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4.25 AVERAGE
4.25 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
3.5 stars
Okay, I loved this novel of seven stories. However, I didn't realize that the book was split into seven stories. Once I realized that the novel was a collection of stories that intermingled, I was better prepared to read and enjoy the story. Naylor's writing is so descriptive and moves in a pace that's fitting of the ever changing perspective. I enjoyed each lesson of the stories, although none of the women were the same they shared a sisterhood of Blackness that was familiar and welcoming all throughout the novel.
Okay, I loved this novel of seven stories. However, I didn't realize that the book was split into seven stories. Once I realized that the novel was a collection of stories that intermingled, I was better prepared to read and enjoy the story. Naylor's writing is so descriptive and moves in a pace that's fitting of the ever changing perspective. I enjoyed each lesson of the stories, although none of the women were the same they shared a sisterhood of Blackness that was familiar and welcoming all throughout the novel.
I love this book with my whole heart. The stories that were told in each of the chapters were truly heartbreaking, especially during the time period the book took place in. I love how it shows the struggles these women go through and will continue to endure for years to come. Women are so so strong, and Naylor does a beautiful job of highlighting the ups, downs, and even further downs being a woman(more specifically a woman of color) in this novel. Truly beautiful, indeed.
Women of Brewster
This book is EXACTLY like the movie! Some parts added more and I love it! The book and movie is still one of my all time favorites!
This book is EXACTLY like the movie! Some parts added more and I love it! The book and movie is still one of my all time favorites!
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Women of Brewster Place highlights the stories of many different women who come together unintentionally due to their shared grief over the things they've gone through in their lives.
There's Mattie Michael: a woman who had a baby out of wedlock and thought she could raise him well on love alone. He ends upkilling a man in a bar, forcing Mattie to put up her house as collateral for his bail, and he jumps bail, leaving her high and dry.
Then Etta Mae Johnson: Mattie's best friend who has only ever known how touse a man for all he's got, and when he can't give her anymore, he's gone. She soon realizes that living this type of life causes her pain; no matter how hard she tries to ignore that fact.
Following, Kiswana: a radical woman who fully embraces her black heritage and moves to Brewster Place for the purpose of finding the community she feels she lacked growing up.
Cora Lee: a lover of babies since childhood, whose obsession gets a bit too large and causes her tohave eight children by the end of the book .
And finally, Theresa and Lorraine: a lesbian couple who often fight about whether or not they're different from everyone else, solely on the count of their sexuality.
All of these women come from backgrounds that are not nearly similar to each other. But, they all come to Brewster Place to run, essentially, from the issues of their past. It is seen as a clean slate from the beatings, trauma, and pain that they experienced in those times.
Each story fits together like a puzzle piece as you read along, and I personally found myself captivated by these women's strengths. It gives a reminder that pain can often bring people together, and that isn't always in a bad way.
There's Mattie Michael: a woman who had a baby out of wedlock and thought she could raise him well on love alone. He ends up
Then Etta Mae Johnson: Mattie's best friend who has only ever known how to
Following, Kiswana: a radical woman who fully embraces her black heritage and moves to Brewster Place for the purpose of finding the community she feels she lacked growing up.
Cora Lee: a lover of babies since childhood, whose obsession gets a bit too large and causes her to
And finally, Theresa and Lorraine: a lesbian couple who often fight about whether or not they're different from everyone else, solely on the count of their sexuality.
All of these women come from backgrounds that are not nearly similar to each other. But, they all come to Brewster Place to run, essentially, from the issues of their past. It is seen as a clean slate from the beatings, trauma, and pain that they experienced in those times.
Each story fits together like a puzzle piece as you read along, and I personally found myself captivated by these women's strengths. It gives a reminder that pain can often bring people together, and that isn't always in a bad way.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Physical abuse
Minor: Child death, Vomit, Religious bigotry, Abortion, Death of parent
Such an important book, and I am so glad I have finally picked it up! The short stories really worked, and it was so great to meet this women again in the other stories. The concept really, really worked for this book, and that is not an easy feat!
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No