Review: Welcome to My World, Johnny Weir

Title: Welcome to My World

Author: Johnny Weir

Hardcover: 272 Pages
Publisher: Gallery
Release Date: 1/11/11
ISBN: 978-1451610284

Description:

In a memoir as candid and unconventional as Johnny Weir himself, the three-time U.S. National Champion figure skater who electrified the 2010 Winter Olympics shares his glamorous, gritty, heartbreaking, hopeful, and just plain fabulous life story. How does a boy from rural Pennsylvania become an all-American original style icon on the ice and off, adored by fans around the world, and hailed as “The Lady Gaga of skating” (Salon.com)? The answers are here, in his invigorating and thoroughly entertaining chronicle of the emergence of his natural talents for skating and horseback riding; the physically and emotionally grinding path to becoming a champion; a family who sacrificed everything to support his passions; an ability to rise again after the most devastating defeats and never look back; an appreciation of style (from his mom) and self-discipline (that would be from his dad); and a fearless confidence to say whatever’s on his mind.

Because when you’re Johnny Weir, you don’t worry about what other people think. You let everyone else worry about that for you.

Welcome to his world.

My Review:

I have to admit that yes, I am one of Johnny's Angels.   What is a Johnny's Angel, his fans of course.  Rather if it is his skating or his TV show, I have always been a huge fan of Johnny's.  I love his personality, who he is without pretending and conforming to what he "should" be.  

I was ecstatic when I found his book at the local Library and I have to admit I was the first one to check it out.  With that being said, I was absolutely shocked when I read his book.  If anyone watches his show, you would know that he and the skating federation do not have a wonderful relationship.  I was a shamed of how they treated Johnny because he is different, because he is who he is.  Yes, Johnny can be a diva but who doesn't have those moments, in my opinion, his diva moments are far better than hockey fights, and other player meltdowns. 

Welcome to My World, starts when Johnny was a child and showed how his parents sacrificed for him.  It showed his struggles and his growth not only as a man but as a skater as well.  I'm going to end this review with one of my favorite passages from this book.

"Putting people in boxes--whether the label is lesbian, gay, nerd, or freak---is just phony.  In our society, too many people box up their personalities, stowing away aspects of themselves that don't fit in the confining shape.  In that sense, I wish people would come out, to live freely and openly.  I wear my heart on my sleeve.  Whether it's with my mother, best friend, or lover, I give everything that I am.  To me, gay and straight is only sex.  Love is completely without boundaries."

My Rating: