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Part of My World: What I've Learned from The Little Mermaid about Love, Faith, and Finding My Voice
Join Disney Legend Jodi Benson on a magical journey from a Midwestern town to the bright lights of Broadway and the recording booth where she brought one of the most beloved Disney princesses of all time to life!
A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she's learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God's call, and chasing your dreams. In Part of My World you'll come alongside Jodi as she
struggles to find her footing in the rehearsal halls of Manhattan;
finds (then loses, then marries) her prince charming;
makes a splash on Broadway;
gives voice to a feisty redheaded mermaid, a blonde bombshell named Barbie, and a Tony-nominated powerhouse named Polly; and
searches for her own personal happily ever after.
Written with warmth, humor, and disarming vulnerability, Part of My World is a captivating glimpse behind the curtain at the making of one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time, and a must-read for Disney fans of all ages.
A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she's learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God's call, and chasing your dreams. In Part of My World you'll come alongside Jodi as she
struggles to find her footing in the rehearsal halls of Manhattan;
finds (then loses, then marries) her prince charming;
makes a splash on Broadway;
gives voice to a feisty redheaded mermaid, a blonde bombshell named Barbie, and a Tony-nominated powerhouse named Polly; and
searches for her own personal happily ever after.
Written with warmth, humor, and disarming vulnerability, Part of My World is a captivating glimpse behind the curtain at the making of one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time, and a must-read for Disney fans of all ages.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 360 reviews
April 18, 2022
I'd like to thank the Publisher and Edelweiss for allowing me a chance to read this book.
My first movie in theaters was Little Mermaid. I remember this because my mother and father took my sister and I to see it and during the battle with Ursula at the end the screen broke and so we never got to see it until it came out on VHS.
I always enjoy books written about time spent on Broadway and Disney, and being a Broadway and Disney fan I had to scoop this up.
I also knew going into this that Jodi is someone who is a proud Christian and me not being one... well, I'm going in expecting alot of talk about God.
I knock off two stars from this because two bits had me a bit uncomfortable and a bit 'wtf'.
1.) When she was dating her husband and he had her meet with religious friends of his, they indicated that she had to fully involve Christ in her life. As they put their hands on her, she started having some kind of experience and got lightheaded and dizzy and they told her that there was evil that was fighting over her and was trying to fight off Christ... what ?
I think what bothered me is that they were not even engaged but here is poor Jodi being forced to commit to a religious acceptance of Christ... then, he ups and bails on her later. Not only once but a couple times throughout the book.
They're still married and have two kids, but an exorcisim over a relationship with God and her boyfriend at the time... ?
2.) She speaks of a niece who was 12 and came down with a rare bone cancer. The girl underwent chemotherapy. They were told that it was gone but in actuality the cancer spread all over. She was talking to (what I think) a religious grief counselor over what happened. And the grief counselor says something along the lines like "maybe God was answering her prayers instead of yours".
Jodi then discusses how cancer has still not become a curable disease and there have been no strides in it.
There was so much to unpack, but as an athiest and for someone to say that to Jodi about the poor girl and that it was right that God 'took her' so to speak, it makes my blood boil.
Also, there has been a lot of strides in the name of curing cancer. A lot more than before. But I honestly can't that someone said to Jodi that it was God's wish that the little girl got cancer and was forced to go through that pain and suffering to die. You can tell Jodi is still hung up over this and won't forget it any time soon.
... Anyway. I really enjoyed the bits that she spoke of when it came to Howard Ashman. Howard Ashman is an amazing guy and we lost him too soon. I am glad that he gave us three Disney projects and revitalized Disney films for the 90's.
All in all, if you are an athiest you might take a tad bit of an offense with the things Jodi was subjected to. It's a cute autobiography and lets you get a glimpse of Jodi more.
My first movie in theaters was Little Mermaid. I remember this because my mother and father took my sister and I to see it and during the battle with Ursula at the end the screen broke and so we never got to see it until it came out on VHS.
I always enjoy books written about time spent on Broadway and Disney, and being a Broadway and Disney fan I had to scoop this up.
I also knew going into this that Jodi is someone who is a proud Christian and me not being one... well, I'm going in expecting alot of talk about God.
I knock off two stars from this because two bits had me a bit uncomfortable and a bit 'wtf'.
1.) When she was dating her husband and he had her meet with religious friends of his, they indicated that she had to fully involve Christ in her life. As they put their hands on her, she started having some kind of experience and got lightheaded and dizzy and they told her that there was evil that was fighting over her and was trying to fight off Christ... what ?
I think what bothered me is that they were not even engaged but here is poor Jodi being forced to commit to a religious acceptance of Christ... then, he ups and bails on her later. Not only once but a couple times throughout the book.
They're still married and have two kids, but an exorcisim over a relationship with God and her boyfriend at the time... ?
2.) She speaks of a niece who was 12 and came down with a rare bone cancer. The girl underwent chemotherapy. They were told that it was gone but in actuality the cancer spread all over. She was talking to (what I think) a religious grief counselor over what happened. And the grief counselor says something along the lines like "maybe God was answering her prayers instead of yours".
Jodi then discusses how cancer has still not become a curable disease and there have been no strides in it.
There was so much to unpack, but as an athiest and for someone to say that to Jodi about the poor girl and that it was right that God 'took her' so to speak, it makes my blood boil.
Also, there has been a lot of strides in the name of curing cancer. A lot more than before. But I honestly can't that someone said to Jodi that it was God's wish that the little girl got cancer and was forced to go through that pain and suffering to die. You can tell Jodi is still hung up over this and won't forget it any time soon.
... Anyway. I really enjoyed the bits that she spoke of when it came to Howard Ashman. Howard Ashman is an amazing guy and we lost him too soon. I am glad that he gave us three Disney projects and revitalized Disney films for the 90's.
All in all, if you are an athiest you might take a tad bit of an offense with the things Jodi was subjected to. It's a cute autobiography and lets you get a glimpse of Jodi more.
August 6, 2026
~𝓟𝓪𝓻𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓜𝔂 𝓦𝓸𝓻𝓵𝓭 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀~
📚NOTE: This is a nonfiction book review, so it’ll be a bit different from my regular reviews. Happy Reading!📚
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
♫ Song Pick: "Part of Your World" by Jodi Benson and Disney.
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
➣ “I think God constantly steers people into our paths to provide much-needed encouragement, to shepherd us through the difficult times, and to help us reach our full potential.” -from Part of My World by Jodi Benson.
➣ I read a good 80% of this book in one afternoon. And I don’t regret a page of it! Jodie Benson seems like such a genuine, fun person, and her sincere faith and love for God and people shone brightly in this biography. It’s awesome that she views her career as a ministry, and I’m so happy there are people like her in the entertainment industry! Plus, the cover is stunning :-)
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
~𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓘𝓯 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮~
➣ Christian nonfiction
➣ Disney Princesses
➣ Celebrity biographies/memoirs
➣ The Little Mermaid
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
★ Final Rating: 5/5 stars!
