For a person who is not a resident of India, her impressions of the country are among the most balanced I have read – pointing out the frustrations, while at the same time explaining her continuing appeal which makes her repeatedly return to visit.
The book could have been crisper, though I found it engrossing throughout. As the story of a person who has lived life on her own terms, it is informative and inspiring.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
The book covers her childhood starting with a brief background of her mixed parentage – her father being a Bengali and her mother Polish. The family having settled in Canada visited India regularly. Lisa’s modelling career took off when she was just 16, being noticed during one of the family’s visits. The cover of Gladrags magazine became popular and more ads such as for Bombay Dyeing followed, making her one of the first supermodels in India. Maureen Wadia was her initial source of support and mentor. Once she was back in Canada, a car accident was to be a sad turning point as her mother was confined to a wheelchair after that. After some time off to cope with this, she returned to continue her work in India. She mentions an incident when she was jogging at Juhu beach and someone alongside her suggested she should enter the movies. She later realized that this was Shekar Kapur, a film director who was getting to be popular at that time.
The music video ‘Afreen Afreen’, with lyrics by Javed Akhtar and composed & sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan came later and was very popular as well. There are more films and ad work to follow. She holds the movie ‘Water’ as her one of her best (I have not yet watched it) considering the depth of the story and the preparation required. She discusses her relationships over the years - Mr X, an influential man in Bombay who was possessive and coercive; one A while she was at acting school in London; Marco in Europe and one Bobcat in Canada all of which run their course. She auditions for a Bond movie, though is not selected. There is a period where the need for increased awareness & self-discovery beckons and she makes a trip to India again – taking courses in Buddhist meditation, yoga & ayurveda. The last 30% of the book covers her fight with Multiple Myeloma, which in her case hits her at the age of 37. After a bone marrow transplant and some new medication, her cancer goes into remission. Though she has a relapse, she comes out of it and is cancer free. She meets Jason Dehni, who is all she had been wanting in a partner and they get married. The afterword includes a note by Jason and also mentions their becoming parents through surrogacy.
This is a better written memoir than most others I have read. It is comprehensive and mature, though too detailed in parts. It is nevertheless scrubbed like almost all memoirs are with almost nothing which can be regarded as a folly. There are sections with deeper thoughts but also some which are too literal – for instance the checklist she draws up for what she wants to see in her partner. The descriptions of her attempts at finding peace and self-discovery are interesting, as it shows her maturity as a person who is on a quest to reach beyond the regular. The descriptions of her experiences could have had greater depth though. For a person who is not a resident of India, her impressions of the country are among the most balanced I have read – pointing out the frustrations, while at the same time explaining her continuing appeal which makes her repeatedly return to visit.
The book could have been crisper, though I found it engrossing throughout. As the story of a person who has lived life on her own terms, it is informative and inspiring.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
July 19, 2022
I had a moment of hyper awareness – the realization that the car was going to hit us, a blunt and obvious ‘Oh really? Now?’ And I was strangely detached from it. In that moment I splintered. Some of me was left behind there by the side of the highway, while the other part needed to outrun everything, all the fierce attachments that caused me pain. I hadn’t yet figured out that life in pieces is grace; you can put it back together the way you want.
This is how Lisa Ray describes what she felt on the day her family’s Honda Civic, with her parents and herself in it, met with a fatal accident that would cause her mother to live the rest of her days as a quadriplegic. And this was the moment in her memoir that I knew that Lisa Ray understands the weight of words and she does not use them lightly. This is why Close to the Bone has become one of my favourite “celebrity” memoirs.
Ray has seen the highest of highs and the lowest of lows: from being the first, most sort after model in India to facing Multiple Myeloma – a form of bone cancer – she plots every single success, failure, joy and suffering. Constantly curious about life, Ray travels through multiple countries, tries many professions, and falls in love with the most unlikely people, all while struggling with a splintered sense of self, a lack of connection, and an eating disorder. I am going to confess that I can’t chronologically place for you everything that happens in her life.
This is why her writing style works so well. Life, much like her book, is messy and it keeps throwing at us all sorts of experiences. We only understand their worth in retrospect. Lisa Ray’s elegant and observant writing style means that we are with her as she is growing up. We are just as confused as her about her experiences. And then, she guides us to the same conclusions she eventually had, so that by the end, we feel like we have lived that life with her.
How is that these memories of abusive love are always there? Circling, circling quietly in our atoms. A reminder of our volcanic layers of human mistakes. And it’s okay. It’s okay to have been through what we experienced. There’s no way to get to where you need to go otherwise…It’s the only way I know. And it’s okay.
I’m about to derail this review to get on my little soapbox for a minute. I tend to read memoirs a lot and have read many this past year or two. The number of times I have read about a woman running out of her house, barefoot, at night, while screaming for help because a man (usually a lover, whom they trusted) is after their life, is ridiculous. I have had multiple women in my own life come to me with such stories. There is something horrifying about reading this story time and again in the memoirs I read. They may have certain variations, but the universality of this experience is telling us something.
We are doing something wrong. Something that we are teaching our men (and perhaps by consequence, our women) about love, tolerance, and strength is not working. I personally know a lot of people who say that we don’t need feminism anymore because everyone is free now. I am willing to fight them on this till the end of time. We need feminism, as intersectional as it can get, and this is a hill I am willing to die on.
But I felt that kind of impotent rage that so many sick people have felt. It really hits you that you are defined by these labels, that institutions marginalize you for a detour that your body has taken for the moment, instead of grasping the magnitude we all carry within.
Close to the Bone is a much-needed work that creates space for the physically and mentally ill. Ray talks about her cancer diagnosis and her eating disorder with so much openness and honesty that it is sometimes hard to read. While being incredibly personal, she also manages to talk about social reform especially in the arena of equality for women in the South Asian context.
The last quarter of the book was slightly harder for me to understand. Lisa Ray is a firm believer in manifestation. Some of things she writes regarding chakras, meditation, and breaking barriers in the mind were harder for me to understand considering I am not there yet in my own mental health journey. Perhaps this part of the book might make more sense to me when I am older, in a different place. That’s the beauty of this book: it says something new every time I open it.
If you are someone who is on their own spiritual journey or even if you are someone who has gone through illness – either in themselves, or in their loved ones – I would recommend this book to you. A few Content Warnings though:
December 23, 2022
2019 has been a good year for me. I took a resolution of reading more non-fiction and I did. I've rated, so far, some of these books 4 stars.
I've been yearning and praying and hoping for a 5 star read in 2019. Lisa Ray's memoir- Close to the Bone is my first 5/5 this year!
Okay. Lisa Ray. Celebrity, actor, supermodel. Cancer survivor. Et cetera. So what else is she going to write about? Here's the thing. There is a LOT more in this book. I picked it up and instantly fell in love with it. This is one of those books which consumes you. I waited for office hours to get over. I hardly slept for 3 days. I skipped gym time. I read while eating!
She writes with a dangerous devil may dare attitude and is completely unapologetic. She doesn't leave out the dirty bits. She has an acerbic sense of humour. I found myself laughing like a madman at so many we-shouldn't-joke-about-this parts. This book also broke my heart. I wept helplessly at 3AM.
Lisa Rani Ray was born in 1972 at Ontario, Canada to an Indian-Bengali father and a Polish mother. Thus begins her journey of being a mixed-race girl who's perpetually trying to find her roots and her identity. A 16 year old Lisa Rani lands up in the Bombay of the 80's. Overnight, she becomes a Gladrags supermodel. Her first contract earned her 1 lakh rupees per month!
She takes not so gentle jibes at Bollywood, fashion and the modelling industry. She calls out at India's obsession with firang, fair-skin girls even back then. In her 20's and some part of her 30's, she remained unlucky in love. Her mantra in life was to travel, without any reservations and no return dates. Her story has all the obvious usual suspects too- Yoga, Osho, Buddhism, Dharamshala, meditation, holistic healing etc. Even Bulimia, Botox and Fabindia kurtas!
And yet, in the larger scheme of things, her narrative skill wins over you.
There would be and there are many celebrities in India who are much more famous but can anyone of them write such a rich and layered book? I don't know!
I read some of the paragraphs again and again. Not only to understand what she felt when she wrote those but also because her writing is beautiful and powerful and it will get to you.
She breaks down for us what she calls her twisted 'Pressure Cooker lifestyle'. Her journey plays out in front of us. From being a 17 year old bulemic young model to being the host of Top Chef Canada, talking about body positivity and food. And then of course the piece da resistance- her fight against multiple myeloma.
Will Lisa Rani fully recover from the cancer? Will she find true love ever? Which country she will settle down at the end? Does she find eternal peace? Forms the rest of the book.
My friends keep telling me. You read these feministic books. Trust me. This book is not even close to being feministic. It's just an honest to God story of Lisa Rani's life and experiences. I could go on and on. Long story short, my rating for this book is 5/5.
I've been yearning and praying and hoping for a 5 star read in 2019. Lisa Ray's memoir- Close to the Bone is my first 5/5 this year!
Okay. Lisa Ray. Celebrity, actor, supermodel. Cancer survivor. Et cetera. So what else is she going to write about? Here's the thing. There is a LOT more in this book. I picked it up and instantly fell in love with it. This is one of those books which consumes you. I waited for office hours to get over. I hardly slept for 3 days. I skipped gym time. I read while eating!
She writes with a dangerous devil may dare attitude and is completely unapologetic. She doesn't leave out the dirty bits. She has an acerbic sense of humour. I found myself laughing like a madman at so many we-shouldn't-joke-about-this parts. This book also broke my heart. I wept helplessly at 3AM.
Lisa Rani Ray was born in 1972 at Ontario, Canada to an Indian-Bengali father and a Polish mother. Thus begins her journey of being a mixed-race girl who's perpetually trying to find her roots and her identity. A 16 year old Lisa Rani lands up in the Bombay of the 80's. Overnight, she becomes a Gladrags supermodel. Her first contract earned her 1 lakh rupees per month!
She takes not so gentle jibes at Bollywood, fashion and the modelling industry. She calls out at India's obsession with firang, fair-skin girls even back then. In her 20's and some part of her 30's, she remained unlucky in love. Her mantra in life was to travel, without any reservations and no return dates. Her story has all the obvious usual suspects too- Yoga, Osho, Buddhism, Dharamshala, meditation, holistic healing etc. Even Bulimia, Botox and Fabindia kurtas!
And yet, in the larger scheme of things, her narrative skill wins over you.
There would be and there are many celebrities in India who are much more famous but can anyone of them write such a rich and layered book? I don't know!
I read some of the paragraphs again and again. Not only to understand what she felt when she wrote those but also because her writing is beautiful and powerful and it will get to you.
She breaks down for us what she calls her twisted 'Pressure Cooker lifestyle'. Her journey plays out in front of us. From being a 17 year old bulemic young model to being the host of Top Chef Canada, talking about body positivity and food. And then of course the piece da resistance- her fight against multiple myeloma.
Will Lisa Rani fully recover from the cancer? Will she find true love ever? Which country she will settle down at the end? Does she find eternal peace? Forms the rest of the book.
My friends keep telling me. You read these feministic books. Trust me. This book is not even close to being feministic. It's just an honest to God story of Lisa Rani's life and experiences. I could go on and on. Long story short, my rating for this book is 5/5.
February 5, 2021
this book was really insightful, and honestly, just emotional but i finished it in one sitting + read some non-fiction that i
actually
enjoyed, so it's honestly a win-win situation ~
July 18, 2019
Live like the lotus flower 🌸
Women like us are built to endure
Grief is a practice. That's the riddle of it. Nothing is ever lost.
There's no place like home... You can always come home. Was everyone's life like then? A tremulous, circular route that brought you back to where you started?
I loved reading this book. This book is an accurate reflection on the life of the author. A leading actress herself, the book gives an account of the glimpses of her life - her battle with eating disorders, a cancer survivor, diagnosis with multiple myeloma at a young age of just 37; her spiritual quest, lovers & traitors, mentors & dream-makers & not to forget the heartaches & triumphs.
The primordial reason behind me liking this book is - the ample amount of Bengali words & phrases used at certain places in the book makes it really delightful to read. Being a Bengali, I could easily connect through the text & the story at hand. This becomes evident from the fact that she's born from Bengali father & Polish mother. It's evident from the line she says - 'My childhood was idyllic but also a strange combination of East & West influences.' The fusion of both of these & her unique qualities with unrelenting abilities leads her to the Oscars as she steps into the movie sets accompanied by the Indian entertainment industry.
The book is very informative. It talks about so many countries & their capitals, the places she visited during her journey. Written in a funny way, gut wrenching, with sheer honesty - altogether it comprises to be a brave & an inspiring story. People think that actors/actresses/celebrities have an easy going life because they earn lot of money. However, the grass always look good on the other side. Only when we live their lives or try to understand the pain behind their success, the price they paid or the sacrifices they've undergone to make it this far. That's when we'll realise that even they're mere humans accountable to numerous problems & succumb to fate. Noone has it easy.
