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ReviewHarvey Weinstein, a religious cult and #MeToo: Rose McGowan’s disturbing, powerful memoir

Plus, a personal account of depression and one man’s means of managing it

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Rose McGowan at the Los Angeles premiere of Dior & I in April 2015. Picture: Associated Press

Charmaine Chan

Published: 12:15am, 14 Mar 2018Updated: 9:40am, 15 Mar 2018

Brave
by Rose McGowan
HarperOne

3.5/5 stars

In 2015, Rose McGowan received a script with a memo suggesting hopefuls auditioning for a role in this Adam Sandler movie wear a “tank that shows off cleavage (push up bras encouraged)”. She took a photo of the note, posted it on social media, and overnight became a red-carpet activist. The reaction to McGowan’s example of the “infinite indignities suffered in Hollywood by women” encouraged her to kick even harder when she found herself fired by her agent for not keeping Hollywood’s secrets.

McGowan’s memoir recounts worse experiences, including what she says happened in Harvey Weinstein’s hotel suite when she was 23. Strangely, although she has accused him of rape, in her book she refers to him only as “the Monster”. She is similarly name-shy when it comes to an ex, the director Robert Rodriguez, whom she calls “RR” and accuses of “re-traumatising” her by writing her into a rape scene involving a character played by Quentin Tarantino, whom she names in a separate, unpalatable incident.

Brave, which also delves into McGowan’s early years with the Children of God cult, is an unpleasant read (especially since the recent suicide of McGowan’s agent). But that’s its strength.

Lost Connections
by Johann Hari
Bloomsbury

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Plus, a personal account of depression and one man’s means of managing it

Plus, a personal account of depression and one man’s means of managing it