📚NOTE: This is a nonfiction book review, so it’ll be a bit different from my regular reviews. Happy Reading!📚
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
♫ Song Pick: "Part of Your World" by Jodi Benson and Disney.
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
➣ “I think God constantly steers people into our paths to provide much-needed encouragement, to shepherd us through the difficult times, and to help us reach our full potential.” -from Part of My World by Jodi Benson.
➣ I read a good 80% of this book in one afternoon. And I don’t regret a page of it! Jodie Benson seems like such a genuine, fun person, and her sincere faith and love for God and people shone brightly in this biography. It’s awesome that she views her career as a ministry, and I’m so happy there are people like her in the entertainment industry! Plus, the cover is stunning :-)
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
~𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭 𝓘𝓯 𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓛𝓲𝓴𝓮~
➣ Christian nonfiction
➣ Disney Princesses
➣ Celebrity biographies/memoirs
➣ The Little Mermaid
•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•☾☼☽•:•.•:•.•:•:•:•:•:•:•:•
★ Final Rating: 5/5 stars!
September 24, 2022
This book is so amazing and inspirational! I love Jodi’s story! I love how she always points back to God! There were moments I laughed out loud, moments I had to talk about to whoever was nearby be with was SO GOOD, and moments that brought tears to my eyes! This is such a beautiful and incredible book! I cannot recommend this enough!
Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for giving me this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Truly this is an incredible book and I highly recommend reading it if you love The Little Mermaid, Christian testimonies, emotional, beautiful, and inspiring stories, and musicals!
July 2023 — 2nd read — audiobook
I LOVE the audio book!!! 10/10 recommend! It’s so fun being able to hear Jodi narrate her book! You can feel the emotion and her heart and intent for this book even more with her being able to tell her story. Also, it’s Ariel’s voice!!! How fun is it to have a book narrated by The Little Mermaid herself?
I love Jodi’s heart and her love for God and her family! I love hearing her story and seeing her trust in God throughout her career, life, family and everything!
I HIGHLY recommend listening (and reading) this beautiful book! <333
Thank you NetGalley and Tyndale House Publishers for giving me this eARC! All opinions are my own.
Truly this is an incredible book and I highly recommend reading it if you love The Little Mermaid, Christian testimonies, emotional, beautiful, and inspiring stories, and musicals!
July 2023 — 2nd read — audiobook
I LOVE the audio book!!! 10/10 recommend! It’s so fun being able to hear Jodi narrate her book! You can feel the emotion and her heart and intent for this book even more with her being able to tell her story. Also, it’s Ariel’s voice!!! How fun is it to have a book narrated by The Little Mermaid herself?
I love Jodi’s heart and her love for God and her family! I love hearing her story and seeing her trust in God throughout her career, life, family and everything!
I HIGHLY recommend listening (and reading) this beautiful book! <333
March 12, 2023
I am sitting here, searching for words to convey the brilliance of this amazing autobiography, and they just aren’t coming.
Let me start by saying that if you are hesitant to read autobiographies, I still definitely encourage you to read this one. I, personally, feel that usually an autobiography suffers from one of two horrible problems. Either, A: the writer portrays their life as perfect and free from all sin or mistakes, or B: the author spends a lot of time talking and commiserating about the troubles of their lives, usually throwing people they know under the metaphorical bus. This book did neither!!! Really, it was amazing to read a book that is just so full of real-life experiences and centers around the way that God has crafted her life and orchestrated it.
(It really should be said right off the bat that I’m a huge Little Mermaid fan. I get that from my mom, and I am exceedingly proud of it. I know that some people say that this movie is a bad influence, because it’s about a teenage girl who disobeys her father, and then gets exactly what she wants. To all those who feel this way, I just say this: we are all disobedient children of God who rebel against Him and sell ourselves to the devil. What did He do? He gave Himself in our place, and triumphed over evil, giving us our perfect ending with a rainbow and a happy ending that even beats Disney. So… yeah. For a fantasy, the story's actually pretty true. That’s all I’ve got to say on that. Back to the book.😉)
I really had no idea about this book or Jodi Benson’s life until my good friend, Moriyah, recommended this book (Moriyah, I can't thank you enough!!!😍). I asked my library to get it, and I was so, so grateful that they bought it, because I loved it so much! I definitely would not mind adding this book to my personal collection soon. Until then, however, I’m just going to keep borrowing it from my library, because, OH MY GOODNESS!!! It was just so beautiful. I can’t think of any other words to describe it.
Let me just say that I loved reading about Jodi Benson’s story, and hearing about the process of making The Little Mermaid was just so crazy and mind-blowing!!! Also, I am a movie girl, NOT a Broadway girl, so I had no idea about that process, so it was really interesting to read those chapters. I had no idea how much waiting there was in show business!!! I also thought it was crazy how hard it was to record after being a Broadway singer. It was amazing how Jodi just looked at everything that happened with her auditions (positive or negative) was part of God’s plan, and that it would work together for good. That was just really incredible to see.
I also really enjoyed the way that The Little Mermaid was tied into this book. The chapter titles were hysterical (I got a good laugh over several of them), and the stories in this book definitely had me chuckling. I found myself totally swept away by the storytelling in this book, and I loved how she so clearly said that she was not perfect, and showed her mistakes and how God still brought good from it. I felt that this book was just so honest and so frank. It just felt so… real. It was also pretty clean, while dealing with hard subjects.
I thought it was amazing that she homeschooled her kids! You don’t read that a lot in autobiographies, and I loved seeing it in this one. It was just so amazing, and I just really liked that. As a homeschooler, I like hearing about other people who have homeschooled their children to give them a God-based education. That part was just so incredible, and I loved it!!! It made my homeschooling heart so happy!!!
I found myself sharing so many snippets of this book with my family, but I especially loved all when it was talking about how ‘Part of Your World’ was almost cut from the movie. I mean, talk about shattering my childhood!!! So glad that God had a hand in that, because it would have just changed so much. I love that song more than I can explain, and I am so grateful for it!!!
This book was just so full of great quotes, but one of my favorites was about dreams, and Jodi says: “All we can do is give each one over to God, pray about it, and trust that if it’s part of His plan, it’ll happen.” Isn’t that beautiful??? It’s such a great way to sum up dreams. I also think it’s amazing how she’s used her position with Disney to bring so much happiness, and also share the truth about God and Jesus. It was so beautiful, and I loved it so much!!!
