A review by rosemarieshort
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo

5.0

Evaristo beautifully portrays black, British, female (and trans) life with this - an anthology of interconnected stories weaving throughout the decades. Some stories are set in the very modern day, others go back to the early 1900s. There is a lot to learn for someone like me - a white reader - someone who knows racism in Britain existed and still does exist, but does not have the first hand experience of the range of ways this has and does play out in everyday life. From women eighty years ago losing their homes and families for having a non-white child, to people today being facing casually cruel prejudice for the colour of their skin.

Evaristo is a beautiful writer and tackles issues by writing great stories about them - it’s that simple. Her ability to make each individual persons story un-put-downable, despite how different each main character is, is a testament to her talent. Whilst entertaining the book also made me think - as the characters do - questioning opinions, political views, moral quandaries.

I highly recommend this - an engaging and important read.