Scan barcode
Reviews
We're Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True by Gabrielle Union
liketheday's review
4.0
I had kind of forgotten about Gabrielle Union since, um, Bring It On, and now I have to go rectify that situation immediately. This is a great set of stories from Union's more-exciting-than-I-expected life and she pulls no punches on race, general bigotry, or the dumb human things she's done in her life.
annmeyer's review against another edition
4.0
I found an advanced reader copy of this book on a free cart outside of a bookstore in Davis and was drawn to it. I knew who Gabrielle Union was but I didn't know who Gabrielle Union was and had been interested in more autobiography/memoir and celebrity authored books - both things which led me to read this, interestedly albeit slowly.
Gabrielle Union explores her childhood, her traumatic experiences, her relationships and friendships, her career, and the struggles faced by black women in and out of the acting industry. She offers detailed and raw accounts of her life, leaving readers with a much better understanding of who she is and how she became herself while gently nudging them to reflect on their own experiences and the edges of their comfort zones. Her writing is brilliantly and brutally honest, an account and demonstration of healing, and extremely inspirational.
Many of her stories were tear-jerking, but her chapter emphasizing Prince and her encounters with him and his parties was both enlightening and moving as it not only shed light on the realities of the divisiveness and racial makeup of the acting industry, but on Prince's own character and his efforts to unite celebrities of all talents (music, acting, sports, writers, directors, etc etc), especially in erasing the racial inequality. Being as young as I am, I never really learned much about Prince beyond hearing a few of his hit songs, but Union's reflections on his impact within the lives of so many individuals and an industry at large (even if unrecognized by most) offered insight into his life which I otherwise likely never would have known.
Favorite quotes (there are quite a few):
"There are so many more people than you realize, people who look up to the same sun and the moon and the stars. It's your birthright to explore this world. It's only as small as you make it" (77).
"You can love what you see in the mirror, but you can't self-esteem your way out of the way the world treats you" (111).
"We waste our nutty on people who don't deserve it. Wait it out. He's gonna end up dirty with chickens and #22, and you're gonna come out on top. Trust me on this one" (163).
"An empress does not concern herself with the antics of fools" (181).
"I will give blow jobs in a leper colony before I take a dime from a man I am no longer in love with" (230).
"It was like the music was the soundtrack to us" (243).
"Life, as John Lennon said, is what happens when you're making other plans" (255-6).
Gabrielle Union explores her childhood, her traumatic experiences, her relationships and friendships, her career, and the struggles faced by black women in and out of the acting industry. She offers detailed and raw accounts of her life, leaving readers with a much better understanding of who she is and how she became herself while gently nudging them to reflect on their own experiences and the edges of their comfort zones. Her writing is brilliantly and brutally honest, an account and demonstration of healing, and extremely inspirational.
Many of her stories were tear-jerking, but her chapter emphasizing Prince and her encounters with him and his parties was both enlightening and moving as it not only shed light on the realities of the divisiveness and racial makeup of the acting industry, but on Prince's own character and his efforts to unite celebrities of all talents (music, acting, sports, writers, directors, etc etc), especially in erasing the racial inequality. Being as young as I am, I never really learned much about Prince beyond hearing a few of his hit songs, but Union's reflections on his impact within the lives of so many individuals and an industry at large (even if unrecognized by most) offered insight into his life which I otherwise likely never would have known.
Favorite quotes (there are quite a few):
"There are so many more people than you realize, people who look up to the same sun and the moon and the stars. It's your birthright to explore this world. It's only as small as you make it" (77).
"You can love what you see in the mirror, but you can't self-esteem your way out of the way the world treats you" (111).
"We waste our nutty on people who don't deserve it. Wait it out. He's gonna end up dirty with chickens and #22, and you're gonna come out on top. Trust me on this one" (163).
"An empress does not concern herself with the antics of fools" (181).
"I will give blow jobs in a leper colony before I take a dime from a man I am no longer in love with" (230).
"It was like the music was the soundtrack to us" (243).
"Life, as John Lennon said, is what happens when you're making other plans" (255-6).
mellabella's review against another edition
4.0
Gabrielle is funny (even while discussing traumatic events) and engaging.
She divulges a lot of personal things. Which, should be par for the course with a memoir. But not always what you get.
Growing up, her family, first marriage, sexual assault, it's all laid out.
Including a cute story about Prince and how she got together with and her relationship with D. Wade.
Her relationship with his boys.
Gabby has always been a beautiful, funny actress that I enjoyed watching.
But whether you are a fan go hers are not, you'll enjoy this book. 4.5 stars.
She divulges a lot of personal things. Which, should be par for the course with a memoir. But not always what you get.
Growing up, her family, first marriage, sexual assault, it's all laid out.
Including a cute story about Prince and how she got together with and her relationship with D. Wade.
Her relationship with his boys.
Gabby has always been a beautiful, funny actress that I enjoyed watching.
But whether you are a fan go hers are not, you'll enjoy this book. 4.5 stars.
teabagandtales's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
4.0
What the husband’s team said to her was insane, I get it I do but damn. And it goes to show marriage is a contract.