Okay, I’ve rambled and fangirled enough about this book. I definitely encourage you to check out this book and give it a try. I’m definitely going to try and convince my mom to give this one a try, because it was just so great!!! I loved it, and I will definitely be putting this on a re-read list in the not-so-distant future.
I totally forgot about my favorite part of this book. Because, when I opened it up, the foreword… was by Paige O’Hara. My little girl heart was screaming with joy. Wait, Ariel and Belle are Christian friends in real life??? This can’t get any better!!! Belle is my favorite Disney Princess, so that was just so incredible and mind-blowing. (I would seriously love to see a Paige O'Hara autobiography. Just sayin'...) Anyway, the foreword alone made me love this book even more!!! Really, this book was just so good, and I love it.
Let me start by saying that if you are hesitant to read autobiographies, I still definitely encourage you to read this one. I, personally, feel that usually an autobiography suffers from one of two horrible problems. Either, A: the writer portrays their life as perfect and free from all sin or mistakes, or B: the author spends a lot of time talking and commiserating about the troubles of their lives, usually throwing people they know under the metaphorical bus. This book did neither!!! Really, it was amazing to read a book that is just so full of real-life experiences and centers around the way that God has crafted her life and orchestrated it.
(It really should be said right off the bat that I’m a huge Little Mermaid fan. I get that from my mom, and I am exceedingly proud of it. I know that some people say that this movie is a bad influence, because it’s about a teenage girl who disobeys her father, and then gets exactly what she wants. To all those who feel this way, I just say this: we are all disobedient children of God who rebel against Him and sell ourselves to the devil. What did He do? He gave Himself in our place, and triumphed over evil, giving us our perfect ending with a rainbow and a happy ending that even beats Disney. So… yeah. For a fantasy, the story's actually pretty true. That’s all I’ve got to say on that. Back to the book.😉)
I really had no idea about this book or Jodi Benson’s life until my good friend, Moriyah, recommended this book (Moriyah, I can't thank you enough!!!😍). I asked my library to get it, and I was so, so grateful that they bought it, because I loved it so much! I definitely would not mind adding this book to my personal collection soon. Until then, however, I’m just going to keep borrowing it from my library, because, OH MY GOODNESS!!! It was just so beautiful. I can’t think of any other words to describe it.
Let me just say that I loved reading about Jodi Benson’s story, and hearing about the process of making The Little Mermaid was just so crazy and mind-blowing!!! Also, I am a movie girl, NOT a Broadway girl, so I had no idea about that process, so it was really interesting to read those chapters. I had no idea how much waiting there was in show business!!! I also thought it was crazy how hard it was to record after being a Broadway singer. It was amazing how Jodi just looked at everything that happened with her auditions (positive or negative) was part of God’s plan, and that it would work together for good. That was just really incredible to see.
I also really enjoyed the way that The Little Mermaid was tied into this book. The chapter titles were hysterical (I got a good laugh over several of them), and the stories in this book definitely had me chuckling. I found myself totally swept away by the storytelling in this book, and I loved how she so clearly said that she was not perfect, and showed her mistakes and how God still brought good from it. I felt that this book was just so honest and so frank. It just felt so… real. It was also pretty clean, while dealing with hard subjects.
I thought it was amazing that she homeschooled her kids! You don’t read that a lot in autobiographies, and I loved seeing it in this one. It was just so amazing, and I just really liked that. As a homeschooler, I like hearing about other people who have homeschooled their children to give them a God-based education. That part was just so incredible, and I loved it!!! It made my homeschooling heart so happy!!!
I found myself sharing so many snippets of this book with my family, but I especially loved all when it was talking about how ‘Part of Your World’ was almost cut from the movie. I mean, talk about shattering my childhood!!! So glad that God had a hand in that, because it would have just changed so much. I love that song more than I can explain, and I am so grateful for it!!!
This book was just so full of great quotes, but one of my favorites was about dreams, and Jodi says: “All we can do is give each one over to God, pray about it, and trust that if it’s part of His plan, it’ll happen.” Isn’t that beautiful??? It’s such a great way to sum up dreams. I also think it’s amazing how she’s used her position with Disney to bring so much happiness, and also share the truth about God and Jesus. It was so beautiful, and I loved it so much!!!
Okay, I’ve rambled and fangirled enough about this book. I definitely encourage you to check out this book and give it a try. I’m definitely going to try and convince my mom to give this one a try, because it was just so great!!! I loved it, and I will definitely be putting this on a re-read list in the not-so-distant future.
I totally forgot about my favorite part of this book. Because, when I opened it up, the foreword… was by Paige O’Hara. My little girl heart was screaming with joy. Wait, Ariel and Belle are Christian friends in real life??? This can’t get any better!!! Belle is my favorite Disney Princess, so that was just so incredible and mind-blowing. (I would seriously love to see a Paige O'Hara autobiography. Just sayin'...) Anyway, the foreword alone made me love this book even more!!! Really, this book was just so good, and I love it.
May 26, 2024
Wow. That was some heaviness (and also beauty) to unpack.
Firstly, I think that Jodi has a marvelous writing/speaking ability. As far as autobiographies go, I think this is my favorite thus far in the genre. (But maybe I’m spoiled because my last one was a 3-star? Idk.) And I listened to the audiobook, so hearing Ariel talk to me for hours on end was glorious.
Secondly, like I said. There was a lot to unpack, Biblically speaking. This is definitely a book that I’ll be ruminating about for a while. Now, I won’t say that there was any C.S. Lewis-esque theology lectures, but just listening to any person talk about their faith for, like, 8+ hours will leave you with some good fat to chew (especially the chapter about her niece. No spoilers). My favorite bit? How she talks about Christians being called to love and the song, “They’ll Know We’re Christians By Our Love.” Idk about you, but sometimes I think the church has failed this mission. So I enjoyed—no, adored—hearing her talk about the simple ways Christians can show love. That might be my favorite part of the entire book…though there was a lot to love.
Thirdly, I cherish the way she speaks about Ariel and Disney and Howard Ashman. All three of those were iconic figures in my childhood, and I’m sure in many other people’s as well. I mean, I literally write books about mermaids (and made it my whole personality) just because Ariel and “Part Of Your World” has touched me so much. And hearing Jodi talk about it with such fondness actually made me tear up. I love that she loves Ariel (cough cough unlike Harrison Ford and a certain beloved rogue cough cough).
Anyway, 5 stars from me. I love Jodi even more after listening to this, and learning the Christian history (and the regular animation history) about Mermaid makes me so fuzzy inside. Plus, her life is fascinating and she has such a calming voice. That is all.
EDIT: OH YES BELLE DOES THE INTRO. AND I LOVE THAT ARIEL AND BELLE ARE CHRISTIANS AND FRIENDS. THAT IS ALL PART 2.
