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joan_anne's review against another edition
5.0
Blown away, read it now. Essential insight and authenticity. Thank you Rebecca.
kdahlo's review against another edition
5.0
A must-read book in my opinion. Really raw and honest, a lot of discomfort, anger and imperfection. Even though this book speaks to the very specific experience of the author as a transracial adoptee, it's an important American story about culture and race. I feel very grateful to Rebecca Carroll for writing this and sharing her experience so openly.
leahpoplestone's review against another edition
4.0
Memoirs are one of my favourite genres to read. There's something about the vulnerability of someone sharing their story that makes it so intimate and appealing to me.
This memoir was absolutely brilliant. Rebecca is a phenomenal writer. There's something about the simplicity of her writing, that makes it so beautiful and raw. For me, it was an "easy" read because of this simplicity, but also because I was so deeply enthralled in her story.
Rebecca's memory is premised on navigating her "Blackness" in a predominantly white family and neighborhood in her early years, as well as through various other avenues of her life. Rebecca experiences so many microaggressions and racism throughout her life - in her relationships, throughout her education, and with family.
Rebecca's relationship with her biological mother, Tess, broke me.... Tess was cruel and manipulative towards Rebecca, so at times, it was hard to read about that. I felt so deeply saddened when Rebecca walked us through her feelings of self after spending time with Tess.
This memoir was absolutely brilliant. Rebecca is a phenomenal writer. There's something about the simplicity of her writing, that makes it so beautiful and raw. For me, it was an "easy" read because of this simplicity, but also because I was so deeply enthralled in her story.
Rebecca's memory is premised on navigating her "Blackness" in a predominantly white family and neighborhood in her early years, as well as through various other avenues of her life. Rebecca experiences so many microaggressions and racism throughout her life - in her relationships, throughout her education, and with family.
Rebecca's relationship with her biological mother, Tess, broke me.... Tess was cruel and manipulative towards Rebecca, so at times, it was hard to read about that. I felt so deeply saddened when Rebecca walked us through her feelings of self after spending time with Tess.
lexie_gabrielle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
christie_esau's review against another edition
4.0
A very important, complex and at times heartbreaking memoir by a Black adult adoptee in a transracial adoption. Highly recommend.
luvandkiwi's review against another edition
5.0
This book means a lot to me. I saw a lot of myself in Rebecca’s pages. Definitely one that will now live with me.
ninakeller's review against another edition
4.0
Great memoir! The protagonist/author has a lot in common with my older (half) sister, which I think is really important representation. It takes you on a journey of the time during her childhood, weaving in the elements of popular culture and political realities. She raises social issues as she has experienced them - adoption, interracial family, identity, race, abortion, relationships, political resistance, and so on.
greenteabookme's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you #NetGalley, Rebecca Carroll and Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC copy of Surviving the White Gaze. I was thrilled to be able to read this powerful memoir as my first February 2021 read for Black History Month.
I haven't read many memoirs in my life so I don't have much to compare Carrolls work to, but she wrote a very powerful memoir sharing her very emotional harrowing story. Rebecca shares her earliest memories of the first time she met another black person, and growing up extremely isolated as the only black women in her town. She also shares her experiences with her birth parents and being adopted and I think that a lot of people would find those experiences relatable. Her childhood was filled with abuse, neglect and isolation and it was very eye opening some of the experiences Rebecca shared.
I can only imagine how tough this memoir was to write and share, and want to thank Rebecca for putting her story and experiences down on paper so that others like me can read, and understand just a little bit more about your life and your perspective.
Surviving the White Gaze was well written and an incredibly powerful read but I want to warn that it may be triggering for people (abuse, neglect, etc.). I would really like to read other work by Rebecca Carroll as she is obviously a good writer and has lived an incredible life and I will be checking out her podcast. I’d recommend it for fans of memoirs and anyone looking to read something outside of their usual lane by an BIPOC author as the content is really important.
Trigger warnings: abuse, adoption, neglect, rape.
I haven't read many memoirs in my life so I don't have much to compare Carrolls work to, but she wrote a very powerful memoir sharing her very emotional harrowing story. Rebecca shares her earliest memories of the first time she met another black person, and growing up extremely isolated as the only black women in her town. She also shares her experiences with her birth parents and being adopted and I think that a lot of people would find those experiences relatable. Her childhood was filled with abuse, neglect and isolation and it was very eye opening some of the experiences Rebecca shared.
I can only imagine how tough this memoir was to write and share, and want to thank Rebecca for putting her story and experiences down on paper so that others like me can read, and understand just a little bit more about your life and your perspective.
Surviving the White Gaze was well written and an incredibly powerful read but I want to warn that it may be triggering for people (abuse, neglect, etc.). I would really like to read other work by Rebecca Carroll as she is obviously a good writer and has lived an incredible life and I will be checking out her podcast. I’d recommend it for fans of memoirs and anyone looking to read something outside of their usual lane by an BIPOC author as the content is really important.
Trigger warnings: abuse, adoption, neglect, rape.