Scan barcode
crybabybea's review against another edition
4.5
I especially found the writing similar to other memoirs such as I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Dr. Maya Angelou and I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy, in the way that Ashley C. Ford is able to capture her own childhood voice and mix it with her reflection as an adult. She painted a full picture of the events that shaped her, as well as the people closest to her.
I appreciated especially the portrayal of her mother, who was imperfect in every way; abusive but loving, joyful but full of fear and stress, neglectful but caring, and overall just a woman trying her best with what she was given. As well, her father, incarcerated for 20+ years for a crime unknown to Ashley for the majority of her life (and unknown to the reader until the memoir reaches that point in Ashley's timeline) is a full figure of doting and adoration, while Ashley has to reconcile with the reality his crime and what it means to herself and her family. I found the exploration of familial relationships relatable and touching.
Definitely a standout memoir.
Graphic: Fatphobia, Rape, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Death, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Grief, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Stalking, and Violence
anastasiak's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent
suchsweetsorrow89's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Death, Death of parent, Rape, and Sexual harassment
rorikae's review against another edition
4.5
Ford chronicles her youth through her young adulthood through her relationship with her mother and her father, who was incarcerated during her childhood. Though the story is framed through Ford's relationship with her father and how she came to terms with the crime for which he was imprisoned, it is almost more about her relationship with her own mother and how it has changed through her life. We follow her through school, young loves, going away to school, and growing up through the lens of herself as somebody's daughter.
I have been a fan of Ashley C. Ford's for quite some time. I can't remember the first time I encountered her work but I've listened to her podcasts and interviews with her before so I was excited to delve into her memoir. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about her life and I think she does a great job of pairing honesty with evocative prose to create an emotionally moving memoir. She reads the audiobook, which I highly recommend, because she has a great voice. An audiobook memoir is that much more personal when the author reads it themself. I also recommend the audiobook because it has an hour long conversation between Ford and Clint Smith about their books, which acts as an epilogue of sorts as we learn more about the writing of the memoir.
I cannot wait to read what Ford writes next. 'Somebody's Daughter' solidified that she is an author whose work I will be following for years to come.
Graphic: Rape, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Body shaming
mariasilva's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Stalking, Terminal illness, and Toxic relationship
meghan's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Cancer, Panic attacks/disorders, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Stalking, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Confinement, and Child death
codemasterpi's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Medical content
hannah_finley's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer and Death of parent
annuich's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, and Sexual assault
caseythereader's review against another edition
5.0
- SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER is an exploration of not only growing up and finding yourself, but finding your parents, too - the good and the bad parts of them. It's a book about loving difficult people, and holding conflicting parts of yourself and your loved ones at the same time.
- One thing that really stuck out to me is the way Ford illustrates how confusing childhood can be, when you're often punished for breaking rules you didn't know existed and the adults don't give any further explanation.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, and Violence