Firstly, I think that Jodi has a marvelous writing/speaking ability. As far as autobiographies go, I think this is my favorite thus far in the genre. (But maybe I’m spoiled because my last one was a 3-star? Idk.) And I listened to the audiobook, so hearing Ariel talk to me for hours on end was glorious.
Secondly, like I said. There was a lot to unpack, Biblically speaking. This is definitely a book that I’ll be ruminating about for a while. Now, I won’t say that there was any C.S. Lewis-esque theology lectures, but just listening to any person talk about their faith for, like, 8+ hours will leave you with some good fat to chew (especially the chapter about her niece. No spoilers). My favorite bit? How she talks about Christians being called to love and the song, “They’ll Know We’re Christians By Our Love.” Idk about you, but sometimes I think the church has failed this mission. So I enjoyed—no, adored—hearing her talk about the simple ways Christians can show love. That might be my favorite part of the entire book…though there was a lot to love.
Thirdly, I cherish the way she speaks about Ariel and Disney and Howard Ashman. All three of those were iconic figures in my childhood, and I’m sure in many other people’s as well. I mean, I literally write books about mermaids (and made it my whole personality) just because Ariel and “Part Of Your World” has touched me so much. And hearing Jodi talk about it with such fondness actually made me tear up. I love that she loves Ariel (cough cough unlike Harrison Ford and a certain beloved rogue cough cough).
Anyway, 5 stars from me. I love Jodi even more after listening to this, and learning the Christian history (and the regular animation history) about Mermaid makes me so fuzzy inside. Plus, her life is fascinating and she has such a calming voice. That is all.
EDIT: OH YES BELLE DOES THE INTRO. AND I LOVE THAT ARIEL AND BELLE ARE CHRISTIANS AND FRIENDS. THAT IS ALL PART 2.
December 10, 2022
There is so much religion and Jesus in this book. I don't mind if a memoir talks about religion as it relates to events or points of view. But many passages in the book sound like Jodi is trying to "bring her readers to Jesus" and surrender to his will.
I am not religious and picked up this book because I am a fan of classic Disney animation. The little mermaid is the first movie I remember seeing in theaters. Sadly, this book has more pages devoted to Jodi's religious views than personal stories. The few personal stories that aren't bogged down with constant recollections or prayers and "miracles" are great. So I give this book three stars.
How much do you love disney and the little mermaid? It will have to be a lot to fi isb this book? Or you will have to be an evangelical Christian.
I am not religious and picked up this book because I am a fan of classic Disney animation. The little mermaid is the first movie I remember seeing in theaters. Sadly, this book has more pages devoted to Jodi's religious views than personal stories. The few personal stories that aren't bogged down with constant recollections or prayers and "miracles" are great. So I give this book three stars.
How much do you love disney and the little mermaid? It will have to be a lot to fi isb this book? Or you will have to be an evangelical Christian.
August 28, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Tyndale for letting me read an advanced copy of this book. Ariel from the Little Mermaid has always been special to me. I got to watch this at my grandparents house when they bought it on VHS and we watched it as a family all together. This book is written by Jodie Benson the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. I absolutely love how this story starts at the beginning of her life and tells her life story to present about how she got started on Broadway and then working with Disney. I loved getting a peek behind the curtain into the making of the movie. She has done a lot of voice work for Disney and that was so cool to hear about all the different voices she has done. What I think I love the most is how much her faith plays into what she does and the person she is. Her life hasn’t been perfect but her faith has healed her together and been her strength. I recommend this book and give it 5 stars! I immediately wanted watched the movie again when I finished the book today.
March 19, 2023
This was so precious. The Little Mermaid has always been my favorite Disney movie, and Jodi Benson combines her tales of being Ariel with stories from her Broadway career (another love of mine). She titles all her chapters as song quotes from the movie and from shows (which delighted me) and boldly speaks often of her faith. Sweetly and simply written. My only negative is that she didn't talk at all about doing Thumbelina, which was another childhood favorite of mine. ;-)
I'm going to go watch The Little Mermaid now.
I'm going to go watch The Little Mermaid now.
April 19, 2023
Okay this was SO SWEET. I absolutely loved hearing Jodi's story - literally, in her own voice on the audiobook! I knew nothing about the voice behind Ariel, Disney's Little Mermaid, before starting the book, and I loved Jodi's storytelling, funny quips, and of course, her unabashed faith in Jesus.
Minor Negatives: She did lose me a bit in the middle and again at the very end... Some of the chronology got confusing, some of her theology was weak, and the way she talked about some of her relationship difficulties seemed to deflect responsibility a bit, which disappointed me.
But overall, PHEW, that's my favorite read in a long time... Especially for an autobiography! Jodi's bubbly joy, honest humility, and caring spirit shine through her life story, and she expressed overflowing gratitude for the chances she's been given and the many people who helped her along the way.
I cried some (like, ugly tears sobbing,) but mainly, I just smiled SO MUCH as I read.
Definitely recommend!
Minor Negatives: She did lose me a bit in the middle and again at the very end... Some of the chronology got confusing, some of her theology was weak, and the way she talked about some of her relationship difficulties seemed to deflect responsibility a bit, which disappointed me.
But overall, PHEW, that's my favorite read in a long time... Especially for an autobiography! Jodi's bubbly joy, honest humility, and caring spirit shine through her life story, and she expressed overflowing gratitude for the chances she's been given and the many people who helped her along the way.
I cried some (like, ugly tears sobbing,) but mainly, I just smiled SO MUCH as I read.
Definitely recommend!
January 14, 2023
When I found out Jodi Benson had written a book and narrated the audiobook herself I was soooo excited. But the more I read the less excited I became. I’m really grateful that she shared so much about her personal life but I wish she had talked more about the little mermaid. I know that may sound weird but she really only talks about her work on it for like a chapter, and in the chapters after it’s just mentioning it in the background. I wanted to know about little mermaid 2!
Also, if you are not a Christian, this book will be unbearable for you. Jodi, bless her heart, seems like the sweetest woman ever but can also come off as naive. She and her family have definitely faced struggles but I felt at some points she sounded just…blind. Maybe it’s because I’m cynical or am deconstructing my faith but at some points I really rolled my eyes.
Also, if you are not a Christian, this book will be unbearable for you. Jodi, bless her heart, seems like the sweetest woman ever but can also come off as naive. She and her family have definitely faced struggles but I felt at some points she sounded just…blind. Maybe it’s because I’m cynical or am deconstructing my faith but at some points I really rolled my eyes.
April 24, 2024
This was even more entertaining & affecting that I first anticipated when this book was recommended to me. I was unprepared and enjoyed Jodi's heartfelt, and oftentimes emotional, portrayal of her story from small Midwestern town to the Broadway stage and to the sound booth doing voice-over work for Disney's The Little Mermaid and everywhere in between. She chronicles hardships, loss, heartbreak, health diagnosis, divorce, rejection, & elation. She is an example of being obedient to God every step of the way and to be light & salt at the opportunities that He afforded her.
