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114 reviews for:
The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother's Life in the Detroit Numbers
Bridgett M. Davis
3.92 AVERAGE
114 reviews for:
The World According to Fannie Davis: My Mother's Life in the Detroit Numbers
Bridgett M. Davis
3.92 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
I really enjoyed this - part memoir, part story of the author’s mother, and part history of Detroit and the numbers game. I think my favorite thing about it was that it was ultimately a celebration of Fannie without any moralizing or judgment. The descriptions of the clothing everyone wore was also fantastic!
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Racism, Death of parent
This book had been on my radar for some time after I read Davis's novels, but after reading the fictional depiction of the numbers in Trouble the Saints I finally decided to actually pick it up and learn something about the real thing. Some of the history in here was really eye-opening; I hadn't realized the extent to which the official state lotteries came about to exploit and shut down the informal Black economy of the numbers.
In terms of the personal history, I really admire Davis's way of writing in such a straightforward, plainspoken style that nonetheless carries a lot of emotional weight. Her mother's generosity and refusal to settle for anything but the good life she (and everyone in her orbit) deserved shines through.
In terms of the personal history, I really admire Davis's way of writing in such a straightforward, plainspoken style that nonetheless carries a lot of emotional weight. Her mother's generosity and refusal to settle for anything but the good life she (and everyone in her orbit) deserved shines through.
Bridgett Davis did a beautiful job of combining the story of her mother's life with a memoir of her own childhood and young adulthood, all linked to historical context. I learned a lot of Detroit history, the numbers, and more, but the book still remained driven by story. I appreciated how the author used the historical context both to show how her mother and her family were representative of different moments in time, but also how they were exceptional.
emotional
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
I won a free copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, but that is not impacting my review.
I ended up listening to this one via audiobook rather than reading my phyiscal ARC, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed hearing the story because it felt like I was hearing a family narrative much like I've heard so many times about my own family members. I feel like I learned a lot about Detroit and "the numbers." I really enjoyed getting to know this family, and I wish I could have known Fannie! She sounds like an incredible woman.
I ended up listening to this one via audiobook rather than reading my phyiscal ARC, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed hearing the story because it felt like I was hearing a family narrative much like I've heard so many times about my own family members. I feel like I learned a lot about Detroit and "the numbers." I really enjoyed getting to know this family, and I wish I could have known Fannie! She sounds like an incredible woman.
Audiobook review: this was so fascinating as well as being a story of a strong and fierce matriarch. The author (daughter) reads the audiobook, which I just loved. It’s a quick listen and I didn’t have to wait for it on Libby! I would totally watch this movie.