Women like us are built to endure
Grief is a practice. That's the riddle of it. Nothing is ever lost.
There's no place like home... You can always come home. Was everyone's life like then? A tremulous, circular route that brought you back to where you started?
I loved reading this book. This book is an accurate reflection on the life of the author. A leading actress herself, the book gives an account of the glimpses of her life - her battle with eating disorders, a cancer survivor, diagnosis with multiple myeloma at a young age of just 37; her spiritual quest, lovers & traitors, mentors & dream-makers & not to forget the heartaches & triumphs.
The primordial reason behind me liking this book is - the ample amount of Bengali words & phrases used at certain places in the book makes it really delightful to read. Being a Bengali, I could easily connect through the text & the story at hand. This becomes evident from the fact that she's born from Bengali father & Polish mother. It's evident from the line she says - 'My childhood was idyllic but also a strange combination of East & West influences.' The fusion of both of these & her unique qualities with unrelenting abilities leads her to the Oscars as she steps into the movie sets accompanied by the Indian entertainment industry.
The book is very informative. It talks about so many countries & their capitals, the places she visited during her journey. Written in a funny way, gut wrenching, with sheer honesty - altogether it comprises to be a brave & an inspiring story. People think that actors/actresses/celebrities have an easy going life because they earn lot of money. However, the grass always look good on the other side. Only when we live their lives or try to understand the pain behind their success, the price they paid or the sacrifices they've undergone to make it this far. That's when we'll realise that even they're mere humans accountable to numerous problems & succumb to fate. Noone has it easy.
July 25, 2019
My views-
I have always loved her as a model and actress. But after i read her story, i respect her more than before, she is a survivor, a warrior.
The blurb is on point. The cover is catchy. The beautiful diva's journey is to aim for. The journey she had with cancer and they way she fought it is just inspiring.
I have read a lot of memoir's and this is added to my favourite's list.
She has set an example that if you are determined you can overcome anything.
Taking about her as an author, she is incredible. She put her story easily, with an easy language and a crisp narration.
For me, she is a combination of inspiration abd determination.
Overall, a book with a lot to learn and an easy narration.
I have always loved her as a model and actress. But after i read her story, i respect her more than before, she is a survivor, a warrior.
The blurb is on point. The cover is catchy. The beautiful diva's journey is to aim for. The journey she had with cancer and they way she fought it is just inspiring.
I have read a lot of memoir's and this is added to my favourite's list.
She has set an example that if you are determined you can overcome anything.
Taking about her as an author, she is incredible. She put her story easily, with an easy language and a crisp narration.
For me, she is a combination of inspiration abd determination.
Overall, a book with a lot to learn and an easy narration.
June 22, 2019
I just finished reading this book and I am sad that it's over!! It's a life well lived and I am even more intrigued to know what lies ahead....it's an on going journey.
Like Ms. Ray puts it: "Later, in the moonlit whirl of celebration, I found myself thinking about the importance of story telling, about the stories that become anchors of faith, that support us and carry us both when we are lost and when we have found meaning. What do we do in the face of life's biggest upheavals and triumphs but make up stories? It's the way of our nature and it's the way of metamorphosis. Spinning gold out of the dark"
Absolute pleasure to have read this book!!
Like Ms. Ray puts it: "Later, in the moonlit whirl of celebration, I found myself thinking about the importance of story telling, about the stories that become anchors of faith, that support us and carry us both when we are lost and when we have found meaning. What do we do in the face of life's biggest upheavals and triumphs but make up stories? It's the way of our nature and it's the way of metamorphosis. Spinning gold out of the dark"
Absolute pleasure to have read this book!!
April 6, 2020
Memoirs can be tricky. You want them to inspire you but also not alienate you. It may sound cliched when I say that I connected so much with her but that’s what brilliant writing does, it helps you rediscover bits and pieces of your own puzzles, rearranging them is the craft you have to learn by own.
And she’s a fighter who defeated multiple myeloma and survived to work actively in raising awareness about this.
Highly Recommend this book not only for the film and spiritual journeys that Lisa Rani gets on but I connected with her reflexivity of not truly belonging, of being an outsider to a world that you’re passionate about, and then rediscovering yourself through your relationships with your own body, and the family you’re born into and those that you birth. Hats off for a brilliant debut, can’t wait to read your next. 🙏🏻
And she’s a fighter who defeated multiple myeloma and survived to work actively in raising awareness about this.
Highly Recommend this book not only for the film and spiritual journeys that Lisa Rani gets on but I connected with her reflexivity of not truly belonging, of being an outsider to a world that you’re passionate about, and then rediscovering yourself through your relationships with your own body, and the family you’re born into and those that you birth. Hats off for a brilliant debut, can’t wait to read your next. 🙏🏻
June 6, 2020
Close to the Bone... where do I start? What an amazingly written book by a highly intelligent and accomplished woman. Supermodel, actor, author, poet, cancer activist and an all rounder in every sense. This book is a beautiful memoir of a successful, strong, brave and intelligent woman. This book has re-ignited something in my soul and stirred something deep within my heart and made me fall in love with life again, and made me realise how beautiful life is and that it’s all about perspective and positivity. Lisa Ray has been an inspiration to me all my life and I am so grateful that she has written this incredible experience of her life and written this as her memoir. This book is gutsy, raw, inspirational, and a story of a woman who is LOVE! A must read for all. An amazing treat for the soul and relatable to all walks of life. Grab your copies now. ❤️🙏🏽📖📚
May 11, 2021
Beautifully written memoir . So much to learn and know through this autobiography. Haven't read a similar one like this in ages. A must read for every book lover..
Each page and each chapter will fill you with lot of feelings and lots to ponder over.
Must read
Each page and each chapter will fill you with lot of feelings and lots to ponder over.
Must read
June 15, 2019
It's a nice memoir, but it did drag for a few chapters.
June 12, 2022
Am honest story of a life lived on one’s own terms
October 9, 2022
This is amazing biography and a good way to explain Lisa ray
but must be good with some species of masala
waiting for the film.
but must be good with some species of masala
waiting for the film.
May 5, 2020
More beautiful for having been broken ©
Have you ever had the feeling of plunging into the life described in the book? Have you ever felt the warm hand of the Author leading you through pages and even words? Have you ever experienced grief with a smile on your face?
That is not a simple biography, it is more complicated and deep, a memoir, a travelogue, an adventurous story…
I like reading with a pencil in my hand, in Close to the Bone there is so much to underline , to think over, to digest, to perceive …
One more thing that should be noted is the use of words, there is a great palette and variety of them that support the images portrayed.
