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A review by jampsonn16
We're Going to Need More Wine: Stories That Are Funny, Complicated, and True by Gabrielle Union
TW for sexual assault/rape
I listened to this on audio and while I know I enjoyed it at the time, I unfortunately don't remember much about it beyond the bigger talking points. The story follows Union in typical linear fashion from childhood to adulthood, and while her upbringing was interesting enough, it's her details about specific experiences that really resonated with me. Like the issues she faced as a Black woman when she first started acting and the terrible vagina-cleaning advice she once got from a friend. And then there was the terrible recounting of a sexual assault in her teens that left me rattled. Union tells all of this with a matter-of-fact bluntness that was refreshing to hear. I do think women are not encouraged to talk about their experiences unless they're neat, clean, or easy to digest, but Union came in and smashed that expectation to the ground. She's so confidently open about these things and basically says "get over yourself if you're offended or put off, this is my story to tell." Life is messy and so are our experiences, and I think Union perfectly illustrated that in this memoir. While I may have to reread this, I can say that it's worth the time if you're a memoir-buff like me!
I listened to this on audio and while I know I enjoyed it at the time, I unfortunately don't remember much about it beyond the bigger talking points. The story follows Union in typical linear fashion from childhood to adulthood, and while her upbringing was interesting enough, it's her details about specific experiences that really resonated with me. Like the issues she faced as a Black woman when she first started acting and the terrible vagina-cleaning advice she once got from a friend. And then there was the terrible recounting of a sexual assault in her teens that left me rattled. Union tells all of this with a matter-of-fact bluntness that was refreshing to hear. I do think women are not encouraged to talk about their experiences unless they're neat, clean, or easy to digest, but Union came in and smashed that expectation to the ground. She's so confidently open about these things and basically says "get over yourself if you're offended or put off, this is my story to tell." Life is messy and so are our experiences, and I think Union perfectly illustrated that in this memoir. While I may have to reread this, I can say that it's worth the time if you're a memoir-buff like me!