Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.5 AVERAGE
4.5 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Mother to Son is a personal memoir by Jasmine Holmes. Reading these words of a mother to her son gave me a glimpse into thoughts and feelings that I have not experienced in this world. Told with honesty and wrapped in her love Author Jasmine Holmes wraps so succinctly a mother’s love, dreams, and fears for her son - some are words mothers feel regardless of the color of their skin and some are reflections from experiences and words of advice for her son because of the color of their skin. The book is “not just about the racial climate of the country he lives in, but about the conversation surrounding this racial climate.”
It is a time to listen and learn. This book will touch your heart and perhaps open your eyes to more of the world around us - bringing us closer together.
It is a time to listen and learn. This book will touch your heart and perhaps open your eyes to more of the world around us - bringing us closer together.
Check out the full review on my website. CLICK HERE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
REVIEW :
DISCLAIMER : Thank you, Netgalley and InterVarsity Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am reviewing this book voluntarily.
Jasmine's book Mother to Son is a great book for Christians written with so much heart and love in every word of the letters she has written for her two sons. The book as I mentioned consists of letters to her young black sons and is filled with wise, thought-provoking messages and advice on how to lead their life moving forward in today's world. The topics are heavy, sensitive and of utmost importance in navigating the world. Issues of race, justice, and identity are discussed at lengths with love, hope, and grace. All advice on navigating these heavy topics are delivered through the lens of religious texts. The scripture plays a huge part in every piece of advice she imparts her sons, always going back to God for guidance. The book was raw, honest, and beautiful. I found the letters to be powerful, thoughtful, and highly beneficial in understanding differences and also embracing them. I liked the book and found it to be compelling and persuasive. Having said that I don't think I am the target audience for it as it and I feel Christians should definitely pick it up. My rating is not for the quality of the content, as it is a 4⭐ book in that regard, but if I took the personal enjoyment into consideration, I would say it was a 3 ⭐ read for me. I believe this book should definitely be read by young black mothers, mothers and Christians to understand her perspective and also learn more about empathy, compassion, and hope in times of difficulty. I recommend checking this book out.
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
REVIEW :
DISCLAIMER : Thank you, Netgalley and InterVarsity Press for providing me with an ARC of this book. I am reviewing this book voluntarily.
Jasmine's book Mother to Son is a great book for Christians written with so much heart and love in every word of the letters she has written for her two sons. The book as I mentioned consists of letters to her young black sons and is filled with wise, thought-provoking messages and advice on how to lead their life moving forward in today's world. The topics are heavy, sensitive and of utmost importance in navigating the world. Issues of race, justice, and identity are discussed at lengths with love, hope, and grace. All advice on navigating these heavy topics are delivered through the lens of religious texts. The scripture plays a huge part in every piece of advice she imparts her sons, always going back to God for guidance. The book was raw, honest, and beautiful. I found the letters to be powerful, thoughtful, and highly beneficial in understanding differences and also embracing them. I liked the book and found it to be compelling and persuasive. Having said that I don't think I am the target audience for it as it and I feel Christians should definitely pick it up. My rating is not for the quality of the content, as it is a 4⭐ book in that regard, but if I took the personal enjoyment into consideration, I would say it was a 3 ⭐ read for me. I believe this book should definitely be read by young black mothers, mothers and Christians to understand her perspective and also learn more about empathy, compassion, and hope in times of difficulty. I recommend checking this book out.
This book was so wonderful. I loved being able to read it before bed and take a deep breath and join Jasmine as a mom on this motherhood journey. Even though ours will be different the hopes and dreams are resonant.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Part of the reason I read is to learn about other people’s unique experiences. I can only live one life. So I read to see the world through the eyes of others.
I appreciated Jasmine Holmes' book because there’s so much that we have in common. We were both raised in conservative, homeschool families. We’re both Christians. We’re both moms.
With those similarities, I found much in this book that I understand because I’ve experienced it too. The desire for my children to grow up and know the beauty of the gospel, to understand that the gospel affects every area of their lives, and to see how to live in light of the gospel...these are the same desires Jasmine has for her children.
There are differences though between Jasmine and me...and that is what I appreciated the most about this book. I will never know what it’s like to be a black woman in our culture. I will never have to face parenting a black son through the unique situations he will face. I won’t know those things by experience. But I can listen to those who do. I can seek to understand that others’ experiences are different from my own.