I really enjoyed this audio book and found myself humming "Part of Your World" every time I finished a chapter or 2 and would put it away. It was really, really enjoyable!
I really enjoyed this audio book and found myself humming "Part of Your World" every time I finished a chapter or 2 and would put it away. It was really, really enjoyable!
April 19, 2023
I've read a number of biographies and memoirs over the years and always walk away feeling more educated about the person in question. Sometimes my respect for them grows, occasionally it lessens. Some memoirs, like one I read last year that I won't name here, can be a little TMI, while others find a good balance of sharing, but not over-sharing.
In the case of Jodi Benson, I was vaguely aware of her for years as the voice of Ariel in the original "The Little Mermaid", and also the cameo appearance she made in the movie "Enchanted" as Robert's secretary, but I knew little more than that about her and didn't really care to find out more. I started caring last year when she became the voice of the character Nia in the TV adaptation of author/singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson's book series "The Wingfeather Saga." (I highly recommend both the books and the TV series, btw.) Mainly, I was excited that the Wingfeather Saga had signed a big-name Disney voice actor for their show, but then as I saw interviews that they did with Jodi about her reasons for wanting to do this indie animated show, I began to like and respect her as a person. When I realized she'd published a memoir last year, I decided I wanted to know more about her.
Like I said above, there are some memoirs where I walk away with more respect for the subject. In this case, I finished this memoir liking and respecting Jodi so much that I wish I could sit down with her for lunch and chat for a while. She'll be the first to admit that she's not a perfect human, and no one is, but her beautiful heart shines through on every page of this memoir even as she's honest about mistakes she's made. And she's not afraid to declare from the rooftops that any beauty inside her comes straight from Jesus, and that it's only because of His forgiveness and grace that she's able to overcome her mistakes.
She wrote this memoir at a great time in her life, when she's able to look back at events objectively and even with a sense of humor. (She also wisely knows what details are appropriate to share and which ones aren't, even as she balances this with being honest.) I listened to the audiobook, which she narrated, and it was sweet to hear her giggling about things that, in her youth, seemed so big and stressful, but now she sees that they were all just steppingstones on the path that led her to where she is today. In simply sharing what she's learned about herself and life over the years, the joys and the pains, she bestows the reader with gold nuggets of wisdom that many of us could apply to our own lives in some way. Truly, she's someone that would be a wonderful mentor for people old and young, and kind of already is sometimes. God has clearly gifted her with a heart that loves people and wants to encourage and bless everyone, even strangers, at every possible opportunity. Having read this, I would be utterly shocked if she ever said she didn't have even one single charitable thought for any individual.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. I'm one of those people who loves knowing the behind-the-scenes facts about the movies and TV shows that I love, and there's plenty of that here. But I'm also so glad to have learned about, and learned FROM the life of this lovely lady whose heart is on fire for God. I can't wait to see how God continues to use her to bring beauty and love to the world and glory to Him.
Content Advisory:
Language:
None
Violence:
None.
Sexual:
Jodi talks about falling in love with her eventual husband. She mentions her first kiss with him, describing it only in as much as how and when it happened. She also mentions one time when another theater guy kissed her in a way that made her uncomfortable and she pushed him away and said, "No thank you."
Spiritual/Religious:
Jodi talks boldly about her Christian faith throughout and it's clear that she's passionate about following God with all her heart and sharing Him with others.
She mentions growing up in a Catholic school taught by nuns and mentions going to confessions and finding comfort and beauty in the routines and the sacraments, but even at that young age, she openly questioned why she had to confess to a priest instead of talking straight to Jesus. The answers the nuns and priests gave were never satisfying to her.
She mentions realizing there were other denominations besides Catholicism when in high school and living in a neighborhood with believers from several different Christian denominations. She said she didn't grasp the differences between them at the time and didn't really care because all that mattered to her was her personal relationship with God, which she clung to when her parents divorced. It's clear that she eventually left Catholicism, but I don't recall her ever specifying which denomination (if any) she eventually ended up with. This reviewer suspects she chose not to specify it because, as she said when talking about denominations, all that matters in the end is the individual's personal relationship with Jesus. Jodi clearly just wants people to know and love God, not elevate one denomination over another.
Despite being raised in a faith environment, it wasn't until college, when her future husband introduced her to a couple working in ministry who let her ask as many questions as she needed, that she made a decision to live out her faith in a more personal and committed way; putting God first in all aspects of her life instead of just thinking of Him in church or a confessional box. She also states that her new friends in the ministry stressed that her choice to follow Christ more deeply couldn't be based on worries about her boyfriend staying with her or not. It needed to be her choice that she made for herself alone.
When she reached the point of making the decision and sitting down with the couple to pray, she reports suddenly shaking and feeling extremely nauseous and having many "dark thoughts" pass through her mind. When she asked "what's wrong with me?" Her friends stated, and I quote, "It's okay, honey. You've got a spiritual battle going on. Clearly the enemy does not want you to make this decision." They continued to pray with her and Jodi states that when she spoke aloud that she "rejected the enemy and accepted Jesus into her heart" she felt a great sense of release and the physical symptoms and dark thoughts stopped.
Other:
Jodi touches on some difficult events that have happened during her life and while she shares them with grace and sensitivity, I will still give a TRIGGER WARNING for those who may be sensitive to the topics of MISCARRIAGE, the DEATH OF FRIENDS, and the DEATH OF CHILDREN FROM CANCER.
When going to Catholic school as a young child, Jodi mentions how she was once disciplined by a nun who locked her in a dark closet and left her there for probably 15 minutes even though she was terrified, crying, and banging on the door to be let out. Her parents were horrified and had a stern discussion with the school so it never happened again. (She also shares positive memories she has of the school.)
Jodi mentions that around the time The Little Mermaid came out, there was a rough patch in her marriage during which she and her husband separated for a brief time. Jodi struggled deeply during this time and hints that during her darkest moment, she briefly had thought of suicide. She talks frankly and honestly about the root of their relationship problems and how they were both able to receive wise, biblically-based counsel from other Christian couples during the separation, and eventually reconcile and seek marriage counseling together that helped their marriage move forward in a much healthier way.
Jodi touches on grief a few times. Once when talking about a friend who lost her daughter to cancer and another time when discussing the loss of her own niece to cancer. She's raw and honest about the pain, confusion, and lasting emotional scars that these events cause, but always brings it back to trusting God and His goodness even when we realize that we may never understand the reason why certain bad things happen during our lives, at least not until the reason is revealed to us when we get to heaven.
