Scan barcode
jecinwv's review against another edition
5.0
As a fan of essays this book was just what I needed. At less than 100 pages I was able to read this over the course of an afternoon. I ended feeling full of ideas. Womanish is a collection of essays on black womanhood, education, politics, motherhood, online dating, mental health, and racism. Kim lays out her own life in an easy to follow narrative. She points out various issues of race and addresses them towards a white audience. She also gets very personal. What I love about Kim is her ease in coming to and accepting adulthood. Kim is a strong woman but you also get to see the reasons that she is one, both societal, personally, and racially. As a white woman I am grateful that writers like Kim exist. A lot of truths in here might be hard to swallow for some but are necessary to hear. The use of quotes, connections, and parody to literature was amazing and I felt them deep in my literary loving heart. I secretly am jealous of the college students that have Kim as their professor. I cannot suggest this enough!
mizpurplest's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the style of writing, the perspective, the total honesty - all delightful. I've never read any of McLarin's books before, so I have no idea what her novels are like, but this was very refreshing and a fast read. Even the parts that made me cringe and spend some time in self-analysis.
I will confess that I was *very* distracted by some much needed editing, so I hope at some point someone goes back and fixes some of the typos and inconsistencies!
I will confess that I was *very* distracted by some much needed editing, so I hope at some point someone goes back and fixes some of the typos and inconsistencies!
morganamberj's review against another edition
5.0
I was in the middle of reading "Black is the Body", another book of essays, when I found myself bored and wanting to read something else. This book was conveniently next to me and I picked it up. I finished it in a single day.
What "Black is the Body" lacks in fire, "Womanish" has the matches and gasoline. Every essay was punctuated with the no-nonsense voice of a Black mother speaking her truth and telling her wisdom. I found myself completely entranced in her life lessons and even laughing at the more ridiculous parts. Seriously, next to "We're Going to Need More Wine" by Gabrielle Union, this book is at the same level in humor.
The book and essays are short and concise. There's not a lot of fluffy language either so it doesn't feel like someone is oppressing you with their knowledge. There is plenty of knowledge, though, believe me. All in all, this book is getting a 5/5 on the Books and Bougie Scale. I should buy it.
What "Black is the Body" lacks in fire, "Womanish" has the matches and gasoline. Every essay was punctuated with the no-nonsense voice of a Black mother speaking her truth and telling her wisdom. I found myself completely entranced in her life lessons and even laughing at the more ridiculous parts. Seriously, next to "We're Going to Need More Wine" by Gabrielle Union, this book is at the same level in humor.
The book and essays are short and concise. There's not a lot of fluffy language either so it doesn't feel like someone is oppressing you with their knowledge. There is plenty of knowledge, though, believe me. All in all, this book is getting a 5/5 on the Books and Bougie Scale. I should buy it.
aliciakindlereads's review against another edition
4.0
Nice read
Took me awhile to read the book due to being occupied with other things but this is a nice read. Some funny tidbits and interesting notes I’ve taken.
Took me awhile to read the book due to being occupied with other things but this is a nice read. Some funny tidbits and interesting notes I’ve taken.
popsicle's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
showthisbooksomelove's review against another edition
5.0
This nonfiction title explores some heavy topics, such as racism, sexism, mental health, and feminism through McLaren's life lens. Her perspective is not unique, but the way she writes about her story feels inspiring and fresh. I was drawn to Womanish by the gorgeous bright pink and purple cover, but a pretty cover does not always a five star book make. Let's jump right into the meat of her essays.
McLaren jumps right into her book with an essay about online dating. The thing I noticed right off the bat, and continued to appreciate throughout her book, is that she often highlights the lessons she has learned clearly for the reader to see. Her lessons are pretty powerful stuff. Whether or not you're ready to hear them, and whether or not they are simple or complex, McLaren's got some truth nuggets that are sure to be helpful in one way or another. I found her first essay drew me in, as McLaren is funny and open with her experiences, her lack of defensiveness helps this feel more like a conversation.
Her second essay is more of a hard hitter. Entitled Becky and Me, McLaren writes about her relationship with white women, and black women's relationships with white women in general. She does this through several angles; her own perspective, women she has interviewed, and TV shows and pop culture provide adequate material to dissect and reflect upon. While I acknowledge what she has to say as true, and want to be an advocate for change in the way white women treat black women, this was a hard essay for me to read, being a white woman myself. And I am able to read it and appreciate it for the information and emotion McLaren provides her readers. I hope with all my heart that the bulk of white women who read this book can take this essay in just as they take her other essays in, and learn and grow from it without being put off by the truths that are within. McLaren is quick and careful to acknowledge her generalizations, and she puts them in there at the same time to make powerful arguments and draw attention to her statements. While this was not my favorite essay, I thoroughly appreciate it's existence and the way McLaren challenged my own perspective.