I highly recommend this book. You will see a mother’s love for her son. You will see her heart to teach her son about God and the gospel. You will hear about the unique experience of one black mother in the pages of this book.
“But what I want is for my siblings in Christ to consider that their experiences of evangelical culture are not universal. That our unique stories and experiences can serve to amplify the fact that Christ’s saving power infiltrated every tribe, tongue, and nation. The fact that I’m a black woman isn’t central to my identity as a Christian. But it is a facet of the way the Lord has made me, and it does impact aspects of my life that I have to wrestle with quite often in my earthly shell. It comes with immense blessings and difficult burdens. . . I want you to be equipped to share with others how they can help you shoulder those burdens that come with being a young black man in America. I also want you to be able to share their unique burdens with them. But first, we must become less afraid of the power of an unfamiliar story."
I appreciated Jasmine Holmes' book because there’s so much that we have in common. We were both raised in conservative, homeschool families. We’re both Christians. We’re both moms.
With those similarities, I found much in this book that I understand because I’ve experienced it too. The desire for my children to grow up and know the beauty of the gospel, to understand that the gospel affects every area of their lives, and to see how to live in light of the gospel...these are the same desires Jasmine has for her children.
There are differences though between Jasmine and me...and that is what I appreciated the most about this book. I will never know what it’s like to be a black woman in our culture. I will never have to face parenting a black son through the unique situations he will face. I won’t know those things by experience. But I can listen to those who do. I can seek to understand that others’ experiences are different from my own.
I highly recommend this book. You will see a mother’s love for her son. You will see her heart to teach her son about God and the gospel. You will hear about the unique experience of one black mother in the pages of this book.
“But what I want is for my siblings in Christ to consider that their experiences of evangelical culture are not universal. That our unique stories and experiences can serve to amplify the fact that Christ’s saving power infiltrated every tribe, tongue, and nation. The fact that I’m a black woman isn’t central to my identity as a Christian. But it is a facet of the way the Lord has made me, and it does impact aspects of my life that I have to wrestle with quite often in my earthly shell. It comes with immense blessings and difficult burdens. . . I want you to be equipped to share with others how they can help you shoulder those burdens that come with being a young black man in America. I also want you to be able to share their unique burdens with them. But first, we must become less afraid of the power of an unfamiliar story."
I have loved following Jasmine Holmes on Instagram and keeping up with her writing on her blog; her articles and posts are always thought-provoking and beautifully written. I've been looking forward to reading her new book, Mother to Son, and it didn't disappoint!
The book is written as a series of letters to Jasmine's oldest son, Wynn. It's a unique format that turned out to be perfect for tackling some tough issues surrounding race, identity, and the church. Her mother’s heart shines through as she speaks truth with grace and love for her sons and for all of us - fellow believers and people who seek to understand and build relationships with those around us. Her writing is beautiful: kind and vulnerable while also bold and convicting. This book is timely and heartfelt, and the message is much-needed in today's political and cultural climate, both in and outside the church.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The book is written as a series of letters to Jasmine's oldest son, Wynn. It's a unique format that turned out to be perfect for tackling some tough issues surrounding race, identity, and the church. Her mother’s heart shines through as she speaks truth with grace and love for her sons and for all of us - fellow believers and people who seek to understand and build relationships with those around us. Her writing is beautiful: kind and vulnerable while also bold and convicting. This book is timely and heartfelt, and the message is much-needed in today's political and cultural climate, both in and outside the church.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
If you want to see America, the church and the issues of racial tension at work in both from an honest and Biblical lens, read this book. I didn't always agree with Jasmine, but I think if we sat down and had a conversation, she'd be okay with that as long as I was willing to have a real discourse about our differences. She writes as a child of a God first and everything else second. She emphasizes that the ultimate truth is in Christ but that other truths and experiences should not be ignored, but seen in light of that ultimate truth.
In this essay collection, framed as letters, Jasmine discusses topics in an accessible way. This reminded me of Between the World in me but from a Christian perspective, which I really liked. I didn't agree with everything that was discussed, however I appreciate the way that things were framed and respected the viewpoint. I definitely will be recommending this book to people around me.