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mimimilaa's review
3.0
I am unsure how I feel about this book currently. I'm going to mull it over and hopefully I can decide on a rating.
Update: After much thought, I feel like this book is worth 3 stars (but on the high end of a 3).
Update: After much thought, I feel like this book is worth 3 stars (but on the high end of a 3).
caitlinhorstman's review against another edition
4.0
This is a story about a African American family who is chosen by a research institute to raise a chimp as a member of their family and teach him sign language. You later find out that the institute has a history of performing thought experiments on black people without informed consent. It's a pretty weird premise, but I liked it. It definitely explores race, and also touches on other ideas such as loneliness, animal rights and sexuality.
One of my favorite parts is when the old white lady benefactor if the institute writes a letter to the African American people "apologizing" for the wrongs committed against the black race LITERALLY ON HER DIME while also saying that she can't be held accountable because she was too depressed to check on the depraved-ass doctor that she hired to work for her. For me, it drove the point home that we have a responsibility to our fellow humans to be (at the very, very least) informed and involved.
One of my favorite parts is when the old white lady benefactor if the institute writes a letter to the African American people "apologizing" for the wrongs committed against the black race LITERALLY ON HER DIME while also saying that she can't be held accountable because she was too depressed to check on the depraved-ass doctor that she hired to work for her. For me, it drove the point home that we have a responsibility to our fellow humans to be (at the very, very least) informed and involved.
cat_book_lady's review against another edition
4.0
3.5-4*...rounded up to 4 because of the tremendous impact on my reeling psyche.
I had to read this because one of my favorite authors - Colum McCann - recommended her...likely because she is part of his MFA program, and I am curious as to the writing skill of one of his proteges.
Without a doubt, this is one of the strangest stories I have read, and I had to ask myself - WHY would she write this? Why would she write about a black family who is hired to help train a chimp to talk using sign language? Even more so, WHY would she write about horrible eugenics experiments done at the Institute years earlier, and completely unnatural, obscene drawings of the male doctor who superimposes a chimp's head on a beautiful black woman's body? WHY would she write about the strained relationships of being the only one of two black girls in a very white town? WHY would she write a hollow apology letter from the rich white Director to the African Americans? WHY would she write about a black family torn apart because they simply don't know how to love each other?
Because...this is a story that had to be told. Greenridge weaves a haunting tale of the complexity of racism without beating us over the head with it. She is adeptly subtle, and while this story will leave you scratching your head in horrified wonder, she will indelibly leave her mark. This story has stayed with me, and the more I wonder, the more I love it. I am stunned at how unbelievably terrible some people can be to each other. Yet within, the lines of communication - whether different dialects of sign language (I had no idea there was "white" and "black" sign language), people just simply can't talk to each other. People don't understand each other. And with the kinds of experiments done on unsuspecting black people, can they be blamed for mistrust? For putting up barriers? For not wanting to talk?
The characters are developed so well, and though I had a very difficult time relating to their strange situation, I could relate to them as human beings. I felt the need to love and be loved, to be looked at as a person, to want a family, to want friends, and to want a normal existence.
Be prepared for some twists and turns, and know you are in for quite a rollercoaster. This one is going to sit with you for a long, long while.
I had to read this because one of my favorite authors - Colum McCann - recommended her...likely because she is part of his MFA program, and I am curious as to the writing skill of one of his proteges.
Without a doubt, this is one of the strangest stories I have read, and I had to ask myself - WHY would she write this? Why would she write about a black family who is hired to help train a chimp to talk using sign language? Even more so, WHY would she write about horrible eugenics experiments done at the Institute years earlier, and completely unnatural, obscene drawings of the male doctor who superimposes a chimp's head on a beautiful black woman's body? WHY would she write about the strained relationships of being the only one of two black girls in a very white town? WHY would she write a hollow apology letter from the rich white Director to the African Americans? WHY would she write about a black family torn apart because they simply don't know how to love each other?
Because...this is a story that had to be told. Greenridge weaves a haunting tale of the complexity of racism without beating us over the head with it. She is adeptly subtle, and while this story will leave you scratching your head in horrified wonder, she will indelibly leave her mark. This story has stayed with me, and the more I wonder, the more I love it. I am stunned at how unbelievably terrible some people can be to each other. Yet within, the lines of communication - whether different dialects of sign language (I had no idea there was "white" and "black" sign language), people just simply can't talk to each other. People don't understand each other. And with the kinds of experiments done on unsuspecting black people, can they be blamed for mistrust? For putting up barriers? For not wanting to talk?
The characters are developed so well, and though I had a very difficult time relating to their strange situation, I could relate to them as human beings. I felt the need to love and be loved, to be looked at as a person, to want a family, to want friends, and to want a normal existence.
Be prepared for some twists and turns, and know you are in for quite a rollercoaster. This one is going to sit with you for a long, long while.
lielos99's review against another edition
2.0
Had to read this for school. Writing style and character arcs were great, but didnt like or approve of much of the content in the book.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
bookwormy614's review against another edition
5.0
I'll start by saying that I tend to steer clear of books in the library with the African American sticker across the spine. With a handful of exceptions, most tend to revolve around slavery or hood life and neither are subjects I enjoy. However, the cover and title of "We Love You, Charlie Freeman" caught my attention and after reading the first few pages I knew this wasn't the typical African American fiction I was used to.
There's a lot going on here. The theme revolves around race but there's so much more. Tension -racial - sexual - familial - class. Everyone in this book is vying for attention but only one seems to get it and once he gets it, in the end, he still isn't satisfied. So many issues throughout but really it's just a story about a family that starts off fairly normal and becomes dysfunctional in an attempt to make history. It can and will make you uncomfortable but race, sex, and family secrets usually do. Do yourself a favor ... read this and open your mind to what's going on in the world just a little more.
There's a lot going on here. The theme revolves around race but there's so much more. Tension -racial - sexual - familial - class. Everyone in this book is vying for attention but only one seems to get it and once he gets it, in the end, he still isn't satisfied. So many issues throughout but really it's just a story about a family that starts off fairly normal and becomes dysfunctional in an attempt to make history. It can and will make you uncomfortable but race, sex, and family secrets usually do. Do yourself a favor ... read this and open your mind to what's going on in the world just a little more.
mgwalsho's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars - the themes are well designed and executed, but there are so many that character development and a satisfying ending has to be sacrificed - that wasn’t super fun for me. I liked the plot, but it wasn’t as revolutionary or gripping as it deserved, in my opinion. The ending just sort of happened. Overall, a good debut and I am looking forward to being able to read Libertie.
quinnowo's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
chillcox15's review against another edition
4.0
I didn’t expect to dig this one as much as I did, mainly because the conceit of a family living with a chimp for an experiment is a bit uninspiring. We don’t need any more contemporary fiction about monkeys and chimpanzees, people. But this book got its hooks in me with the smart ways Greenidge depicts and dissects race, and she has a real talent for ratcheting up tension and uncomfortability, without you really noticing, until it knocks you over all at once.
Spoiler
Chimp-nursing scene, I’m talking bout you!rachelsprague's review against another edition
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0