Jodi was friends with the famous Disney lyricist Howard Ashman and mentions visiting him in the hospital when he was dying of HIV/AIDs at age 40 in 1991. They'd worked together on various projects over the years, including Broadway shows and The Little Mermaid. She credits him with opening the door to start her career with Disney, and she describes the pain and grief she felt when she realized he was sick and witnessed his health decline. She talks about sobbing outside his hospital room after visiting him when he was so weak he could barely stay awake, and praying for him and the people who cared about him.
Jodi talks about miscarrying at least two pregnancies. She mentions realizing she'd lost the first one when she started bleeding early in the pregnancy, but gives no further detail other than that it was early enough that it "resolved itself." The second time she miscarried, the pregnancy was further along. She describes the painful moment when she learned the baby had no heartbeat and that she needed medical intervention. Because she was still nursing her young son, she had to stay awake during the procedure and makes it clear that the experience was traumatizing even as she avoids sharing any graphic description of the procedure itself. This experience led her to finding out the medical reason why the miscarriages were happening and she also shares how she and her doctors combatted it in order to allow her to successfully give birth to her second child.
During her successful pregnancies, she talks about working on Broadway with severe morning sickness, including some mention of it becoming "fragrant" backstage because the crew had to keep trashcans and barf bags around so she could throw up immediately after getting off stage. She also mentions a scare when she started bleeding and was afraid she'd lost the baby, but she hadn't.
Jodi scares about a health scare where her husband learned many of the arteries in his heart were clogged, to the point that it was a miracle he was alive and asymptomatic. She describes the fear, but also shares how he was able to receive treatment and fully recover.
In the case of Jodi Benson, I was vaguely aware of her for years as the voice of Ariel in the original "The Little Mermaid", and also the cameo appearance she made in the movie "Enchanted" as Robert's secretary, but I knew little more than that about her and didn't really care to find out more. I started caring last year when she became the voice of the character Nia in the TV adaptation of author/singer/songwriter Andrew Peterson's book series "The Wingfeather Saga." (I highly recommend both the books and the TV series, btw.) Mainly, I was excited that the Wingfeather Saga had signed a big-name Disney voice actor for their show, but then as I saw interviews that they did with Jodi about her reasons for wanting to do this indie animated show, I began to like and respect her as a person. When I realized she'd published a memoir last year, I decided I wanted to know more about her.
Like I said above, there are some memoirs where I walk away with more respect for the subject. In this case, I finished this memoir liking and respecting Jodi so much that I wish I could sit down with her for lunch and chat for a while. She'll be the first to admit that she's not a perfect human, and no one is, but her beautiful heart shines through on every page of this memoir even as she's honest about mistakes she's made. And she's not afraid to declare from the rooftops that any beauty inside her comes straight from Jesus, and that it's only because of His forgiveness and grace that she's able to overcome her mistakes.
She wrote this memoir at a great time in her life, when she's able to look back at events objectively and even with a sense of humor. (She also wisely knows what details are appropriate to share and which ones aren't, even as she balances this with being honest.) I listened to the audiobook, which she narrated, and it was sweet to hear her giggling about things that, in her youth, seemed so big and stressful, but now she sees that they were all just steppingstones on the path that led her to where she is today. In simply sharing what she's learned about herself and life over the years, the joys and the pains, she bestows the reader with gold nuggets of wisdom that many of us could apply to our own lives in some way. Truly, she's someone that would be a wonderful mentor for people old and young, and kind of already is sometimes. God has clearly gifted her with a heart that loves people and wants to encourage and bless everyone, even strangers, at every possible opportunity. Having read this, I would be utterly shocked if she ever said she didn't have even one single charitable thought for any individual.
Overall, I really enjoyed this. I'm one of those people who loves knowing the behind-the-scenes facts about the movies and TV shows that I love, and there's plenty of that here. But I'm also so glad to have learned about, and learned FROM the life of this lovely lady whose heart is on fire for God. I can't wait to see how God continues to use her to bring beauty and love to the world and glory to Him.
Content Advisory:
Language:
None
Violence:
None.
Sexual:
Jodi talks about falling in love with her eventual husband. She mentions her first kiss with him, describing it only in as much as how and when it happened. She also mentions one time when another theater guy kissed her in a way that made her uncomfortable and she pushed him away and said, "No thank you."
Spiritual/Religious:
Jodi talks boldly about her Christian faith throughout and it's clear that she's passionate about following God with all her heart and sharing Him with others.
She mentions growing up in a Catholic school taught by nuns and mentions going to confessions and finding comfort and beauty in the routines and the sacraments, but even at that young age, she openly questioned why she had to confess to a priest instead of talking straight to Jesus. The answers the nuns and priests gave were never satisfying to her.
She mentions realizing there were other denominations besides Catholicism when in high school and living in a neighborhood with believers from several different Christian denominations. She said she didn't grasp the differences between them at the time and didn't really care because all that mattered to her was her personal relationship with God, which she clung to when her parents divorced. It's clear that she eventually left Catholicism, but I don't recall her ever specifying which denomination (if any) she eventually ended up with. This reviewer suspects she chose not to specify it because, as she said when talking about denominations, all that matters in the end is the individual's personal relationship with Jesus. Jodi clearly just wants people to know and love God, not elevate one denomination over another.
Despite being raised in a faith environment, it wasn't until college, when her future husband introduced her to a couple working in ministry who let her ask as many questions as she needed, that she made a decision to live out her faith in a more personal and committed way; putting God first in all aspects of her life instead of just thinking of Him in church or a confessional box. She also states that her new friends in the ministry stressed that her choice to follow Christ more deeply couldn't be based on worries about her boyfriend staying with her or not. It needed to be her choice that she made for herself alone.
When she reached the point of making the decision and sitting down with the couple to pray, she reports suddenly shaking and feeling extremely nauseous and having many "dark thoughts" pass through her mind. When she asked "what's wrong with me?" Her friends stated, and I quote, "It's okay, honey. You've got a spiritual battle going on. Clearly the enemy does not want you to make this decision." They continued to pray with her and Jodi states that when she spoke aloud that she "rejected the enemy and accepted Jesus into her heart" she felt a great sense of release and the physical symptoms and dark thoughts stopped.
Other:
Jodi touches on some difficult events that have happened during her life and while she shares them with grace and sensitivity, I will still give a TRIGGER WARNING for those who may be sensitive to the topics of MISCARRIAGE, the DEATH OF FRIENDS, and the DEATH OF CHILDREN FROM CANCER.
When going to Catholic school as a young child, Jodi mentions how she was once disciplined by a nun who locked her in a dark closet and left her there for probably 15 minutes even though she was terrified, crying, and banging on the door to be let out. Her parents were horrified and had a stern discussion with the school so it never happened again. (She also shares positive memories she has of the school.)
