A review by spootilious
Hidden Figures by Margot Lee Shetterly

informative slow-paced

2.0

First off, allow me to preface this by say that I do not read reviews on books before I read the book, that way I can go into it with high hopes. Going into Hidden Figures, I had higher hopes than almost any book I have read in a very long time. I knew the story behind the novel and was excited to go more in depth and immerse myself in it.

For once, I wish I had read the reviews first….

 

The premise behind the novel is one I support fully and adore. This book did wonders to bring to light the otherwise ‘hidden’ stories that were the foundation of history! The focus on people of color and women is moving and I was very excited to learn what I had from this novel.

 

That being said, this novel was so packed with lists of facts that I felt I was reading out of textbook and a very poorly written one at that. The jumps backwards and forwards in time are disorientating and confusing. It is very difficult to keep up with what is important to remember and what is simply a tiny tidbit of information that Shetterly found interesting but doesn’t actually apply to the story of the individuals at hand.

 

Now, don’t get me wrong, Shetterly obviously did her research and she made it clear that she was an amateur historian which would explain why the writing is so disjointed and heavy to read. With more experience I have no doubt she could turn this work into something that would have us all glued to its pages. As it stands, It was almost painful to read.

 

I hate that I didn’t care for the book because its message is so important, promoting feminism and breaking through racist bigotry. When it comes down to it, however, I am here to rate a book and as such this does not hold up.