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erinnh's review against another edition
5.0
*I received a free copy through the Goodreads giveaways section.*
When I saw this listed in the giveaways section, I was intrigued. I have always been fascinated by the narratives each person constructs for their lives, and I have especially been interested in inter-generational narratives. So, I had high hopes for this memoir, and it has easily become one of my favorite books.
The stories told here are so vividly captured and they truly resonated with me, so much that I often got shivers while reading them, or tears brought to my eyes. I relate to Spiegelman's desire to know the stories of those from whom she came, and I think she handles each person's narrative, including her own, with grace and respect despite the fact that they are often at odds.
I'm Supposed to Protect You from All This deals with the legacy of traumas and events through generations. It felt much shorter than it's actual 372 pages and I was sorry to see it end. I recommend to everyone.
When I saw this listed in the giveaways section, I was intrigued. I have always been fascinated by the narratives each person constructs for their lives, and I have especially been interested in inter-generational narratives. So, I had high hopes for this memoir, and it has easily become one of my favorite books.
The stories told here are so vividly captured and they truly resonated with me, so much that I often got shivers while reading them, or tears brought to my eyes. I relate to Spiegelman's desire to know the stories of those from whom she came, and I think she handles each person's narrative, including her own, with grace and respect despite the fact that they are often at odds.
I'm Supposed to Protect You from All This deals with the legacy of traumas and events through generations. It felt much shorter than it's actual 372 pages and I was sorry to see it end. I recommend to everyone.
booksconnectus's review against another edition
DNF......I found I was constantly confused as to whose story I was being thrown back into due to the back and forth of mother's and daughter's storylines. Both were equally tragic, depressing and just made me feel broken and dirty and I haven't quite put my finger on what it was that bothered me so much-beyond the obvious awfulness of how these mothers mis-treated their daughters. I knew the premise when I chose to read think-I was picturing The Glass Castle-which I loved....this one I just could not stomach. Probably a reflection of where I am right now and what I need from my reading life. Maybe this ends on a strong note of survival and thriving and rising above generational trauma....but I just could not stick it out.
librarypatron's review against another edition
5.0
I want to use all the cliché words for this book: poignant, important, beautiful, heart-wrenching. Nadja not only gives readers a gripping memoir of the women in her life but also explores the frustrations of shared memories. Mothers and daughters should read this book. I know it will stay with me for a long time.
fenemiestolovers's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.75
To be honest, I almost didn’t finish this book. The beginning wasn’t holding much of my interest. The stories were compellingly sad, but it felt very much like “this happened, then this, then that,” and I wanted some more analysis. But that’s the shape of the book - you don’t get the full meaning until you see it traced through more and more generations. So, in the end, I did enjoy this book - and it will certainly leave me thinking about how mothers and daughters see each other versus how they see themselves. It feels like a very interesting look into generational trauma - the intergenerational impacts of patriarchy and war - and the fickleness of memory. As someone who wants a different relationship with my mother, it has shifted my perspective a little, and I appreciate that.
jdemarest's review against another edition
5.0
This was beautiful, Nadja. I thoroughly enjoyed exploring womanhood, femininity, and family with you. The prose was lyrical and honest and you wove between present and past, generation to generation, seamlessly.
tiedyedduck's review against another edition
4.0
I appreciate the honest look the relationship between generations of mothers and daughters.