Take a photo of a barcode or cover
780 reviews by:
readingwhilemommying
Wow! What a debut novel. This is easily my favorite book so far this year.
Maddie "Maame" Wright is a 25-year-old woman living in London who is the daughter of Ghanian immigrants. Accommodating, unassuming, and self-deprecating, she lives up to the traditional African name her mother calls her: "Maame." Meaning "the mother" or "the responsible one," this name has become Maddie's whole identity. She's so responsible and so used to taking on the duties of others that she's been living at home taking care of her father who has Parkinson's and paying for much of her family's bills--all while her mother lives in Ghana every other year and her brother lives his life, not helping at all.
The story follows Maddie's coming-of-age as she deals with family and work struggles, her first real foray into dating and sex, surviving the guilt of tragedy, and the ups and downs of finding her true self and voice--outside of the personality pressed upon her by her nickname. Author George switches easily between deep, emotionally resonant scenes and humor as Maddie relies on "Google" to give her help with everything from "What is it like to date a bisexual?" to "How do you know if you're depressed?" There are a few key scenes, too, that deal with Maddie finally recognizing and speaking out against the racial microaggressions she experiences--I really loved her friends' frank discussion about why some white men really date Black women.
Although I'm a middle-aged white woman, I loved this book. It's relatable, beautiful, funny, and heartwarming. You will cheer (I literally did numerous fist-bumps) as Maddie sheds her nickname, speaks up for herself, and starts to live life on her terms. READ THIS BOOK!
Much thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the gifted copy in exchange for a review. This one is out TODAY (and might a @bookofthemonth choice, from the clue I'm seeing one my app!). It would be a great choice. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Maddie "Maame" Wright is a 25-year-old woman living in London who is the daughter of Ghanian immigrants. Accommodating, unassuming, and self-deprecating, she lives up to the traditional African name her mother calls her: "Maame." Meaning "the mother" or "the responsible one," this name has become Maddie's whole identity. She's so responsible and so used to taking on the duties of others that she's been living at home taking care of her father who has Parkinson's and paying for much of her family's bills--all while her mother lives in Ghana every other year and her brother lives his life, not helping at all.
The story follows Maddie's coming-of-age as she deals with family and work struggles, her first real foray into dating and sex, surviving the guilt of tragedy, and the ups and downs of finding her true self and voice--outside of the personality pressed upon her by her nickname. Author George switches easily between deep, emotionally resonant scenes and humor as Maddie relies on "Google" to give her help with everything from "What is it like to date a bisexual?" to "How do you know if you're depressed?" There are a few key scenes, too, that deal with Maddie finally recognizing and speaking out against the racial microaggressions she experiences--I really loved her friends' frank discussion about why some white men really date Black women.
Although I'm a middle-aged white woman, I loved this book. It's relatable, beautiful, funny, and heartwarming. You will cheer (I literally did numerous fist-bumps) as Maddie sheds her nickname, speaks up for herself, and starts to live life on her terms. READ THIS BOOK!
Much thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the gifted copy in exchange for a review. This one is out TODAY (and might a @bookofthemonth choice, from the clue I'm seeing one my app!). It would be a great choice. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
It's no wonder this novel was long listed for the Booker Award and won the Kirkus Fiction Award. It's SO good.
In Part One, we read sections of the 1937 novel Bonds, which portrays "Benjamin and Helen Rask" as a Wall Street genius who profits during the Great Depression and his schizophrenic wife. Part Two is pieces of the autobiography of Wall Street tycoon Andrew Bevel. Smarting from Bonds's not-so-veiled portrait of him and his wife Mildred, he employs a ghost writer to help him tell the "truth." Part Three is ghost writer Ida Partenza's story, where she shares her experience working with Bevel. And, finally, Part Four shares the writings of a surprising voice, which unravels this literary-puzzle-of-a-novel in spectacular fashion. Diaz's ability to keep readers riveted, while slowly revealing the truth is amazing. I was engrossed from start-to-finish. This is as good as the accolades say it is.
In Part One, we read sections of the 1937 novel Bonds, which portrays "Benjamin and Helen Rask" as a Wall Street genius who profits during the Great Depression and his schizophrenic wife. Part Two is pieces of the autobiography of Wall Street tycoon Andrew Bevel. Smarting from Bonds's not-so-veiled portrait of him and his wife Mildred, he employs a ghost writer to help him tell the "truth." Part Three is ghost writer Ida Partenza's story, where she shares her experience working with Bevel. And, finally, Part Four shares the writings of a surprising voice, which unravels this literary-puzzle-of-a-novel in spectacular fashion. Diaz's ability to keep readers riveted, while slowly revealing the truth is amazing. I was engrossed from start-to-finish. This is as good as the accolades say it is.