Her following essays are just as poignant, and I found I learned something from each of them. Her essay on mental health was incredibly powerful, and a call to take better care of ourselves however we can. She moves on to write about the prison system, with a personal attachment to her nephew who is sentenced to prison. She threads in statistics seemingly effortlessly, and I enjoy how she weaves her personal narrative and statistical evidence together to provide such emotional perspective to both of these heavy topics.
The essay that personally effected me the most, although they are all wonderful, was On Self-Delusion. This essay was a hard hitter for me because McLaren takes time to call attention to lies we tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better. She guides readers through a look at her own self-delusions, and encourages readers to think about and acknowledge what delusions we each have. I feel as though I am at a stage in my life in which I am seeking to replace habits with new routines that work for me, and this essay gave me a wonderful start for calling myself on my BS. What are the lies I've told myself to avoid being vulnerable with the decisions I have made or continue to make? In acknowledging where our vulnerabilities lie, in confronting those, we can better understand where we fall in relationship to others. Thank you, Kim McLaren, for putting this essay out in the world so that I could find it at this time in my life.
Clearly I could continue to talk about how great the rest of her essays are, but the point is there is something here for almost everyone, and I wuold be surprised if you can't find something in here to learn from or connect to. I haven't read anything else from Kim McLaren, but I'm 100% inspired to pick up more of her works after reading Womanish.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the publsher via Edelweiss+.
McLaren jumps right into her book with an essay about online dating. The thing I noticed right off the bat, and continued to appreciate throughout her book, is that she often highlights the lessons she has learned clearly for the reader to see. Her lessons are pretty powerful stuff. Whether or not you're ready to hear them, and whether or not they are simple or complex, McLaren's got some truth nuggets that are sure to be helpful in one way or another. I found her first essay drew me in, as McLaren is funny and open with her experiences, her lack of defensiveness helps this feel more like a conversation.
Her second essay is more of a hard hitter. Entitled Becky and Me, McLaren writes about her relationship with white women, and black women's relationships with white women in general. She does this through several angles; her own perspective, women she has interviewed, and TV shows and pop culture provide adequate material to dissect and reflect upon. While I acknowledge what she has to say as true, and want to be an advocate for change in the way white women treat black women, this was a hard essay for me to read, being a white woman myself. And I am able to read it and appreciate it for the information and emotion McLaren provides her readers. I hope with all my heart that the bulk of white women who read this book can take this essay in just as they take her other essays in, and learn and grow from it without being put off by the truths that are within. McLaren is quick and careful to acknowledge her generalizations, and she puts them in there at the same time to make powerful arguments and draw attention to her statements. While this was not my favorite essay, I thoroughly appreciate it's existence and the way McLaren challenged my own perspective.
Her following essays are just as poignant, and I found I learned something from each of them. Her essay on mental health was incredibly powerful, and a call to take better care of ourselves however we can. She moves on to write about the prison system, with a personal attachment to her nephew who is sentenced to prison. She threads in statistics seemingly effortlessly, and I enjoy how she weaves her personal narrative and statistical evidence together to provide such emotional perspective to both of these heavy topics.
The essay that personally effected me the most, although they are all wonderful, was On Self-Delusion. This essay was a hard hitter for me because McLaren takes time to call attention to lies we tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better. She guides readers through a look at her own self-delusions, and encourages readers to think about and acknowledge what delusions we each have. I feel as though I am at a stage in my life in which I am seeking to replace habits with new routines that work for me, and this essay gave me a wonderful start for calling myself on my BS. What are the lies I've told myself to avoid being vulnerable with the decisions I have made or continue to make? In acknowledging where our vulnerabilities lie, in confronting those, we can better understand where we fall in relationship to others. Thank you, Kim McLaren, for putting this essay out in the world so that I could find it at this time in my life.
Clearly I could continue to talk about how great the rest of her essays are, but the point is there is something here for almost everyone, and I wuold be surprised if you can't find something in here to learn from or connect to. I haven't read anything else from Kim McLaren, but I'm 100% inspired to pick up more of her works after reading Womanish.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the publsher via Edelweiss+.
miscellamy's review against another edition
5.0
Damn! can this woman write. Unflinching and clear and unadorned and deeply insightful. I borrowed this from the library but may need to purchase a copy for future re-reads.
steph58's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
hollyannsa's review against another edition
4.0
I highly recommend these essays. They are well written, easy to connect with, and they make you think. I only wish the book did not have so many typos, but that’s probably silly.