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zanm's review
challenging
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.5
I had to read this for class and I’m pretty torn on it. I had a two-three hour discussion with a friend and we came to several conclusions:
It is a good book because its controversy sparks discussion and the writing style is extremely raw.
It is a bad book because it panders just a bit too much and doesn’t expand nearly enough on certain issues (ex. how racism is ingrained in America via capitalism).
So you see- I’m torn.
Personally, this gave me the feel of a book written so white people can read it and say they’ve “done the research.” I also really liked specific parts of it and hated others, but that’s crucial to a book on race. It’s not supposed to be comfortable.
Another thing that immensely bothered me is that it’s marketed as “a book for his son” when it’s so clearly not.
TLDR: Worth reading but only if you rip it apart and use it as a jumping point.
It is a good book because its controversy sparks discussion and the writing style is extremely raw.
It is a bad book because it panders just a bit too much and doesn’t expand nearly enough on certain issues (ex. how racism is ingrained in America via capitalism).
So you see- I’m torn.
Personally, this gave me the feel of a book written so white people can read it and say they’ve “done the research.” I also really liked specific parts of it and hated others, but that’s crucial to a book on race. It’s not supposed to be comfortable.
Another thing that immensely bothered me is that it’s marketed as “a book for his son” when it’s so clearly not.
TLDR: Worth reading but only if you rip it apart and use it as a jumping point.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Death, Classism, Violence, Racism, Hate crime, Police brutality, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny, Antisemitism, and Homophobia
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