This quiet novel is more about characters and their relationships than big action scenes. In 1957, Alice Young leaves her family home after suffering violence and ends up getting off the train in New Jessup, AL, an all-Black town with residents that have no interest in integration. Content with freedom to exist in a safe space, the residents of New Jessup welcome Alice and she eventually finds love, home, and stability. Yet when she finds out about the National Negro Advancement Society's existence in New Jessup, she must reconcile her yearning for peace with the push for Black people to fight for equality, not just separation. I really loved how Minnicks portrayed this not-often-written-about debate. The characters were strong and their pros/cons for the NAS absolutely interesting. A speed up in pace at the end was a bit jarring but overall this is a solid debut and a great choice for a Black History Month read. Karen Chilton does her usual stellar job narrating the audiobook.
If you're looking for a book to read for Black History Month, this is a wonderful choice. Shearer has used her ancestry & research to write a powerful, tragic, yet ultimately hopeful novel.
It's 1834 in Barbados & Rachel, a slave, is joyous to learn that slavery has been abolished. Yet she's still forced to work at the plantation as an "apprentice" for 6 more years. Heartbroken—both due to this and the fact that five of her living children have been sold or displaced—she escapes, determined to find the fates of Cherry Jane, Mercy, Micah, Thomas Augustus, and Mary Grace. Her journey takes her from Barbados to Bridgetown to British Guiana to Trinidad.
I love books where characters go on a journey, and this one is a page-turner in that as Rachel moves from locale to locale—often with the help of strangers—the ever-present threat of being caught overshadowing her every move. Her interactions with—and the fates—of her children are varied yet illuminating, as they address the different ways slaves carved out a life of love and home amidst the violence and dehumanization they were subjected to. I also appreciated learning about slavery in the Caribbean, which had variances to the slave trade in America.
The characterization of Rachel is magnificent. Her core of strength and determination is enhanced by moments of love, bravery, fear, sadness, and exhaustion. She's especially compelling as a mother who will do all she can for her children, even after being dealt the horrific hand of slavery and, with it, the reality of being impregnated by both male slaves she loved and her white overseers. Her story is, ultimately beautiful—with the road getting there meaningful, educational, emotional, and essential. If you picked this as your @bookofthemonth, read it now!
I both read parts of this and listened to parts on audio. Narrator Debra Michaels does a fabulous job expressing Rachel's myriad emotions. I loved this book!
It's 1834 in Barbados & Rachel, a slave, is joyous to learn that slavery has been abolished. Yet she's still forced to work at the plantation as an "apprentice" for 6 more years. Heartbroken—both due to this and the fact that five of her living children have been sold or displaced—she escapes, determined to find the fates of Cherry Jane, Mercy, Micah, Thomas Augustus, and Mary Grace. Her journey takes her from Barbados to Bridgetown to British Guiana to Trinidad.
I love books where characters go on a journey, and this one is a page-turner in that as Rachel moves from locale to locale—often with the help of strangers—the ever-present threat of being caught overshadowing her every move. Her interactions with—and the fates—of her children are varied yet illuminating, as they address the different ways slaves carved out a life of love and home amidst the violence and dehumanization they were subjected to. I also appreciated learning about slavery in the Caribbean, which had variances to the slave trade in America.
The characterization of Rachel is magnificent. Her core of strength and determination is enhanced by moments of love, bravery, fear, sadness, and exhaustion. She's especially compelling as a mother who will do all she can for her children, even after being dealt the horrific hand of slavery and, with it, the reality of being impregnated by both male slaves she loved and her white overseers. Her story is, ultimately beautiful—with the road getting there meaningful, educational, emotional, and essential. If you picked this as your @bookofthemonth, read it now!
I both read parts of this and listened to parts on audio. Narrator Debra Michaels does a fabulous job expressing Rachel's myriad emotions. I loved this book!
This was a tough novel to review. As much as I appreciated with two "voices," Insu and Big Uncle, and their stories --filled with historical and Korean folklore information--I couldn't get past the disjointed flow of the story. A lack of a strong thread throughout (aside from the skull water search) kept this novel from being a 4/5 star read for me.
