Reviews - Matriarch: A Memoir

622 reviews for:

Matriarch: A Memoir

Tina Knowles

4.57 AVERAGE

hxkiim's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

nyah_capri's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

aw9214's review against another edition

4.75

emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing medium-paced

Tina Knowles illustrates her life's story so colorfully in this memoir. From her youth in Galveston, Texas, to life in Los Angeles and Houston and New York—all over the world, really—I could see every scene and hear every voice. She speaks so highly—and when necessary, candidly—of her elders and her family members. She speaks of her ancestors with such reverence. This is such a rich and inspiring memoir—especially inspiring for Black Americans.

I only have one "critique"—which is more of an observation. As we get further into the book—starting around the time her children become teenagers/adolescents—there seemed to be an underlying need to address many of the rumors that have circulated around her family, as though she wanted to use the latter chapters to serve as a mouthpiece for her daughters. Again, this isn't a critique, because what mother wouldn't want to do that? But the moments that she used to subtly address rumors still put her into the background of her own story.

For example (probably my most extreme example), there have been theories that Beyonce and Aaliyah had a rivalry before her death—the worst of these rumors being that Aaliyah was "sacrificed" so that Beyonce could be famous. I believe Ms. Knowles subtly addresses this by dedicating a page or two to discussing a day in which Aaliyah spent some time with Destiny's Child and talking about how sad they were when she died. Of course, this in itself isn't some horrible thing—but it's one of several reflections in Beyoncé's story that puts Ms. Knowles in the background. As much as I love Beyoncé and want to know her business, I hate that Ms. Knowles felt the need to address things on hers and Solange's behalf. But I understand it!

Otherwise, this was a well-written, inspiring, and informative memoir that I've told many friends and family about.

Content Warnings

hanaka's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

insightful, inspiring, incredibly well thought-out— i could hear ms. tina’s voice echoing through the word choice and tone. i really enjoyed this on loan from the library, although it is definitely overdue by now