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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
I could not put this down. Beautifully written and not a dull moment.
I will read it again some day.
I will read it again some day.
T Kira Madden is lovely lyrical writer, and this memoir is at times enthralling because of her voice and her surprising metaphors (with only a few that just don't work). It's a sad story, and one that is at times difficult to read, a young girl, whose drug/alcohol abusing parents, have no idea the sort of self-destructive trouble a teenager girl can find. It's especially disheartening to see how much porn has influenced teens ideas of sex, sexy, femaleness and girls' self worth, manifested in things like porn-themed costume party. Structurally, the last quarter of the book almost reads as a different memoir. It's a fairly straight chronological coming-of-age narrative for most of the book (with some leaps backward and forward in time here and there), and then there seem to be a series of essays at the end, on her father, with snapshot anecdotes piled upon one another by way of stitching together their relationship (though he's mostly absent from first 3/4 of the book), and then her mother's early years and reconnecting with children she gave up for adoption. While this material is interesting, and moving, and as well-written as the rest of the book, it seems to take the place of what might have been a longer time on how Madden left behind self-destructive behaviors of the teenage years, which is barely mentioned. The book is written entirely in present tense, which gives the narrative that glowing sensory immediacy but doesn't leave much room for reflection, context, that wider voice entering in to make some sense of the girl's behaviors. Overall, lovely writing, powerful story.
reflective
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse
Minor: Eating disorder
I did not know what to expect from this book. I bought it for the title, trying to find something (or someone) that might be able to understand my own grief. I did.
I can join the tribe too.
But my story isn’t like this. I am one of the lucky one.
I can’t even imagine how Kira Madden must have felt while she was growing up, but i can say thank you… cause the strength and power behind this book, behind these words written on blank page can make us hope. We could all find beauty, in everything and make something great out of our life.
I am glad i read this book and i am glad people like Kira exists.
I can join the tribe too.
But my story isn’t like this. I am one of the lucky one.
I can’t even imagine how Kira Madden must have felt while she was growing up, but i can say thank you… cause the strength and power behind this book, behind these words written on blank page can make us hope. We could all find beauty, in everything and make something great out of our life.
I am glad i read this book and i am glad people like Kira exists.
4.5
Excellently written and structured (though the ending could've been tightened up a bit). Powerful and moving - a great study of complex characters.
Excellently written and structured (though the ending could've been tightened up a bit). Powerful and moving - a great study of complex characters.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
LONG LIVE THE TRIBE OF FATHERLESS GIRLS is a beautifully written, coming-of-age memoir of self-discovery with a focus on family and how it shapes us. I highly recommend this book!
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Finished the entire book while on my flights yesterday, couldn’t stop reading. I personally am a huge fan of T Kira’s writing. Been following her on Twitter for a while and meant to read this ages ago but finally did and am glad I did. Honestly had no idea exactly what I was getting myself into, but the title grabbed me and I love a memoir by bad ass women.