Jodi mentions that around the time The Little Mermaid came out, there was a rough patch in her marriage during which she and her husband separated for a brief time. Jodi struggled deeply during this time and hints that during her darkest moment, she briefly had thought of suicide. She talks frankly and honestly about the root of their relationship problems and how they were both able to receive wise, biblically-based counsel from other Christian couples during the separation, and eventually reconcile and seek marriage counseling together that helped their marriage move forward in a much healthier way.
Jodi touches on grief a few times. Once when talking about a friend who lost her daughter to cancer and another time when discussing the loss of her own niece to cancer. She's raw and honest about the pain, confusion, and lasting emotional scars that these events cause, but always brings it back to trusting God and His goodness even when we realize that we may never understand the reason why certain bad things happen during our lives, at least not until the reason is revealed to us when we get to heaven.
Jodi was friends with the famous Disney lyricist Howard Ashman and mentions visiting him in the hospital when he was dying of HIV/AIDs at age 40 in 1991. They'd worked together on various projects over the years, including Broadway shows and The Little Mermaid. She credits him with opening the door to start her career with Disney, and she describes the pain and grief she felt when she realized he was sick and witnessed his health decline. She talks about sobbing outside his hospital room after visiting him when he was so weak he could barely stay awake, and praying for him and the people who cared about him.
Jodi talks about miscarrying at least two pregnancies. She mentions realizing she'd lost the first one when she started bleeding early in the pregnancy, but gives no further detail other than that it was early enough that it "resolved itself." The second time she miscarried, the pregnancy was further along. She describes the painful moment when she learned the baby had no heartbeat and that she needed medical intervention. Because she was still nursing her young son, she had to stay awake during the procedure and makes it clear that the experience was traumatizing even as she avoids sharing any graphic description of the procedure itself. This experience led her to finding out the medical reason why the miscarriages were happening and she also shares how she and her doctors combatted it in order to allow her to successfully give birth to her second child.
During her successful pregnancies, she talks about working on Broadway with severe morning sickness, including some mention of it becoming "fragrant" backstage because the crew had to keep trashcans and barf bags around so she could throw up immediately after getting off stage. She also mentions a scare when she started bleeding and was afraid she'd lost the baby, but she hadn't.
Jodi scares about a health scare where her husband learned many of the arteries in his heart were clogged, to the point that it was a miracle he was alive and asymptomatic. She describes the fear, but also shares how he was able to receive treatment and fully recover.
November 18, 2022
I loved reading about Jodi’s life and how she became Ariel, but I did not care for the heavy emphasis on religion throughout the entirety of the book. In that case, this book should be listed under Christian as a genre.
November 13, 2022
Now I want to meet her.
September 16, 2022
You need to read this!!
I’m going to recommend to everyone!!!!!
I’m going to recommend to everyone!!!!!
October 11, 2022
Inspiring! Both tears and laughs while reading Jodi’s encouraging memoir. That part about how she came to understand the “I love you Daddy” line had me crying. I don’t think I’ve watched TLM since highschool (1991) so I look forward to viewing as an older adult.
February 21, 2023
3.5⭐️ I loved all the behind the scenes stuff about her film and Broadway jobs, especially anything to do with Disney. I did not realize that she was also the voice of Barbie in the Toy Story movies. Jodi’s faith is a big part of her life and she lets you know this throughout every single chapter.
January 20, 2024
This book is fabulous. I loved hearing Jodi’s story. Highly recommended. ❤️
May 9, 2022
Part Of My World: What I’ve Learned From The Little Mermaid about Love, Faith, and Finding My Voice
(Actually finished last week since I'm posting my goodreads review now) Today I finished reading “Part Of My World: What I’ve Learned from The Little Mermaid about Love Faith, and Finding My Voice,” through Netgalley. Not only is this book for Disney fans its also part memoir part Christian Inspirational. Jodi talks about the highs and lows of her life and that no matter what life threw at her, she still kept her faith in God and credits him for her career. I even found out some facts I didn’t know about Jodi.
Pros
I found out some amazing facts about Jodi. One was she never thought she could or would do voice acting but God had other plans after the Broadway show Smile didn’t do so well. I also thought the story of how her and her now husband Ray Benson met was sweet. It was also interesting that Jodi auditioned to voice Belle in Beauty and the Beast but her best friend Paige O Hara had gotten the part as we know now. I also had no idea they almost didn’t use the iconic song Part Of Your World in Little Mermaid because in the test screening didn’t keep every child’s attention. Part Of Your World is an “I Want” song where the main character longs for something and you want to see that character get it. Reading this book you can tell Jodi Benson is very humble she credits God and the people who helped her become who she is. Many in Hollywood get big egos forgetting who helped get them where they are in the first place. I also wanted to hug her at certain points when she was suffering with the loss of Howard Ashman, her niece and miscarriages. Despite all of Jodi’s suffering she kept her faith in God even when she didn’t understand why things happened the way they did.
Cons
There wasn’t much that I disliked. I did feel some parts seemed repetitive here and there but I cut her slack since she is not an author. Also depending on which denomination of Christianity you belong to, Jodi says something many especially Catholics like me would disagree with her on. I won’t go into detail because there is already too much debate and no longer the “agree to disagree” attitude when it comes to religion, politics or even the most mundane of topics.
Overall
Overall it’s a wonderful memoir. I wasn’t expecting it to be Christian inspiration mixed with Disney and a memoir. It’s different because it seems faith in God isn’t as important as it was decades ago. Christian books fiction or non-fiction can either be good or it could be cringe worthy. Thank goodness it falls in to the good category. Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book I truly appreciate it. If you are curious about this book, request a copy from Netgalley or pre-order it so it will arrive the day it comes out on September 13th.
(Actually finished last week since I'm posting my goodreads review now) Today I finished reading “Part Of My World: What I’ve Learned from The Little Mermaid about Love Faith, and Finding My Voice,” through Netgalley. Not only is this book for Disney fans its also part memoir part Christian Inspirational. Jodi talks about the highs and lows of her life and that no matter what life threw at her, she still kept her faith in God and credits him for her career. I even found out some facts I didn’t know about Jodi.
Pros
I found out some amazing facts about Jodi. One was she never thought she could or would do voice acting but God had other plans after the Broadway show Smile didn’t do so well. I also thought the story of how her and her now husband Ray Benson met was sweet. It was also interesting that Jodi auditioned to voice Belle in Beauty and the Beast but her best friend Paige O Hara had gotten the part as we know now. I also had no idea they almost didn’t use the iconic song Part Of Your World in Little Mermaid because in the test screening didn’t keep every child’s attention. Part Of Your World is an “I Want” song where the main character longs for something and you want to see that character get it. Reading this book you can tell Jodi Benson is very humble she credits God and the people who helped her become who she is. Many in Hollywood get big egos forgetting who helped get them where they are in the first place. I also wanted to hug her at certain points when she was suffering with the loss of Howard Ashman, her niece and miscarriages. Despite all of Jodi’s suffering she kept her faith in God even when she didn’t understand why things happened the way they did.