Additionally, what catches the attention is the division of logically complete parts within the chapters by means of adding the capitals of countries and their slight description enabling the flow of the new part. I must admit it is a very honest book, open-hearted and very-Lisa Ray-like-book, when reading it you have the feeling of presence of the author and you can even imagine her smile or laugh or give a ‘seriously?’ look …
This book is really influential, it makes you think and most importantly act, pay attention to your real wishes and understanding of yourself, do yoga, get rid of some bad habits, decide what’s important and who’s important, realise your fears, even adjust your diet to your pace of life, it teaches you to cherish moments and value life, people, opportunities…
Thank you!
Close to the Bone
Have you ever had the feeling of plunging into the life described in the book? Have you ever felt the warm hand of the Author leading you through pages and even words? Have you ever experienced grief with a smile on your face?
That is not a simple biography, it is more complicated and deep, a memoir, a travelogue, an adventurous story…
I like reading with a pencil in my hand, in Close to the Bone there is so much to underline , to think over, to digest, to perceive …
One more thing that should be noted is the use of words, there is a great palette and variety of them that support the images portrayed.
Additionally, what catches the attention is the division of logically complete parts within the chapters by means of adding the capitals of countries and their slight description enabling the flow of the new part. I must admit it is a very honest book, open-hearted and very-Lisa Ray-like-book, when reading it you have the feeling of presence of the author and you can even imagine her smile or laugh or give a ‘seriously?’ look …
This book is really influential, it makes you think and most importantly act, pay attention to your real wishes and understanding of yourself, do yoga, get rid of some bad habits, decide what’s important and who’s important, realise your fears, even adjust your diet to your pace of life, it teaches you to cherish moments and value life, people, opportunities…
Thank you!
Close to the Bone
July 25, 2019
I do not give five star review very often, because in my mind a 5star book has to be not only entertaining funny and heart wrenching, but it also has to have a powerful message and for lack of better term be life changing. Close to the bone is beautiful memoir with a wonderful message and deserve to be widely read. There are some moments throughout in the book that provide great perspective. I was encouraged by her strength and courage. I found this book both fascinating and Ultimately uplifting. The language of the book is simple. The title and cover of the book is apt to the content and compel you to pick it up.Well written and honest, this is the book that can find a place on any shelf. Highly recommend.
June 2, 2024
A heartfelt and honest account of a journey through India's entertainment industry in the 80's and 90's, and her battle with multiple myeloma - Lisa's story had me rooting for her from the get-go
She has a belief in life and love that comes across very evidently in her words
The same belief drew me to this book when I first learnt about it in her post-launch interviews 4 years ago - and the same belief has kept me engaged while I listened to her narrate it..
That, along with the descriptions of her spiritual quest made this book a memorable experience - an inspiring and brave memoir of a fearless but graceful Gypsy - Lisa 'Rani' Ray :)
She has a belief in life and love that comes across very evidently in her words
The same belief drew me to this book when I first learnt about it in her post-launch interviews 4 years ago - and the same belief has kept me engaged while I listened to her narrate it..
That, along with the descriptions of her spiritual quest made this book a memorable experience - an inspiring and brave memoir of a fearless but graceful Gypsy - Lisa 'Rani' Ray :)
Read
July 10, 2019This is a raw, wise, and juicy account of a life I had no clue about. I knew of Lisa as just a model before reading this. But now I see her as a bonafide writer (her vocabulary and expressions are so rich!), a wild spirit, a grounded humanist, and a beautiful spiritual being. She is as good a writer as beautiful a model. In fact better, if I may say so.
May 28, 2021
#ClosetotheBone (AKA Travelouge of the Soul) by Lisa Rani Ray - A must read!
If one called this book “GOOD”, it would be an “UNDERSTATEMENT”!
#quintessential #phenomenal #magical #incredible #insightful #empowering #inspirational #exquisite…. perhaps? I’m out of vocabulary to describe the same!
I have always admired Lisa Rani Ray as an actor and a supermodel, but when I explored the author side of her, I must confess, I am deeply moved and always wish to be a reader constantly waiting for her next, next and next book! She’s a natural! The flow, the choice of words, brutal honesty in describing her journey from the start to where she’s today, makes a reader deeply feel connected!
It has been one of the most satisfying read in a long time for me and has kept me on the edge!
At no point in the course of reading did I feel a disconnect. I have a lot of take aways from this! Many life lessons, be it being able to follow my instincts, pursuing things that matter the most, getting off the mask to find my true self, valuing life. These are very few of the lot! There are multiple quotes which has moved me deeply and mentioning a few will not justify the impact the book has created on me.
But currently from where I see, this one is an immediate take away for me, considering how I am juggling around with myself on different aspects at this stage of life -
“Without fail follow your highest excitement and everything will fall into place. That and constant change are your friends”
It ain’t just a book with details. It is a blend of emotions, feelings, heart wrenching experiences, inspirational/motivational thoughts, guide to positive thinking etc. wrapped in the form of a book. It kept me connected throughout, with every finer details and experiences penned in a beautiful way. It seems like she’s poured out her mind, heart and soul into it!
A true warrior to have fought the tough phase of MM! Bravery and willingness to overcome the rough patch of life truly makes her a “Cancer Graduate” (as she calls herself).
She is a true inspiration and a motivation for most! She gives hope and shows that life can be beautiful than we think it is!
Personally, it appears to me that, this is going to change me as a person for good and value life like never before.
In addition to all of this, it is an informative book highlighting different countries and capitals, describing varied cultures (as she describes her nomadic life - how coming back home feels from wherever we end up) and their outlook towards life etc. it is always going to be my go to book!
Being a fan of The Beatles myself, mention of it in the book brought a smile to my face!
@LisaRay - Request you to please keep writing and inspiring! Eagerly waiting for the next and many more! Cheers 🥂 ❤️
Indeed - “How fortunate it is, when life alters you without a warning”
If one called this book “GOOD”, it would be an “UNDERSTATEMENT”!
#quintessential #phenomenal #magical #incredible #insightful #empowering #inspirational #exquisite…. perhaps? I’m out of vocabulary to describe the same!
I have always admired Lisa Rani Ray as an actor and a supermodel, but when I explored the author side of her, I must confess, I am deeply moved and always wish to be a reader constantly waiting for her next, next and next book! She’s a natural! The flow, the choice of words, brutal honesty in describing her journey from the start to where she’s today, makes a reader deeply feel connected!
It has been one of the most satisfying read in a long time for me and has kept me on the edge!