Insu (a character based on the author) is a 14-year-old, mixed-race boy. His mom is a South Korean woman and his Dad is a German soldier. It's the mid 1970s and he's back in Korea after being in Germany while his dad was stationed there. Insu spends his time getting into trouble and engaging in different activities--skipping school to hang with his friends, selling goods on the black market, visiting his Big Uncle (who's shunned to the woods due to an infected foot), and, eventually, searching for the elusive "skull" with the water that will cure his uncle's ailment. The hopping from here to there is funny and compelling, at times, but overall it just seemed disconnected to the main theme. Although maybe that IS the theme. Disconnection with the real, war-torn world. The choppy cadence of the story kept me from appreciating the narrative and Insu's growth.
I enjoyed Big Uncle's remembrances. His chapters, set in the 1950s during the Korean War, seem to have more depth and emotional resonance for me than Insu's. My favorite moment of the novel was Insu's time with Big Uncle. Although Insu seemed to grow a bit through his experiences, his overall melancholic personality didn't lend itself to the creation of a strong character.
Overall, I just couldn't stay invested in this story.
Insu (a character based on the author) is a 14-year-old, mixed-race boy. His mom is a South Korean woman and his Dad is a German soldier. It's the mid 1970s and he's back in Korea after being in Germany while his dad was stationed there. Insu spends his time getting into trouble and engaging in different activities--skipping school to hang with his friends, selling goods on the black market, visiting his Big Uncle (who's shunned to the woods due to an infected foot), and, eventually, searching for the elusive "skull" with the water that will cure his uncle's ailment. The hopping from here to there is funny and compelling, at times, but overall it just seemed disconnected to the main theme. Although maybe that IS the theme. Disconnection with the real, war-torn world. The choppy cadence of the story kept me from appreciating the narrative and Insu's growth.
I enjoyed Big Uncle's remembrances. His chapters, set in the 1950s during the Korean War, seem to have more depth and emotional resonance for me than Insu's. My favorite moment of the novel was Insu's time with Big Uncle. Although Insu seemed to grow a bit through his experiences, his overall melancholic personality didn't lend itself to the creation of a strong character.
Overall, I just couldn't stay invested in this story.
A firecracker of a book from start to finish, this is one of those novels that you will think about long after finishing the last page. I've had this one for a while now but when it was mentioned in The Sentence by a character as "transformative," I had to read it right away. It's phenomenal.
It's 1969 in South Brooklyn and Deacon Cuffy Lambkin, or "Sportcoat" as he is known by his friends in the Causeway Houses (for the wild jackets and hats he wears) is in a pickle. A lover of "King Kong" moonshine, he's three sheets to the wind when he shoots Deems, the kid he used to coach in baseball who is now a drug dealer. This action sets off several narratives that are a mix of funny, heartbreaking, joyous, and engrossing. There's the story of a lonely Italian mobster, Tommy "Elephant" Elephante who's looking for love and a mysterious windfall left by his father. There's also a white cop investigating the shooting who falls for "Sister Gee," the wise elder of Five Baptists Church who, like her neighbors, will not turn in their beloved-yet-damaged Sportcoat. And then there's Sportcoat himself, an old, drunk Black man who talks to his dead wife Hettie yet is proved to be way more profound than he would seem. He's the star of this novel for good reason. He's an unforgettable creation and the lens through we the readers view several big issues—the racism of the time, faith and how it informs a life, and the deterioration of South Brooklyn by the rise of the drug trade.
McBride is a master at keeping the novel moving at an engrossing clip, whether it's through humor or discussions about religion or talk of love and the meaning of life. He goes from slapstick humor (the inability of a mob henchmen to kill Sportcoat) to deep thought (Sister Gee's pontifications about faith and hope) easily and keeps you engrossed from page to page, paragraph to paragraph. If you haven't read this beauty of a novel yet, try and do it soon. It's wonderful and absolutely one of my favorites so far this year.
P.S. I listened to parts of the audiobook of this too (thanks, Libby!) and Dominic Hoffman is a terrific narrator. So if that's your way-to-read-of-choice, check this novel out in audio.
