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3.97 AVERAGE
3.97 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
I was utterly engrossed and fascinated by this book. This is a story of girlhood, of girlhoods interwound together until nothing is distinct and all that matters is that fast friendship of your little group. I think it's also a tragic story of looking back and knowing that you may never have that closeness again. This is such a short read but there's so much here and ultimately I think that's what I really loved about it.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
Short and sweet
2.5 stars
Although there were a few elements of the novel I appreciated (beautiful prose, learning about the culture 1970s New York and the coming of age of a young black woman) I overall found it wanting. I was not very engaged, and only when I picked up the audiobook did I connect a little more with the writing.
Although there were a few elements of the novel I appreciated (beautiful prose, learning about the culture 1970s New York and the coming of age of a young black woman) I overall found it wanting. I was not very engaged, and only when I picked up the audiobook did I connect a little more with the writing.
"...I had Sylvia, Angela, and Gigi, the four of us sharing the weight of growing up Girl in Brooklyn, as though it was a bag of stones we passed among ourselves saying, Here. Help me carry this."
challenging
emotional
reflective
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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
fast-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
This is a book about many different things--some not immediately understood unless you're familiar with the subtle messages young black girls receive--but at its heart it's about survival, loss, and friendship.
Four girls discover who they are, and what they're made of, through the lens of each other. Their friendship/sisterhood begins innocently enough--bonding over pop culture and a mutual disgust of boys.
However, as time moves forward, and individual experiences begin to alter their perception of what's important, they begin to grow apart. None of the girls ever make the decision to stop communicating, that's just what happens--as is known to be the case in real life as well.
Circumstances bring us together. Circumstances tear us apart.
August begins and ends as a girl looking for her mother's love within the love of the three girls she comes to admire. It's clear she's not dealt with that absence, and the temporary substitutes her father introduces (in the meantime) only add to the confusion of angst August already feels.
A good story about girlhood, love, acceptance, grief, and understanding the role socioeconomic factors play in the development of a black girl.
Four girls discover who they are, and what they're made of, through the lens of each other. Their friendship/sisterhood begins innocently enough--bonding over pop culture and a mutual disgust of boys.
However, as time moves forward, and individual experiences begin to alter their perception of what's important, they begin to grow apart. None of the girls ever make the decision to stop communicating, that's just what happens--as is known to be the case in real life as well.
Circumstances bring us together. Circumstances tear us apart.
August begins and ends as a girl looking for her mother's love within the love of the three girls she comes to admire. It's clear she's not dealt with that absence, and the temporary substitutes her father introduces (in the meantime) only add to the confusion of angst August already feels.
A good story about girlhood, love, acceptance, grief, and understanding the role socioeconomic factors play in the development of a black girl.