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balletbookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Required reading for everyone. A few of the early chapters have maybe rough starts where it takes a bit for the form and the subject to gel, but by the time Jerkins hits “Who Will Write Us?” she is absolutely firing on all cylinders. I really look forward to everything else she’s going to write. So glad this got picked up by the BN Discover program.
pattydsf's review against another edition
4.0
“In my experience, white people are the only ones who purport to advance equality through the erasure or rejection of marginalized people’s identities, which signals to me that they have fooled themselves into believing that they are “unraced.” This belief is false, because it is based on the idea that whiteness is the human standard and that furthermore, by virtue of them being white, they are the arbiters of humanity.”
I did go through a phase where I thought that not noticing color or race or ethnicity was the right choice. It seems on one hand very logical. However, after reading books like The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1816367061), I realize how foolish I was. Jerkins, in the quotation above, hits the nail on the head. Only crazy (my word, not hers) white people would think that race can be erased.
I am just grateful that black women keep getting published and I keep getting the opportunity to read their works. It makes such a difference to me to encounter real lives occasionally, not just fictional people.
Jerkins’ book was especially interesting to me because she grew up in places I know and have experienced. However, her life was so different than mine – partly because of our age difference, but also because of our race. Jerkins lived in a very different New Jersey than I did.
I believe that this book should be read by most people. If you are African-American, much will ring true and if you are of another race, Jerkins will help you know her world.
I did go through a phase where I thought that not noticing color or race or ethnicity was the right choice. It seems on one hand very logical. However, after reading books like The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1816367061), I realize how foolish I was. Jerkins, in the quotation above, hits the nail on the head. Only crazy (my word, not hers) white people would think that race can be erased.
I am just grateful that black women keep getting published and I keep getting the opportunity to read their works. It makes such a difference to me to encounter real lives occasionally, not just fictional people.
Jerkins’ book was especially interesting to me because she grew up in places I know and have experienced. However, her life was so different than mine – partly because of our age difference, but also because of our race. Jerkins lived in a very different New Jersey than I did.
I believe that this book should be read by most people. If you are African-American, much will ring true and if you are of another race, Jerkins will help you know her world.
bookofcinz's review against another edition
4.0
"Generally, I devoured personal essay collections written by women in a matter of days. I'm a nosy and voyeuristic person.....or maybe I'm naturally curious. Whatever the reason, I love read it about women's inner lives, traveling through the pages like a boat gouged by a mild yet noticeable current."
I read this book in one sitting partly because it was that good and also because Morgan Jerkins' writing was that engaging. Jerkins' unpacks a lot of things in this novel from growing up black, to dating, Lemonade, Black Girl Magic amongst other things.
It is clear Jerkins' got the give of gab because she really addressed certain topics in the most engaging way. I particularly loved the following essays:
How to Survive: A Manifesto on Paranoia and Peace
How to Be Docile
A Lotus for Michelle
Im astounded that Jerkins is so young in her writing career, I am looking forward to her more grown-up pieces.
A great read overall.
I read this book in one sitting partly because it was that good and also because Morgan Jerkins' writing was that engaging. Jerkins' unpacks a lot of things in this novel from growing up black, to dating, Lemonade, Black Girl Magic amongst other things.
It is clear Jerkins' got the give of gab because she really addressed certain topics in the most engaging way. I particularly loved the following essays:
How to Survive: A Manifesto on Paranoia and Peace
How to Be Docile
A Lotus for Michelle
Im astounded that Jerkins is so young in her writing career, I am looking forward to her more grown-up pieces.
A great read overall.
readingwithstardust's review against another edition
3.0
Like many things, this book largely was not for me. As in, I was not the intended audience, not that I did not like it. And though I've enjoyed and learned more from a few other books I'd class in the same genre of Black Feminist memoirs, I would not discount this book wholly. I would only suggest that perhaps I'd have been able to enjoy it better if I'd had the physical copy, which is my own fault. Generally I like to listen to audiobooks when read by their own authors but in this case I think it leant a bit less structure than I would've gotten in print form.
pensivepelican's review against another edition
4.0
This collection is well chosen and well written. As a woman, there is much to relate to. As a white person, it’s a reminder that there is so much I’ll never get. As a writer, I’m in awe of how raw and personal these essays are.
I was surprised to see how young Jerkins is. She possesses the insights of a much older writer.
I was surprised to see how young Jerkins is. She possesses the insights of a much older writer.
s_jw's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Jerkins writing is raw, accessible, and something that sticks with you. My brain spent a lot of time turning her writing over and over again. I truly hope she moves into long form content this book is a must read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Medical content
tracithomas's review against another edition
3.0
This is one black woman’s take on life as a black woman. I’m enjoyed the book and respected her opinions and observations. Jerkins has a great style. Mix of personal antidotes and historical context. Some moments were wonderful some moments exposed Jerkins youth. Intersectional activism is necessary and this book helps bring that to the forefront.
thestarlesscasea's review against another edition
4.0
In this book, Jerkins is thoughtful, honest, eloquent, and unapologetically herself (which also means being unapologetically a black woman). She weaves personal experiences with wider issues seamlessly. As a white woman, this book was not written for me, and that's part of the point. I look forward to seeing where her career goes from here!
librarylapin's review against another edition
3.0
This book was a really frank intersectional look at the author's experience while looking at the larger political issues that affect her life. It is a great read.