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kal73's review against another edition
5.0
This book was phenomenal. I am continually grateful for people different from me to have the courage to tell their stories and share them with the world. I highly recommend.
emilybryk's review against another edition
2.0
So, it's not *for* me. So you can stop reading if you want. There are things I can't address -- so I won't.
However, I think I had the same concerns that a whole bunch of other people did regarding what felt like Ms. Jenkins having spent a whole lot of time doing sort of a wish-fulfillment revisit of people she didn't like in high school. I get that. Most of us who've grown up awkward fall into those rabbit holes sometimes. But still.
However, I think I had the same concerns that a whole bunch of other people did regarding what felt like Ms. Jenkins having spent a whole lot of time doing sort of a wish-fulfillment revisit of people she didn't like in high school. I get that. Most of us who've grown up awkward fall into those rabbit holes sometimes. But still.
lanidacey's review against another edition
2.0
This is not a terrible book, but it's not a great one, either. It has its moments; there are lines and essays that I like. I enjoy Jerkins' writing most when it's more literary and prose-y, such as the "How to be Docile" essay. Her personal reflections, though, tend to meander and lose focus. I appreciate that she shows us all her vulnerabilities, such as her judgment of another black girl growing up, her porn habit and her labiaplasty, but she doesn't do a great job at showing the connections between them and larger issues such as feminism and racism.
As she says in her book, though, these are her stories and she can only speak for herself. So, if you are a non-Black woman reading this collection, please be include other voices in your TBR.
As she says in her book, though, these are her stories and she can only speak for herself. So, if you are a non-Black woman reading this collection, please be include other voices in your TBR.
potatoaficionado's review
slow-paced
3.5
Some of the essays were interesting. I realized that when she wrote the book, she was 26, the same age I am now. And at times it felt like she didn't have a ton of life experience, even around some topics she wrote about.
michellekmartin's review against another edition
4.0
What a fantastic collection of essays. I really appreciated Jerkins’ point of view and how informative this collection was to me. I’m walking away with so much to think about and ponder.
mindfullibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
This essay collection by Morgan Jerkins is essential reading for everyone. The subtitle pretty much says it all, although it doesn’t convey just how poetic and artful the writing is. How raw it is. This is a book for those wanting to grow as humans.....as citizens....as friends, wives, husbands, neighbors, coworkers, and voters. It is graphic and it is not always easy to read, but I am SO glad I did.
(Thank you to Harper Perennial for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own)
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Remember how I told you you HAVE to read TEARS WE CANNOT STOP by Michael Eric Dyson?? Well, here is your 2018 companion title. Read, weep, and grow, my friends.
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And Jerkins definitely made me think....who am I actually talking to here? Well, everyone? Obviously Black men and Black women will read this differently. White women and White men will too. So will ANYONE reading it - every reader comes to a book with a different mindset, just as Jerkins originally faced Harlem with a different mindset than her neighbors did. Without wanting to offend or appropriate or do ANYTHING the author finds offensive, I’m simply telling you ALL to read this.....did I do that right? Is it possible for a White woman to speak about race and feminism without being wrong? I honestly don’t know anymore, but I’m trying to learn. And I’m happy to have Jerkins teaching me.
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And yes, I have SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE by Ijeoma Oluo on my bookshelf as one of my very next reads
(Thank you to Harper Perennial for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own)
•
Remember how I told you you HAVE to read TEARS WE CANNOT STOP by Michael Eric Dyson?? Well, here is your 2018 companion title. Read, weep, and grow, my friends.
•
And Jerkins definitely made me think....who am I actually talking to here? Well, everyone? Obviously Black men and Black women will read this differently. White women and White men will too. So will ANYONE reading it - every reader comes to a book with a different mindset, just as Jerkins originally faced Harlem with a different mindset than her neighbors did. Without wanting to offend or appropriate or do ANYTHING the author finds offensive, I’m simply telling you ALL to read this.....did I do that right? Is it possible for a White woman to speak about race and feminism without being wrong? I honestly don’t know anymore, but I’m trying to learn. And I’m happy to have Jerkins teaching me.
•
And yes, I have SO YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT RACE by Ijeoma Oluo on my bookshelf as one of my very next reads
molly_dettmann's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting and personal collection of feminist themed essays with just enough personal stories that I’d consider this also very memoir-ish as well.
seekingserenity's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
This memoir is very well written and showcases Jerkin’s natural writing prowess strengthened by her Ivy League education. The book covers topics of feminism, race, and sexuality in historical contexts as well as current contexts. Mentions of pop culture show how these issues present themselves in ways that we may not realize and are analyzed in a way that makes you pause and reflect while educating those who might be new to their feminist journey. Despite the strengths of this memoir, I found many of the discussions of sexuality to be jarring and poorly juxtaposed with the rest of the chapters. Sometimes these sections had a clear connection to the overall theme of the chapter and invited thoughtful reflection while at other times it just seemed like a way to talk about her genitals for a few pages and then move on to the next topic. Overall, I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a light reading on black women and modern day feminism.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
RATING: 4 STARS
2018; Harper Perennial/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
I found Morgan Jerkins' collection of essays very engaging and quick to read. Jerkins takes on big topics like race and feminism and disarms her readers with humour and compassion. She relates her experiences as a black feminist woman in America so that we see her perspective but also that this not just an anomaly. I don't live in the US and I am not black but there were moments as I read this book and knew that exact feeling. (I am a Canadian of Indian- India -background). I hope some day to write like Jerkins and look forward to more of her writing.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
2018; Harper Perennial/HarperCollins Canada
(Review Not on Blog)
I found Morgan Jerkins' collection of essays very engaging and quick to read. Jerkins takes on big topics like race and feminism and disarms her readers with humour and compassion. She relates her experiences as a black feminist woman in America so that we see her perspective but also that this not just an anomaly. I don't live in the US and I am not black but there were moments as I read this book and knew that exact feeling. (I am a Canadian of Indian- India -background). I hope some day to write like Jerkins and look forward to more of her writing.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***