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panda58's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
namitakhanna's review
5.0
An amazing ,inspiring story of a white Jewish woman who married a black guy and raised 12 kids and sent them all to college. They all became doctors ,engineers professors leading successful lives. She had no money just her faith in God that helped her face all the hardships in life . A great memoir that will stay with me for a long time.
lindyloureads's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
tmook's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
sad
3.75
It’s a rollercoaster, and opens up a world of a different time and culture. I liked the dual POV.
nicolemae's review
3.0
The writing keeps you interested with the shift from mom’s perspective to James perspective. Her Jewish history and the mixed race behind the scenes is so educational. 3/5 stars because I got easily bored from stories not capturing my attention here and there — I found myself skipping paragraphs. I did really love the author diving into his family history and learning about and writing about his moms life
book_concierge's review
4.0
McBride and his eleven siblings knew their mother was a free-thinking, intensely private, strong-willed woman, who demanded excellence from her brood. She was disorganized and overwhelmed, but they knew she loved them. She believed firmly in Jesus Christ and insisted they all attend church each Sunday. She also insisted that they attend the best possible public schools … which meant the Jewish public schools where they were frequently the only Blacks in attendance. They lived for most of their youth in Brooklyn’s Red Hook projects. Certainly they knew their mother wasn’t like the other kids’s mothers; but when they asked, she would simply say, “I’m light-skinned.” When James asked if he was black or white his mother’s curt response was, “You’re a human being. Educate yourself or you’ll be a nobody!” When he asked what color God was, his mother answered, “He’s the color of water.”
But eventually, and after repeated pleas, James convinced his mother to tell the story that he and his siblings never knew – or even suspected. She was not only white, but Jewish – the daughter of an Orthodox rabbi.
The book is told in alternating chapters – Ruth’s story, and James’s story. McBride doesn’t hold back in this memoir of “A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother.” He clearly outlines the missteps and tragedies, as well as the joy and success of his extended family.
It is emotional and heartfelt, tender and raw, full of the personal issues of race, religion and identity, as well as the societal issues of race and religion.
But eventually, and after repeated pleas, James convinced his mother to tell the story that he and his siblings never knew – or even suspected. She was not only white, but Jewish – the daughter of an Orthodox rabbi.
The book is told in alternating chapters – Ruth’s story, and James’s story. McBride doesn’t hold back in this memoir of “A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother.” He clearly outlines the missteps and tragedies, as well as the joy and success of his extended family.
It is emotional and heartfelt, tender and raw, full of the personal issues of race, religion and identity, as well as the societal issues of race and religion.
trees_louise's review
reflective
medium-paced
3.25
It was what it was. Not a super exciting book, but offered engaging perspective on race, religion, family and how they all intersect to create identity. I enjoyed how chapters alternated between James’ experience growing up and interviews with Ruth (his mother).