At no point in the course of reading did I feel a disconnect. I have a lot of take aways from this! Many life lessons, be it being able to follow my instincts, pursuing things that matter the most, getting off the mask to find my true self, valuing life. These are very few of the lot! There are multiple quotes which has moved me deeply and mentioning a few will not justify the impact the book has created on me.
But currently from where I see, this one is an immediate take away for me, considering how I am juggling around with myself on different aspects at this stage of life -
“Without fail follow your highest excitement and everything will fall into place. That and constant change are your friends”
It ain’t just a book with details. It is a blend of emotions, feelings, heart wrenching experiences, inspirational/motivational thoughts, guide to positive thinking etc. wrapped in the form of a book. It kept me connected throughout, with every finer details and experiences penned in a beautiful way. It seems like she’s poured out her mind, heart and soul into it!
A true warrior to have fought the tough phase of MM! Bravery and willingness to overcome the rough patch of life truly makes her a “Cancer Graduate” (as she calls herself).
She is a true inspiration and a motivation for most! She gives hope and shows that life can be beautiful than we think it is!
Personally, it appears to me that, this is going to change me as a person for good and value life like never before.
In addition to all of this, it is an informative book highlighting different countries and capitals, describing varied cultures (as she describes her nomadic life - how coming back home feels from wherever we end up) and their outlook towards life etc. it is always going to be my go to book!
Being a fan of The Beatles myself, mention of it in the book brought a smile to my face!
@LisaRay - Request you to please keep writing and inspiring! Eagerly waiting for the next and many more! Cheers 🥂 ❤️
Indeed - “How fortunate it is, when life alters you without a warning”
January 17, 2023
Phenomenal... Such an enthralling journey filled with so many ups and downs and how graceful she encounters every single one of them. Never once lost her spirit. If she did she always found her way back to it. Layer by layer like an onion she expressed her self of different dimensions. Gypsy at heart learned the ways of living through her adventures which showed different Lisa at every stage.
November 20, 2019
Alright! I am somebody who in particular doesn't read non-fiction, and to read about somebody's life-why would I even do that to begin with! But when a good friend, who went gaga about this book sent me a copy to read, I pondered why not! Lisa Ray, the Afreen Afreen girl that I knew from my childhood days of monochrome television days, the one who played a feisty lawyer in one of her debut Bollywood movies, someone I would see posters of flashed across the glossy magazines! May be the read would, I wrongly assumed, be a spoiler, a peek into the world of glitz and glamour. And now after having finished the book, I have been for the past half an hour, frantically looking for an email id, a 'contact me' page, so that I could write a note to Lisa, to thank her, to tell her how much I loved the book and how wrong I was to assume what the book would be. 'Close to the Bone' is in essence Lisa's life-it is spoiler to all that she has been, continues to be, her fears, her battles, her happiness, her failures, and her victories!
I know not of a celebrity who more rooted and fearless than Lisa Ray, someone who would blatantly write down not just the rose tinted happy, charming tales but write all about her shortcomings, about what makes her human and not the barbie doll that the media has been projecting for years! She is another person struggling with life, with the daily struggles of life. I found so much in common with her. A person who is always on the run, the wage between a sense of belonging and not belonging, the constant need to be on the move, be impulsive, Lisa Ray is a rebel with the heart of an angel!
Oh how well she writes! The flow of her words, how impeccably she puts her thoughts into words, transporting readers into her world, be it the prairies of Canada, her breezy Bombay/Mumbai apartment, the several shoots, up and down over mountains along with her in her pilgrimage travel, her happiest best, or the worst of her times when her body rebelled against her wits, against everything possible!
I have always liked Lisa and now I adore her, adore her resilience, her patience, her fearlessness, that she has faults too, that she admits them and works on them. And what I take back from this book is everything works out at the end, it always does and that the world has this massive hidden agenda for you, and it will all make sense one day. It definitely will.
Thank you Lisa for sharing your life with us.
I know not of a celebrity who more rooted and fearless than Lisa Ray, someone who would blatantly write down not just the rose tinted happy, charming tales but write all about her shortcomings, about what makes her human and not the barbie doll that the media has been projecting for years! She is another person struggling with life, with the daily struggles of life. I found so much in common with her. A person who is always on the run, the wage between a sense of belonging and not belonging, the constant need to be on the move, be impulsive, Lisa Ray is a rebel with the heart of an angel!
Oh how well she writes! The flow of her words, how impeccably she puts her thoughts into words, transporting readers into her world, be it the prairies of Canada, her breezy Bombay/Mumbai apartment, the several shoots, up and down over mountains along with her in her pilgrimage travel, her happiest best, or the worst of her times when her body rebelled against her wits, against everything possible!
I have always liked Lisa and now I adore her, adore her resilience, her patience, her fearlessness, that she has faults too, that she admits them and works on them. And what I take back from this book is everything works out at the end, it always does and that the world has this massive hidden agenda for you, and it will all make sense one day. It definitely will.
Thank you Lisa for sharing your life with us.
January 16, 2024
Aptly self described as 'travelogue of the soul', Lisa's memoir is passionately penned and makes genuine effort to transport the reader into the journey of her life, as it paces along twists and turns of personal and professional triumphs. Covering nearly 50 years in narrative, from anecdotes of her household prior to her being born & her parent's peculiar love story, to the eventual settled evolution of her own marital life, discovering the joy of companionship on uncompromising self-made terms of adventure & pursuit, the book is fast paced, interesting & indulging on multiple terms. Lisa's rise to near-accidental-fateful break through in Fashion & advertising Indian industry of late 80s & early 90s, and her ability to prose it's anecdotes in Fitzgerald-ish way of racy description of Bombay party scene as she calls it, makes up for the most entertaining segment in the memoir. Her imaginative and aspirational literary style of writing brings color, charisma & craving to the nostalgia of the times & intrigue for the cast of characters. She remains unguarded, uncensored & unapologetic consistently while reflecting on the sequence of events & her own choices for most part of the journey, living upto the tag of the life lived of her own terms. She avoid to create dirt on others wherever it's apt and continues to speak honestly about her lovers, her food disorder battle and her family's complexities, always staying introspective to her own judgements vis a vis on those that were around her. This gives a rich, mature & comfortable air, gained with experience of adventure to the voice of narrator. She uses poetry as a tool to express emotions in multiple places in the book, which is perhaps a sign of rich spectrum of writing that is in her. On her journey of spritual graduation, combined with travel & exploration of different value systems, and a never give up attitude to fight a tough battle with cancer with a fearlessness that is difficult to not admire, her story lands bravely in its pursuit of constant learning curve. She carries a soft lens towards those that are or have been close to her, including a very human observation to her own parents & their lives, always spiritually embracing the circumstances that perhaps shaped her and those around her. The book is a great reading experience for those that are lover of interesting stories, rich prose & is a stunning debut novel in itself, apart from being a great memoir.
