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4.16 AVERAGE
4.16 AVERAGE
reflective
medium-paced
Thank you to NetGalley and to Simon & Schuster for the advance reader's copy.
Not too long ago I finished reading Isabel Wilkerson' [b:Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents|51152447|Caste The Origins of Our Discontents|Isabel Wilkerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597267568l/51152447._SY75_.jpg|75937597], I think picking this up afterwards was a bit of reader's luck on my part.
Though Dr. Wilkerson's work does touch quite a bit on the personal, it is quite global, and not solely focused on the lived experience of a single racial group, and not limited to a single country either.
Rebecca Carroll's memoir is focused on a specific lived experience that further reinforces what is that Dr. Wilkerson is at the root of caste and caste hierarchy in the US.
Carroll's memoir is heartbreaking, but also hopeful and beautifully written. The chapters are short and almost like journal entries, poignant, sometimes sparse, sometimes full of detail, difficult but also beautiful.
Do yourself a favor and pick this up!
Not too long ago I finished reading Isabel Wilkerson' [b:Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents|51152447|Caste The Origins of Our Discontents|Isabel Wilkerson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1597267568l/51152447._SY75_.jpg|75937597], I think picking this up afterwards was a bit of reader's luck on my part.
Though Dr. Wilkerson's work does touch quite a bit on the personal, it is quite global, and not solely focused on the lived experience of a single racial group, and not limited to a single country either.
Rebecca Carroll's memoir is focused on a specific lived experience that further reinforces what is that Dr. Wilkerson is at the root of caste and caste hierarchy in the US.
Carroll's memoir is heartbreaking, but also hopeful and beautifully written. The chapters are short and almost like journal entries, poignant, sometimes sparse, sometimes full of detail, difficult but also beautiful.
Do yourself a favor and pick this up!
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
This was an interesting and powerful memoir about a Black child raised by adoptive white parents in rural, white New Hampshire. Her adoptive parents were loving, artistic, free spirits who "meant well" and "didn't see race," which can and did do more harm than good for Rebecca. No one ever mentioned that she was Black, which made her feel increasingly isolated and confused as she grew up. Despite her parents never mentioning race, just about every single person in Rebecca's school, town, and life treated her differently. She was experiencing racism before she even understood what that word meant. Then, she met her white birth mother and things went from bad to worse. Rebecca's story is dark at times, but, overall it's a moving story of resilience and healing and, eventually, chosen family. I loved it.
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
a must read for many reasons, understanding the concept of internalized racism one of them.
so very sad at times, especially if you grew up in a similar environment as a child/teenager
so very sad at times, especially if you grew up in a similar environment as a child/teenager
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship
challenging
emotional
reflective
This book was written with such honesty and candor. I have so many feelings about a couple of the people in this story, especially Rebecca’s birth/first mom, and I will be thinking about them for awhile
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Grief, Sexual harassment
Blown away, read it now. Essential insight and authenticity. Thank you Rebecca.
A must-read book in my opinion. Really raw and honest, a lot of discomfort, anger and imperfection. Even though this book speaks to the very specific experience of the author as a transracial adoptee, it's an important American story about culture and race. I feel very grateful to Rebecca Carroll for writing this and sharing her experience so openly.
Memoirs are one of my favourite genres to read. There's something about the vulnerability of someone sharing their story that makes it so intimate and appealing to me.
This memoir was absolutely brilliant. Rebecca is a phenomenal writer. There's something about the simplicity of her writing, that makes it so beautiful and raw. For me, it was an "easy" read because of this simplicity, but also because I was so deeply enthralled in her story.
Rebecca's memory is premised on navigating her "Blackness" in a predominantly white family and neighborhood in her early years, as well as through various other avenues of her life. Rebecca experiences so many microaggressions and racism throughout her life - in her relationships, throughout her education, and with family.
Rebecca's relationship with her biological mother, Tess, broke me.... Tess was cruel and manipulative towards Rebecca, so at times, it was hard to read about that. I felt so deeply saddened when Rebecca walked us through her feelings of self after spending time with Tess.
This memoir was absolutely brilliant. Rebecca is a phenomenal writer. There's something about the simplicity of her writing, that makes it so beautiful and raw. For me, it was an "easy" read because of this simplicity, but also because I was so deeply enthralled in her story.
Rebecca's memory is premised on navigating her "Blackness" in a predominantly white family and neighborhood in her early years, as well as through various other avenues of her life. Rebecca experiences so many microaggressions and racism throughout her life - in her relationships, throughout her education, and with family.
Rebecca's relationship with her biological mother, Tess, broke me.... Tess was cruel and manipulative towards Rebecca, so at times, it was hard to read about that. I felt so deeply saddened when Rebecca walked us through her feelings of self after spending time with Tess.