It's 1969 in South Brooklyn and Deacon Cuffy Lambkin, or "Sportcoat" as he is known by his friends in the Causeway Houses (for the wild jackets and hats he wears) is in a pickle. A lover of "King Kong" moonshine, he's three sheets to the wind when he shoots Deems, the kid he used to coach in baseball who is now a drug dealer. This action sets off several narratives that are a mix of funny, heartbreaking, joyous, and engrossing. There's the story of a lonely Italian mobster, Tommy "Elephant" Elephante who's looking for love and a mysterious windfall left by his father. There's also a white cop investigating the shooting who falls for "Sister Gee," the wise elder of Five Baptists Church who, like her neighbors, will not turn in their beloved-yet-damaged Sportcoat. And then there's Sportcoat himself, an old, drunk Black man who talks to his dead wife Hettie yet is proved to be way more profound than he would seem. He's the star of this novel for good reason. He's an unforgettable creation and the lens through we the readers view several big issues—the racism of the time, faith and how it informs a life, and the deterioration of South Brooklyn by the rise of the drug trade.
McBride is a master at keeping the novel moving at an engrossing clip, whether it's through humor or discussions about religion or talk of love and the meaning of life. He goes from slapstick humor (the inability of a mob henchmen to kill Sportcoat) to deep thought (Sister Gee's pontifications about faith and hope) easily and keeps you engrossed from page to page, paragraph to paragraph. If you haven't read this beauty of a novel yet, try and do it soon. It's wonderful and absolutely one of my favorites so far this year.
P.S. I listened to parts of the audiobook of this too (thanks, Libby!) and Dominic Hoffman is a terrific narrator. So if that's your way-to-read-of-choice, check this novel out in audio.
I've shared how I don't read romance books as often these days as I used to. Maybe because I'm middle-aged or enjoy ending a book by sobbing into my wine. :) I'm still not quite sure why. But I do love the escape romance can provide and this one was a nice diversion from real-life stress.
I'll be honest. I'm hit or miss with Tessa's books. I wasn't a huge fan of Fix Her Up, I DNF'd Love Her or Lose Her, and I LOVED It Happened One Summer. But this one hooked me with the mention of #GrumpySunshine (although I'd say this one is #StarchySunshine).
I've seen a few reviews that said it wasn't Tessa's best, but I liked it. I love the unraveling of a starchy, schedule-driven man by a sweet-yet-scattered woman, and this one did that really well. And once Julian unravels? Phew, they don't call Tessa Bailey a master of steamy for nothing. I also liked the very-real issues this touched upon, including anxiety, panic attacks, and disorganization. Although they were polar opposites, Hallie and Julian really did bring out the best in each other.
My quibbles: The letter-writing portion seemed out-of-place and not really necessary to drive the plot. I also felt like this focused a bit more on Julian to the detriment of Hallie's characterization. I honestly don't know why she needed to be a virgin. It would have been cool to make Julian the inexperienced one--especially considering his rigid lifestyle and personality (pun not intended!). But, hey, I'm not a romance writer, so what do I know?
If you're looking for a fizzy, fun, sexy read, check this one out! This review says 3 stars, but I'm giving it 3.5 (allow half stars, GoodReads!).
I'll be honest. I'm hit or miss with Tessa's books. I wasn't a huge fan of Fix Her Up, I DNF'd Love Her or Lose Her, and I LOVED It Happened One Summer. But this one hooked me with the mention of #GrumpySunshine (although I'd say this one is #StarchySunshine).
I've seen a few reviews that said it wasn't Tessa's best, but I liked it. I love the unraveling of a starchy, schedule-driven man by a sweet-yet-scattered woman, and this one did that really well. And once Julian unravels? Phew, they don't call Tessa Bailey a master of steamy for nothing. I also liked the very-real issues this touched upon, including anxiety, panic attacks, and disorganization. Although they were polar opposites, Hallie and Julian really did bring out the best in each other.
My quibbles: The letter-writing portion seemed out-of-place and not really necessary to drive the plot. I also felt like this focused a bit more on Julian to the detriment of Hallie's characterization. I honestly don't know why she needed to be a virgin. It would have been cool to make Julian the inexperienced one--especially considering his rigid lifestyle and personality (pun not intended!). But, hey, I'm not a romance writer, so what do I know?
If you're looking for a fizzy, fun, sexy read, check this one out! This review says 3 stars, but I'm giving it 3.5 (allow half stars, GoodReads!).
I'm a Lutheran. As I've gotten older and more serious about social justice (especially the discrimination of Black and LGBTQ+ communities through book-banning), I've started questioning the variances of Christianity. There are so many examples (past and present) of violence and hate fueled by Christianity. Is a religion that does this the one for me? How can I reconcile my progressive-leaning faith with actual scripture?
