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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
this is the THIRD time i’m trying to read this i can’t
This book was great and well written but it didn't quite do it for me. The description made it seem like the book would be centered around her manifesto and the impact it had on the industry, but it wasn't even mentioned until pretty far into the book. Mickey was dealing with so much shit in her personal life and once she lost her job, she lost the image she worked so hard to reach and maintain. Mickey's actions and emotions were messy and real which I appreciated, but I still hated the huge role Tee played in the story.
The racism Mickey faced during her time with the company that fired her came in the form of constant microaggressions, which is difficult to hold them accountable for in a wrongful termination case, so she signs the NDA and writes a manifesto to share her frustrations with the world. Later in the story we find out the racist past of the company's owner (owner, CEO, president? I don't remember) and suddenly everyone wants to know about her experience.
This story details the short timeline of Mickey's life between when she got fired and when she got her first TV interview to discuss her manifesto. The story fell short for me because of the lack of resolution at the end. I want to know what happened with Mickey and Lex and her career path after the interview.
The racism Mickey faced during her time with the company that fired her came in the form of constant microaggressions, which is difficult to hold them accountable for in a wrongful termination case, so she signs the NDA and writes a manifesto to share her frustrations with the world. Later in the story we find out the racist past of the company's owner (owner, CEO, president? I don't remember) and suddenly everyone wants to know about her experience.
This story details the short timeline of Mickey's life between when she got fired and when she got her first TV interview to discuss her manifesto. The story fell short for me because of the lack of resolution at the end. I want to know what happened with Mickey and Lex and her career path after the interview.
A good and important story. Just felt wordy in certain parts so I started to lose focus.
I found myself in a lot of these chapters, connecting deeply with the feelings of being utterly lost after losing a career.
When I was not renewed at my school, the identity I had been building since I was an 11th grader (when I decided to become an English teacher) shattered. I felt like a failure. I felt like a lie. I felt like nothing I ever did mattered, and nothing I would ever do in the future would be as important. I question every choice I made; analyzed every mistake. I had no closure when I was let go. My principal never gave me a reason, or hinted on what I should improve upon. I still don't know. But after three school districts in three years, two moves, two cities, and one horrible car accident -- I listened to the universe. Teaching wasn't for me. It was and is still the hardest thing for me to admit.The shame filled my veins. The loss hollowed my heart. I'm still looking for something to fill my world with purpose.
Losing this piece of myself fucked me up, and in a lot of ways I'm still healing.This book touches on how obsessed our society is with work. If you aren't working or producing or productive - you hold no value. Aren't worthy of love. You aren't interesting.
And if you happen to be a person of color, how there is an extra layer of doubt over everything. How being a woman forces us to work harder for less recognition or pay. How women treat each other in competitive work environments, the micro-aggressions, the judgement instead of support and camaraderie. When I was let go, I questioned everything. Every intention, and every perspective. I still wonder if it was because I was a person of color in a small conservative town. My mind drifts there because that's simply where a mind goes when you have brown skin. This book captures that unspeakable tension perfectly.
(I taught at the school I literally went to as a teen, and I was one of the few ethically diverse kids at my school. Teaching there was more of the same. White, Christian dominant. I was fed the line, "not a good fit" the day I was told my contract was not being renewed for the upcoming school year. But in my head I knew that was a lie. I attended that school. I survived the loss of my dad in that school. I found my identity as a writer in that school. I found a mentor in that school that later became my teaching partner. I wanted to turn to my principal and say, "Bitch I am this school! You're the outsider!" Obviously, I didn't...)
This is an important read, and an impressive debut novel. Critical race theory, queer theory, gender theory, historicism... The layers are endless, but the message so honest, raw, and necessary.
When I was not renewed at my school, the identity I had been building since I was an 11th grader (when I decided to become an English teacher) shattered. I felt like a failure. I felt like a lie. I felt like nothing I ever did mattered, and nothing I would ever do in the future would be as important. I question every choice I made; analyzed every mistake. I had no closure when I was let go. My principal never gave me a reason, or hinted on what I should improve upon. I still don't know. But after three school districts in three years, two moves, two cities, and one horrible car accident -- I listened to the universe. Teaching wasn't for me. It was and is still the hardest thing for me to admit.The shame filled my veins. The loss hollowed my heart. I'm still looking for something to fill my world with purpose.
Losing this piece of myself fucked me up, and in a lot of ways I'm still healing.This book touches on how obsessed our society is with work. If you aren't working or producing or productive - you hold no value. Aren't worthy of love. You aren't interesting.
And if you happen to be a person of color, how there is an extra layer of doubt over everything. How being a woman forces us to work harder for less recognition or pay. How women treat each other in competitive work environments, the micro-aggressions, the judgement instead of support and camaraderie. When I was let go, I questioned everything. Every intention, and every perspective. I still wonder if it was because I was a person of color in a small conservative town. My mind drifts there because that's simply where a mind goes when you have brown skin. This book captures that unspeakable tension perfectly.
(I taught at the school I literally went to as a teen, and I was one of the few ethically diverse kids at my school. Teaching there was more of the same. White, Christian dominant. I was fed the line, "not a good fit" the day I was told my contract was not being renewed for the upcoming school year. But in my head I knew that was a lie. I attended that school. I survived the loss of my dad in that school. I found my identity as a writer in that school. I found a mentor in that school that later became my teaching partner. I wanted to turn to my principal and say, "Bitch I am this school! You're the outsider!" Obviously, I didn't...)
This is an important read, and an impressive debut novel. Critical race theory, queer theory, gender theory, historicism... The layers are endless, but the message so honest, raw, and necessary.
At first, I was a bit annoyed at Mickey's overreactions. But, the book really only spans 6-8 weeks worth of time. Once I understood a bit more about her background, it made sense why she spiraled. In fact, I can relate to a lot of her self-deprecating talk because I've been there.
I liked that the book truly centered a Black woman's feelings. Many will focus on the microaggression - what was done and why - but Denton-Hurst sat in Mickey's feelings unapologetically. The resolution was Mickey pulling herself out of the downward spiral (although, I am dying to know what happens with Lex) and so how she capitalized on the opportunities was irrelevant.
I liked that the book truly centered a Black woman's feelings. Many will focus on the microaggression - what was done and why - but Denton-Hurst sat in Mickey's feelings unapologetically. The resolution was Mickey pulling herself out of the downward spiral (although, I am dying to know what happens with Lex) and so how she capitalized on the opportunities was irrelevant.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was slow to start, but the story was great. She tells the story of a Black queer woman learning about herself and not even necessarily finding the answers, which was important for me to read at this stage in my life
I waited for something to actually happen in this book. I’ve never disliked a main character so much. Everything was everyone else’s fault and she was just nasty to the people that tried to love her and help her. She was so selfish. The book itself led me absolutely nowhere and dropped me off in total confusion in the end.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Mental illness, Racism