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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I devoured this book mostly during a weekend trip. The honest telling of her life - the daughter of so many worlds, moves, and experiences is beautiful without overly-flowery language or pretense.
The conclusion is not overly contemplative or navel gazey - but rather just the right amount of style and understanding that brings the reader almost to tears - not out of pain or pity - but out of hope.
The conclusion is not overly contemplative or navel gazey - but rather just the right amount of style and understanding that brings the reader almost to tears - not out of pain or pity - but out of hope.
It wasn't groundbreaking but offered a thoughtful exposure to challenging questions about identity, some of which I can relate to (religious and cultural identity) and others that require me to exercise my empathy muscles a bit more (racial identity).
I would have appreciated a bit more analysis in exchange for some of the storytelling but I suppose that is the nature of the memoir genre.
As somebody in the throes of several towering piles of philosophy books, it was important for me to read something as timely and topical as this—and just really human.
Black White and Jewish could serve as a worthwhile companion to the 2019 film The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
I would have appreciated a bit more analysis in exchange for some of the storytelling but I suppose that is the nature of the memoir genre.
As somebody in the throes of several towering piles of philosophy books, it was important for me to read something as timely and topical as this—and just really human.
Black White and Jewish could serve as a worthwhile companion to the 2019 film The Last Black Man in San Francisco.
I would not want to be the child of a celebrity. Add to that the fact that Rebecca Walker is biracial and her parents had a bizarre joint custody agreement and you have the makings of fascinating story.
I think that Rebecca Walker is trying as honestly as she can to tell her story. The fact that she and her mother disagree about her version just makes this more interesting.
I recommend this book to those folks who think they know what their kids are up to. I am parent to two wonderful children and I think we have done a good job of bringing each other to adulthood. However, I don't want to know this much about my kids life.
I think that Rebecca Walker is trying as honestly as she can to tell her story. The fact that she and her mother disagree about her version just makes this more interesting.
I recommend this book to those folks who think they know what their kids are up to. I am parent to two wonderful children and I think we have done a good job of bringing each other to adulthood. However, I don't want to know this much about my kids life.
Memoir of Alice Walker's black-Jewish daughter--I found this book to be sad, as she was caught between two worlds, feeling as if she belonged nowhere.
After thirty pages I was sure I was going to give the book a full four stars, but things became a little repetitive afterwards. The style especially. The non-linear fragments were interesting stylistically, but at times made it difficult to follow the trajectory, so to speak. I was never quite sure how old Walker was at any given time, unless she specifically mentioned her age.
I am looking forward to reading her second memoir, the famously controversial one.
(And I do not mean to sound judgmental, and it is not a criticism of the book - or Rebecca Walker - but I found it so strange to read about her early teen sexual experience. At that age my friends and I watched Sailor Moon and imagined making out with Mamoru (or the various gender-shifting characters on that show).)
I am looking forward to reading her second memoir, the famously controversial one.
(And I do not mean to sound judgmental, and it is not a criticism of the book - or Rebecca Walker - but I found it so strange to read about her early teen sexual experience. At that age my friends and I watched Sailor Moon and imagined making out with Mamoru (or the various gender-shifting characters on that show).)
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
reflective
medium-paced
This was a very interestingly-written memoir. Artistic, emotional, and a little abstract, the author focuses more on how details tasted and smelled than a clear timeline, which I enjoyed. It had a lot of interesting insights and I got a lot from it. :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Toxic friendship, Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Homophobia, Antisemitism, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Classism
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
A quick and interesting read. Part of my deep dive into the idea of "split identity." Rebecca Walker is the daughter of Pulitzer-winner Alice Walker and civil rights lawyer Mel Leventhal, who would later divorce. This is the story of reconciling her identity, of feeling anchor-less, parent-less. I couldn't stop thinking how hard it must be to grow up in Alice Walker's shadow. What a complex and interesting figure. I got lost in all the different characters that Walker refers to in this book. Did she intend for that to be disorienting? Generally a compelling book.