When I struggle, I lean into my "go-to:" WDTBS (What Do The Books Say)? And by doing that, I found this terrific book.
Colby is an ex-evangelical pastor who "came out" in 2011--not about his sexuality but his true beliefs. After revealing to his church's elders that he believed the LGBTQ+ community were children of God and their loves and lives were not sins, he was fired. In this book, he mixes anecdotes of his story with a theological analysis of the "clobber" passages of the Bible; the passages that are used as "proof" that LGBTQ+ people are living expressly against the words of the Bible and the will of God. The metaphor is that these verses are used to "clobber" LGBTQ+ people over the head with the Bible.
Colby's personal story and his analyses are excellent--relatable, smart, and sensible. He looks at Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 1 Timothy 1:10 through lenses of scriptural translation (e.g. the story of Sodom and Gomorrah warns against power & control not same-sex relations), the difference between the Bible's patriarchal society/culture and today, how change-of-thought is demonstrated in scripture, and, most importantly, the Bible's golden rule: Love thy neighbor as thyself.
I'm happy to say this book reaffirmed my faith in a God and a religion/spirituality that accepts ALL and puts love and charity toward others before self-righteous judgement and hate fueled by strict reading of scripture (Do we cut off hands that steal?). And, best of all, it gave me some great theological language to back up my core beliefs. If you're struggling with your faith, this is a great resource for perspective.
When I struggle, I lean into my "go-to:" WDTBS (What Do The Books Say)? And by doing that, I found this terrific book.
Colby is an ex-evangelical pastor who "came out" in 2011--not about his sexuality but his true beliefs. After revealing to his church's elders that he believed the LGBTQ+ community were children of God and their loves and lives were not sins, he was fired. In this book, he mixes anecdotes of his story with a theological analysis of the "clobber" passages of the Bible; the passages that are used as "proof" that LGBTQ+ people are living expressly against the words of the Bible and the will of God. The metaphor is that these verses are used to "clobber" LGBTQ+ people over the head with the Bible.
Colby's personal story and his analyses are excellent--relatable, smart, and sensible. He looks at Genesis 19, Leviticus 18:22 & 20:13, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9 & 1 Timothy 1:10 through lenses of scriptural translation (e.g. the story of Sodom and Gomorrah warns against power & control not same-sex relations), the difference between the Bible's patriarchal society/culture and today, how change-of-thought is demonstrated in scripture, and, most importantly, the Bible's golden rule: Love thy neighbor as thyself.
I'm happy to say this book reaffirmed my faith in a God and a religion/spirituality that accepts ALL and puts love and charity toward others before self-righteous judgement and hate fueled by strict reading of scripture (Do we cut off hands that steal?). And, best of all, it gave me some great theological language to back up my core beliefs. If you're struggling with your faith, this is a great resource for perspective.
This fiercely feminist biography shines the light on a notorious woman of history—Ann Trow, aka Madame Restell, the 5th Ave. abortionist and doctor. A self-made immigrant and millionaire who learned how to make abortive & birth control pills & perform surgical abortions, Restell lived a life of affluence & infamy in NYC in the mid-to-late 1800s. Unrepentant about her services & the rights of women to control their bodies, she toed the line between providing a service that many (women & men for their women) avowed her of & fighting against the people & organizations that tried to stop her. The most prominent was Anthony Comstock, an anti-vice activist, who turned his strict Christian beliefs into a lifelong crusade. Restell went to jail numerous times but it was Comstock's subterfuge that led her there for the final time. She ended up committing suicide...or did she? Yes, the rumor persists today that Restell faked her death.
This book is entertaining and enlightening—not just the info about Restell (who flaunted her fame & money), but also how similar the fight against abortion was then to now, particularly the misogyny that permeates the debate. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or, as Wright puts it: "In America the pendulum is always swinging between enlightenment and puritanism, and never rests entirely to one side."
If you want to learn more about this fascinating woman and the history of abortion, absolutely read this book. Wright's style is bold and smart and shows her adept at writing "pop history."
This book is entertaining and enlightening—not just the info about Restell (who flaunted her fame & money), but also how similar the fight against abortion was then to now, particularly the misogyny that permeates the debate. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Or, as Wright puts it: "In America the pendulum is always swinging between enlightenment and puritanism, and never rests entirely to one side."
If you want to learn more about this fascinating woman and the history of abortion, absolutely read this book. Wright's style is bold and smart and shows her adept at writing "pop history."