August 3, 2019
Being a lifelong learner, I hardly create my reading lists. Instead of me needing to choose books, the chosen books reach me in a magical way. ‘Close to the Bone’ is one such book that captured me. If it has reached you too, I suggest not missing reading it at all.
While the words in golden beautify the book cover, the real gold is hidden inside this memoir of Lisa Rani Ray, a popular name in the world of modeling and cinema. It’s her soulful saga that begins with her heartwarming childhood stories and family incidents. There is a lot interesting to read, from carrying a mixed-race legacy with her to the experiences she gained from her time spent with family, relatives and friends in two different countries, India and Poland, where her father and mother respectively belong to.
Lisa has also wonderfully written an account of her life in Calcutta, Canada, New York and London, among other places, and her professional life that ‘accidentally’ started in Bombay. Her inclination to writing and poetry, practicing yoga and meditation, mural painting, and travel and adventure is all mentioned beautifully. From her inner conflicts, failed relationships, bulimia issue and fears in life to her graduation from the deadly disease of multiple myeloma/cancer, she has very honestly penned it all down.
What most appealed and related to me was the storytelling of her deep spiritual adventures and her quest to understand and achieve a balanced life by believing constantly in her positive thoughts and not in the norms and fears that prevail around one’s choices in life. She has shown the courage to rise above societal tags and bound beliefs to spread awareness about issues close to her heart.
Whether it is about undergoing stem cell treatment or attending red carpet events with her shaved head, Lisa, through her life experiences, teaches the world to shed its inhibitions and find the real ‘self’ to manifest what seems impossible.
Although I found the book slightly dragged by the end, it’s actually a page turner, even if it’s not a fiction book. That’s simply because Lisa’s life is so real, yet unreal; so intuitive and random, yet cosmically planned; and so inner-oriented, yet extremely candid. I strongly recommend the memoir to all.
While the words in golden beautify the book cover, the real gold is hidden inside this memoir of Lisa Rani Ray, a popular name in the world of modeling and cinema. It’s her soulful saga that begins with her heartwarming childhood stories and family incidents. There is a lot interesting to read, from carrying a mixed-race legacy with her to the experiences she gained from her time spent with family, relatives and friends in two different countries, India and Poland, where her father and mother respectively belong to.
Lisa has also wonderfully written an account of her life in Calcutta, Canada, New York and London, among other places, and her professional life that ‘accidentally’ started in Bombay. Her inclination to writing and poetry, practicing yoga and meditation, mural painting, and travel and adventure is all mentioned beautifully. From her inner conflicts, failed relationships, bulimia issue and fears in life to her graduation from the deadly disease of multiple myeloma/cancer, she has very honestly penned it all down.
What most appealed and related to me was the storytelling of her deep spiritual adventures and her quest to understand and achieve a balanced life by believing constantly in her positive thoughts and not in the norms and fears that prevail around one’s choices in life. She has shown the courage to rise above societal tags and bound beliefs to spread awareness about issues close to her heart.
Whether it is about undergoing stem cell treatment or attending red carpet events with her shaved head, Lisa, through her life experiences, teaches the world to shed its inhibitions and find the real ‘self’ to manifest what seems impossible.
Although I found the book slightly dragged by the end, it’s actually a page turner, even if it’s not a fiction book. That’s simply because Lisa’s life is so real, yet unreal; so intuitive and random, yet cosmically planned; and so inner-oriented, yet extremely candid. I strongly recommend the memoir to all.
December 12, 2019
If you are an Indian who grew up in the 90s then you know who Lisa Ray is. One of India’s first supermodels, her pictures were plastered all over from magazines to billboards to TV adverts, a face you just can’t miss. Her early Bombay Dyeing adverts are clear as day in my head. So when she sent me a copy of her autobiography Close to the Bone, I was giddy with excitement.
Reading her story was surreal. Lisa Ray is a really beautiful woman and I have always assumed that the life of a really beautiful woman must be easy, but boy was I wrong.
Lisa has had a turbulent but exciting life. She became a coveted poster girl at 16 and with that kind of stardom comes a glamorous life. She jets off to London and Italy at a moment’s notice, literally sits on her haunches and makes rotis as she practices for her role in Water, meets people from the top rung to the bottom shelf from Bollywood and all of this makes for an interesting read. But at the same time, Lisa has her own host of problems, dealing with her body image issues, coping with her mother’s accident, strained relationships and her illness. Her emotions are so raw that at times I wished I could jump right into the book and protect her.
Lisa’s writing is the best part. She is funny, like make you laugh out loud funny, but also deeply poignant and emotional. Her imagery is rich and vivid, creating in my head visuals of places that she had visited.
I loved Lisa’s story but I felt the novel could have been edited better. At places there was too much unwarranted information and a lot of explanation about subjects like Osho, Sati, Yoga, Makeup, history of places that she was visiting, etc. that I would have just googled otherwise. By the end of it, I was skipping parts to get to the end and as a reader I hate doing that.
Also the novel felt more like a series of interviews stringed together instead of a proper story. She skims through incidents and at some points I felt she could have skipped mentioning that part entirely.
All in all it's a good read and one can read it for the 90s nostalgia and some paragraphs of poignant writing.
Reading her story was surreal. Lisa Ray is a really beautiful woman and I have always assumed that the life of a really beautiful woman must be easy, but boy was I wrong.
Lisa has had a turbulent but exciting life. She became a coveted poster girl at 16 and with that kind of stardom comes a glamorous life. She jets off to London and Italy at a moment’s notice, literally sits on her haunches and makes rotis as she practices for her role in Water, meets people from the top rung to the bottom shelf from Bollywood and all of this makes for an interesting read. But at the same time, Lisa has her own host of problems, dealing with her body image issues, coping with her mother’s accident, strained relationships and her illness. Her emotions are so raw that at times I wished I could jump right into the book and protect her.
Lisa’s writing is the best part. She is funny, like make you laugh out loud funny, but also deeply poignant and emotional. Her imagery is rich and vivid, creating in my head visuals of places that she had visited.
I loved Lisa’s story but I felt the novel could have been edited better. At places there was too much unwarranted information and a lot of explanation about subjects like Osho, Sati, Yoga, Makeup, history of places that she was visiting, etc. that I would have just googled otherwise. By the end of it, I was skipping parts to get to the end and as a reader I hate doing that.
Also the novel felt more like a series of interviews stringed together instead of a proper story. She skims through incidents and at some points I felt she could have skipped mentioning that part entirely.
