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liz_newbern's review against another edition
5.0
"Girl Gurl Grrl" by Kenya Hunt is a series of essays, including a few guest writers, that share with the reader the experience of black women across a spectrum of different experiences. Hunt is poignant and thoughtful, as our her guest writers, who each have a particular perspective to share. It allows the reader to dive into the thoughts, experiences, and struggles faced by black women in today's world, but also highlights the beautiful and vibrant communities that they have created for themselves despite facing adversity.
As a white woman, I don't know that I can fully understand what it means to be a black woman in today's world, but I feel as if Hunt's words helped me get closer than I ever could on my own. I also did relate to many of the experiences she describes because some of them are not unique to black women, but are true of any woman navigating life in a patriarchal society. But for me, I came away from this book with a world view that was expanded, and hopefully a little more aware.
This book does discuss some sensitive and personal topics that may be triggering to some readers.
As a white woman, I don't know that I can fully understand what it means to be a black woman in today's world, but I feel as if Hunt's words helped me get closer than I ever could on my own. I also did relate to many of the experiences she describes because some of them are not unique to black women, but are true of any woman navigating life in a patriarchal society. But for me, I came away from this book with a world view that was expanded, and hopefully a little more aware.
This book does discuss some sensitive and personal topics that may be triggering to some readers.
blumoongirl's review against another edition
4.0
This book was a collection of essays by a black author, with a story to tell. She is every woman and she is also unique in many of her life’s circumstances. She is an Ex pat in London, she is a new mom, she is a strong, black woman… she writes about all of these thing in a very succinct, and matter of fact way. There is no sugarcoating how she feels and she is forthright about her own struggles as a woman, and most importantly struggles as a black woman in this world.
My favorite essay was her Woke essay. To badly paraphrase ‘just bring up the word woke in mixed company and you don’t even have to worry about getting to know somebody after seeing eyes roll and smirks’. So true.
I’ve read some of the reviews that complain that she is not overly informed when it comes to politics…. But that’s the beauty of a book of your own essays. She is writing what she wants and what she feels. And she’s entitled to every single word. Not every book of essays has to fit the readers agenda.
My favorite essay was her Woke essay. To badly paraphrase ‘just bring up the word woke in mixed company and you don’t even have to worry about getting to know somebody after seeing eyes roll and smirks’. So true.
I’ve read some of the reviews that complain that she is not overly informed when it comes to politics…. But that’s the beauty of a book of your own essays. She is writing what she wants and what she feels. And she’s entitled to every single word. Not every book of essays has to fit the readers agenda.
shaebaybee07's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
2.0
I don’t know what I was expecting when I decided to read this one. It just felt like a rehash of all the conversations I’ve watched and engaged in during my undergrad years and early adulthood on the forums and blogs (IYKYK). Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything new this collection of essays brought to the table.
tweetiesrf's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
faliiza's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Touching, reflective and informative.
The audiobook had some issues with the volume, changing to barely audible with some of the narrators.
The audiobook had some issues with the volume, changing to barely audible with some of the narrators.
ashiie's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.0
I enjoyed this collection of essays on being a black woman in today’s age. What I loved reading about most was the struggle of not being black enough. I myself have dealt with this on and off throughout my life and it seems to always be an issue initiated by others that leads me to question myself. I always think I am alone in this but I was glad to see it expressed in this book. There was a quote I resonated with: “I started trying to prove my blackness and in the process felt like I was failing at the very thing that was most obvious about me.” The experience of being picked on regardless of being around black or white people and just never fitting in anywhere. Exhausting! But another quote that I loved and I will remember now was: “I am black like me.” There is no one way to do black womanhood and we should embrace and celebrate all experiences.
noelnoie's review against another edition
1.0
This is a solid DNF for me! It was “okay”, up until the author in an essay about wokeness holds up Stormzy as as what she describes as “in the original woke canon”. Um... oh girl, please tell me how a man well documented on wax as making colorist comments could ever be defined as woke? It’s the irony for me.