Cons
There wasn’t much that I disliked. I did feel some parts seemed repetitive here and there but I cut her slack since she is not an author. Also depending on which denomination of Christianity you belong to, Jodi says something many especially Catholics like me would disagree with her on. I won’t go into detail because there is already too much debate and no longer the “agree to disagree” attitude when it comes to religion, politics or even the most mundane of topics.
Overall
Overall it’s a wonderful memoir. I wasn’t expecting it to be Christian inspiration mixed with Disney and a memoir. It’s different because it seems faith in God isn’t as important as it was decades ago. Christian books fiction or non-fiction can either be good or it could be cringe worthy. Thank goodness it falls in to the good category. Thank you Netgalley for an early copy of this book I truly appreciate it. If you are curious about this book, request a copy from Netgalley or pre-order it so it will arrive the day it comes out on September 13th.
October 3, 2023
I absolutely loved listening to this! Jodi Benson just exudes joy as she reads her memoir. I didn’t realize she was a Christian, but she shares so much about her strong faith in this book. It was amusing, uplifting and encouraging!
May 12, 2024
I loved this book! Her life walking with Jesus, her life of musical theater, her life as a Disney Princess. What more could you want in a memoir.
And it was real. She talked about all the hard and messy things in life too. LOVED. IT.
And it was real. She talked about all the hard and messy things in life too. LOVED. IT.
May 2, 2022
Most people know Jodi Benson as the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid, a title that Jodi carries with pride to this day. In her beautiful memoir, readers get a behind-the-scenes look at the career of a Disney princess in her own words. Jodi writes with a voice that is humble, energetic, and continuously grateful for the opportunities she’s been given. She constantly points to God as the orchestrator of her career and gives thanks to the people who came alongside her and helped her grow.
As the title suggests, readers get to be a part of Jodi’s world for over 250 pages. We follow her through the starts and stops in her college years, step into the recording booth as she records “Part of Your World,” bask in the stage lights of Broadway as she performs, and so much more. Part of My World is a thrilling read, one that rings with nostalgia and encouragement. Just like Ariel had to fight for her voice, Jodi found her voice in the leaps of faith she took in her career.
I am refreshed and encouraged by Jodi’s faith. Her desire to spread the gospel in whatever platform she’s been given is a good reminder that “apart from the Lord, I have no good thing” (Psalm 16:1).
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thank you to Katie Dodillet of @tyndalehouse for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this wonderful memoir in exchange for my honest review.
Favorite Quote: “I really do believe that when God gives you a gift, He’s going to give you a way to use it - not just for your own enjoyment, but to bless others as well…For whatever reason, God blessed me with the gift of song…The only way for me to truly honor that gift was to develop it to the best of my ability and try to find some way to use it to bring that same joy to others.” (p20-21)
As the title suggests, readers get to be a part of Jodi’s world for over 250 pages. We follow her through the starts and stops in her college years, step into the recording booth as she records “Part of Your World,” bask in the stage lights of Broadway as she performs, and so much more. Part of My World is a thrilling read, one that rings with nostalgia and encouragement. Just like Ariel had to fight for her voice, Jodi found her voice in the leaps of faith she took in her career.
I am refreshed and encouraged by Jodi’s faith. Her desire to spread the gospel in whatever platform she’s been given is a good reminder that “apart from the Lord, I have no good thing” (Psalm 16:1).
I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Thank you to Katie Dodillet of @tyndalehouse for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this wonderful memoir in exchange for my honest review.
Favorite Quote: “I really do believe that when God gives you a gift, He’s going to give you a way to use it - not just for your own enjoyment, but to bless others as well…For whatever reason, God blessed me with the gift of song…The only way for me to truly honor that gift was to develop it to the best of my ability and try to find some way to use it to bring that same joy to others.” (p20-21)
September 10, 2023
3.5⭐️ but I’m rounding up because it was so wholesome and pure, and this woman has now made me cry both in real life and through her writing. The beginning was a bit jumbled, but it was mostly chronological throughout, and her story and her faith in God are both truly inspiring. I was getting a little tired of the cheesiness/ every chapter needing to be wrapped together with a little bow and the fact that her prayers always seemed to be answered or “God had something better,” but then things got really hard and unexplainable in one chapter, and I think the perspective she offered there is what would make me recommend this book.
December 31, 2022
As a long time The Little Mermaid fanatic (who used to routinely pretend to be Ariel in the pool and bathtub) this was an absolute JOY to read!! So glad to be able to finish out the year with this one.
December 8, 2022
Self narrated audiobook - complete with little chuckles. A treasure trove of colorful characters and unforgettable anecdotes, Part of My World reads like a real-life fairy tale as a girl with a big voice and even bigger dreams sets out on the adventure of a lifetime. Along the way, Jodi shares lessons she's learned about faith, friendship, love, loss, taking chances, making mistakes, following God’s call, and chasing your dreams.
March 24, 2024
100/10 ☆'s
Oh. My. Word.
While reading---
I laughed. I had tears rolling down my face. I was inspired. I felt like I was listening to a friend.
I just met Jodi yesterday and finished her book this morning--- she is a beautiful woman of Jesus who effuses love and kindness.
If you are at all fan of The Little Mermaid, pick this book up NOW! I learned so much about her life, her journey, and the good that God works through us in all the ups and downs as long as we trust in Him. The best book I've read so far this year by far
Oh. My. Word.
While reading---
I laughed. I had tears rolling down my face. I was inspired. I felt like I was listening to a friend.
I just met Jodi yesterday and finished her book this morning--- she is a beautiful woman of Jesus who effuses love and kindness.
If you are at all fan of The Little Mermaid, pick this book up NOW! I learned so much about her life, her journey, and the good that God works through us in all the ups and downs as long as we trust in Him. The best book I've read so far this year by far
October 10, 2022
Sweet and heartfelt biography
December 29, 2022
So, this was fun hearing "Ariel" narrate! I enjoyed learning about her musical career start and her faith behind everything.
February 15, 2026
I love how Jodi tied everything back to God. Very inspiring. I definitely teared up in the chapter where she said goodbye to Howard Ashman.
September 2, 2024
The only thing I expected going into this book was information regarding The Little Mermaid. I got that and SO MUCH MORE! This look into Benson's world is a blessing. She's relatable and inspiring. She let the reader in on secrets and thoughts. She is the Disney princess I will ALWAYS love!
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