All in all it's a good read and one can read it for the 90s nostalgia and some paragraphs of poignant writing.
October 2, 2022
Hey guys !!
I started reading this book for a reason and this post is not just a review or a summary but something so close to my heart.
The reason for choosing this book was because my mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and from that day, I have been continuously interacting with the people who have gone through this.. that's how I got Lisa Ray.
Though the book deals with cancer only with a few chapters, it could hold me with its beauty of words and contents . Be it dealing with the societal norms or the impact of her mother's accident on her life ,or the way she was avoiding the msgs her body was sending . From the introvert child trying to escape from the world to the cancer graduate ,from the complicated love and heartbreaks to finding the true love ,I was hooked up with the book as if she was holding my hand and taking me through various chapters of her life .Everything was so beautifully written..She is an incredible author . There were sentences which kind of stopped me and made me reread them, making me say wow with the amazing choice of words and the comparison she does with various things of life .
So original and so beautiful !!
As I flipped through the pages ,I was really worried and had some sort of terror in me
specially at those pages where she speaks more about multiple myeloma.. Some pages made my heart skip a beat bec I have felt all that with my mom..I shared every detail of this book with my mom to give her more strength and to show her, how Lisa fought the disease and now living a happy life . With this book I came to know how impt it is to educate her about cancer and how to give her more power.
And I truly felt my mother has become more confident now, accepting herself gracefully .
And we will overcome this for sure !!
I really didn't want this book to end ..
Lisa should continue writing bec I know she will have a lot more to say on her journey ..
Giving you more strength. We are proud of you for being the fighter and for your continued efforts in raising awareness for Multiple myeloma..
Keep inspiring !!
Indeed a must read !!
Added to my fav list ..
I started reading this book for a reason and this post is not just a review or a summary but something so close to my heart.
The reason for choosing this book was because my mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma and from that day, I have been continuously interacting with the people who have gone through this.. that's how I got Lisa Ray.
Though the book deals with cancer only with a few chapters, it could hold me with its beauty of words and contents . Be it dealing with the societal norms or the impact of her mother's accident on her life ,or the way she was avoiding the msgs her body was sending . From the introvert child trying to escape from the world to the cancer graduate ,from the complicated love and heartbreaks to finding the true love ,I was hooked up with the book as if she was holding my hand and taking me through various chapters of her life .Everything was so beautifully written..She is an incredible author . There were sentences which kind of stopped me and made me reread them, making me say wow with the amazing choice of words and the comparison she does with various things of life .
So original and so beautiful !!
As I flipped through the pages ,I was really worried and had some sort of terror in me
specially at those pages where she speaks more about multiple myeloma.. Some pages made my heart skip a beat bec I have felt all that with my mom..I shared every detail of this book with my mom to give her more strength and to show her, how Lisa fought the disease and now living a happy life . With this book I came to know how impt it is to educate her about cancer and how to give her more power.
And I truly felt my mother has become more confident now, accepting herself gracefully .
And we will overcome this for sure !!
I really didn't want this book to end ..
Lisa should continue writing bec I know she will have a lot more to say on her journey ..
Giving you more strength. We are proud of you for being the fighter and for your continued efforts in raising awareness for Multiple myeloma..
Keep inspiring !!
Indeed a must read !!
Added to my fav list ..
April 5, 2021
Sub: Lisa is the Rani, with a Ray of hope and fight
This book was on my to-read list from a long time, till I got the audible of the same. It is a pretty long audio but it was a great audio to listen.
The book tells a lot of things about Lisa’s life. A lot of her life and her living constitutes into this book, so for some one how adored her this is more than an actress’s fight against Cancer, this is a nice insight into her life. So I recommend reading it as a book on Lisa rather than a struggle against a disease.
Lisa has a mix of cultures, one thing that I really learnt from her story is, a mix of culture is a blessing and a curse at the same time. At times nobody actually accepts you into their own culture when you are descending from multiple cultures which, sadly, is the truth across the world. I liked her parent’s attitude, especially her mothers fighting streek which I believe is inherited to Lisa, and her father’s presence on mind, which teaches how much it matters when we are facing something which is much bigger and tougher than us, a deadly disease. Unfortunately for him, his wife and daughter are hit by bad fate which was painful even for a reader to get through.
She walks through her life events very detailed and I did adore her for some of her decisions and actions at times. She sure has a good attitude towards her life. A few things that anyone can learn, when and where you need to start, stop and move away. Learning is something Lisa has been doing all her life, or what all she mentioned in her book.
I was not a big fan of Lisa but I did like the author in her so much, I understand she wanted to write from her childhood, as mentioned in her book, but she ends up writing one book, on herself, which she did absolutely wonderfully.
I hope she keeps her fight going on, and Cancer need not necessarily kill a person immediately, if one can fight it with hope, courage and support I am sure the life span sure increases, I wish the same for Lisa.
Loved the book.
This book was on my to-read list from a long time, till I got the audible of the same. It is a pretty long audio but it was a great audio to listen.
The book tells a lot of things about Lisa’s life. A lot of her life and her living constitutes into this book, so for some one how adored her this is more than an actress’s fight against Cancer, this is a nice insight into her life. So I recommend reading it as a book on Lisa rather than a struggle against a disease.
Lisa has a mix of cultures, one thing that I really learnt from her story is, a mix of culture is a blessing and a curse at the same time. At times nobody actually accepts you into their own culture when you are descending from multiple cultures which, sadly, is the truth across the world. I liked her parent’s attitude, especially her mothers fighting streek which I believe is inherited to Lisa, and her father’s presence on mind, which teaches how much it matters when we are facing something which is much bigger and tougher than us, a deadly disease. Unfortunately for him, his wife and daughter are hit by bad fate which was painful even for a reader to get through.
She walks through her life events very detailed and I did adore her for some of her decisions and actions at times. She sure has a good attitude towards her life. A few things that anyone can learn, when and where you need to start, stop and move away. Learning is something Lisa has been doing all her life, or what all she mentioned in her book.
I was not a big fan of Lisa but I did like the author in her so much, I understand she wanted to write from her childhood, as mentioned in her book, but she ends up writing one book, on herself, which she did absolutely wonderfully.
I hope she keeps her fight going on, and Cancer need not necessarily kill a person immediately, if one can fight it with hope, courage and support I am sure the life span sure increases, I wish the same for Lisa.
Loved the book.
