djreads's Reviews (577)

Solid 3.5 stars. For me, it’s just the type of story I needed to distract me from a tough week. The main character is a bit of a pain at times, but the plot had enough twists and turns to keep me interested even when she made really silly mistakes. Obviously, I’m not the target audience for this book, but I still found it entertaining and enjoyable.

Reading other reviews of this book, I’m annoyed at the number of people who read a memoir and are upset that the author didn’t give them specific steps for being better people. “There weren’t enough solutions.” “It wasn’t practical for me.” “I was hoping to learn what I can do...” This woman told you her experiences, the messages that she receives everyday that challenge her idea of blackness, the questions that she’s posed to others as they think through how they can do things differently, and much more. It is up to you to take that information and determine how you can use it to have a better impact on our structurally racist world. It is not up to her to write you a checklist on how to be better and that’s a really stupid critique for a memoir.

As for the book itself, I thought it was good although not groundbreaking. There were certainly times I felt myself nodding emphatically-especially the chapter where she describes her day at work. It was validating and also interesting, even during the sections I’d pushback on. It is a good read to hear a perspective that you may not have heard told quite this way. It is not a how-to for being a better white person nor is it the quintessential story of all Black life.

Worth the wait, loved it as much as if not more than the first. Stayed on the edge of my seat and invested in all of the characters. Such important imagery and messaging throughout. Man, that ending though