March 21, 2020
If you are an Indian and born in 90s, you will definitely know who Lisa Ray is. She is India’s first supermodel, an actor and a cancer survivor. I recently attended her book reading and interview session and liked the way she spoke about her autobiography. So I decided to buy it and luckily got a signed copy too. The book shares account of her nomadic existence, modelling and movie career, battle with eating disorders, being diagnosed with cancer at an age of 37 and her spiritual quest.
After reading her autobiography, I got to know the raw, brave and inspiring story of a life lived on her terms. She is a bonafide writer, having such rich expressions. She literally poured her heart out in this book. She is completely unapologetic and writes with a devil-may-care attitude, doesn’t even leaves out the dirty bits. She has a great sense of humour and even in some heart-wrenching bits, she manages to pull it off. I re-read some of the paragraphs, not only because her writing is honest and powerful, but to understand what she felt when she wrote those. The language is simple, with a crisp narration. This inspiring story needs to be read by everyone (even if you are not her fan). Highly recommended.
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After reading her autobiography, I got to know the raw, brave and inspiring story of a life lived on her terms. She is a bonafide writer, having such rich expressions. She literally poured her heart out in this book. She is completely unapologetic and writes with a devil-may-care attitude, doesn’t even leaves out the dirty bits. She has a great sense of humour and even in some heart-wrenching bits, she manages to pull it off. I re-read some of the paragraphs, not only because her writing is honest and powerful, but to understand what she felt when she wrote those. The language is simple, with a crisp narration. This inspiring story needs to be read by everyone (even if you are not her fan). Highly recommended.
For more such reviews.. follow my Instagram page
https://instagram.com/avid_reader_sto...
August 16, 2019
Lisa Ray did a fantastic job with this book. She is an amazing actor and after reading this book I am convinced that she is also a brilliant author. For a debut author, I think the writing and the way of unfolding the story was perfect! The book begins with her explaining about her mixed parents - a Polish mom and a Bengali dad. Since I come from a Bangladeshi refugee family, I could relate with every bit of history she was trying to convey. I have grown up hearing stories about how my grandparents came to India before Independence and how most of my relatives and great- grandparents were murdered as they refused to leave Bangladesh. The first chapter helped me to connect with her more.
The writing was crisp and I honestly enjoyed every page of the book. It gives a deep insight to her life - the opportunities she got, the marriage proposals from high affluent stars and how she started modelling.
It also shows her struggle with body image, something which all the models face somewhere down the line. Her body image issues started from a small age and later on progressed to bulimia.
What I liked mostly about the book is the honest opinion of her about her life and how she gave out raw details of her life - which is courageous as well as bold!
The writing was crisp and I honestly enjoyed every page of the book. It gives a deep insight to her life - the opportunities she got, the marriage proposals from high affluent stars and how she started modelling.
It also shows her struggle with body image, something which all the models face somewhere down the line. Her body image issues started from a small age and later on progressed to bulimia.
What I liked mostly about the book is the honest opinion of her about her life and how she gave out raw details of her life - which is courageous as well as bold!
June 1, 2021
What a book! Awesome and Inspiring too! I'm totally mesmerized and every page is fully loaded with small nuances to understand life much deeper. It includes everything and serves a guideline for survival, somebody going through intense rough patches. Just like the song Rang Rang Mere from her movie Bollywood/Hollywood, Lisa showed so many Rangs (colors) covering all aspects of her life in-detail! It's like 70mm reel movie is going in the mind while reading her Memoir! Most importantly, Lisa's willingness to learn and following her heart instincts is really commendable. I liked her courage to challenge herself and be different, strength to overcome the odds and still believed in achieving what she want by manifesting is really a learning lesson for the entire female fraternity 🙂 Just loved the way, she handled the situation no matter what, that too in a humorous way... Hats off to her spirit! Now, I see to her as a soul instead of a human being incarnated. Her soul Journey is amazing and I wish her all the luck! Lots of blessings and wishes to her and her family 😇🙌 Thank you for bringing out the experiences in a honest way to share with the whole world🙂
December 16, 2021
I did not know who Lisa Ray was when I purchased this book. When I looked her up, I realized that I had seen her quite a bit, I just did not know much about her.
To start, I enjoyed the beginning and the ending of this book. I know, that sounds strange but I, will admit, I skipped parts in the middle. In the beginning, I was very interested in how Lisa described her early years and her heritage. I enjoyed her early modeling and acting career stories a lot and felt like I was learning from her in the way she chooses to live her life. Towards the middle, I got a little bored because it felt like one movie after the other. It picked up my interest again around her cancer diagnosis and her struggles through that. Then her meeting and relationship with her husband, Jason. I also really liked that Jason did the last few pages of the book to talk about his own struggles with Lisa's health and how they were choosing to live their life.
Overall, I enjoyed the majority of this book, which is why I gave it a 4 star.
To start, I enjoyed the beginning and the ending of this book. I know, that sounds strange but I, will admit, I skipped parts in the middle. In the beginning, I was very interested in how Lisa described her early years and her heritage. I enjoyed her early modeling and acting career stories a lot and felt like I was learning from her in the way she chooses to live her life. Towards the middle, I got a little bored because it felt like one movie after the other. It picked up my interest again around her cancer diagnosis and her struggles through that. Then her meeting and relationship with her husband, Jason. I also really liked that Jason did the last few pages of the book to talk about his own struggles with Lisa's health and how they were choosing to live their life.
Overall, I enjoyed the majority of this book, which is why I gave it a 4 star.
May 16, 2021
I’m grinning, I’m sobbing, I’m giggling, I’m laughing out loud. Lisa Ray seems like a butterfly, or a sort of resilient soap bubble. She comes across as a beautiful, transient free-floating particle that appears suddenly, disappears in one place and instantly appears in another. But you can’t stop following her path with your eyes.
Her book, “Close to the Bone’ reflects her spirited life and non-conventional choices.
I loved that the anthropological aspects were cleverly woven into the narrative. The author has been in many places, and right from her childhood, there’s a significant historical backdrop. Bangladesh before the Partition, Poland in transition, Croatia before the Civil War, Bombay after the riots. The backdrops are both relevant and interesting.
I could not put it down. What’s more, I’m really glad I did not, because it’s inspirational, moving and hilarious, all at once.
Stellar.
Her book, “Close to the Bone’ reflects her spirited life and non-conventional choices.
I loved that the anthropological aspects were cleverly woven into the narrative. The author has been in many places, and right from her childhood, there’s a significant historical backdrop. Bangladesh before the Partition, Poland in transition, Croatia before the Civil War, Bombay after the riots. The backdrops are both relevant and interesting.
I could not put it down. What’s more, I’m really glad I did not, because it’s inspirational, moving and hilarious, all at once.
Stellar.
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