Natalie

Almost But Not Quite

Revisado: 01-10-24

The story is engaging, but most of the characters are unlikable and astonishingly void of empathy or sympathy. It had potential, but there's not enough joy in the story to make me feel like the sadness is worth it. Celestial's apathy and lack of meaningful words irritated me from. beginning to end. I never understood why even one man would want her, much less two.

Celestial's friendship with Andre was not deep enough for me to root for that relationship and her lukewarmness for Roy made me hope they'd brake up, so he'd find someone more loving. Most of the male characters are terribly sexist which was disappointing. The only somewhat appealing characters were surprisingly Davina and uncle Banks. It held my attention though, so that was a positive.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Like Falling In Love Again and Again and Again...

Revisado: 12-02-23

I've never taken an interest in short stories until reading this book. Thank you Bolu for centering black women in so many beautiful love stories. I could imagine myself in each story and each story made me hungry for the next. Can't wait to start from the beginning again tomorrow so I can fall in love over and over and over again through these characters.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Finally Coquering My Fear of Racism

Revisado: 03-14-23

Listening to this book marks the beginning of me conquering my fear of racism. As an African American, the topic has made me feel so overwhelmed, angry, sad, fearful, and hopeless almost my entire life, I've avoided reading about it thinking I would only feel worse. I'm so glad that I decided to listen to this book. It sat in my library for months as I procrastinated thinking I wasn't ready to hear the terribleness in it yet. Now, I wish I had listened to this book years ago. I wish Ibram had miraculously acquired this knowledge and written this when we were just kids and classmates at St. Josephs.

This book has been truly enlightening and cathartic - much more than I could ever summarize here. I'm already rethinking everything and excited to start using my power to actively practice antiracism. Stamped from the Beginning is next and then the others that he referenced and many others after that... and most importantly I'm actually looking forward to learning what's in them without fear :).

I sincerely hope whoever is reading this review and feeling some, all, or more of the terrible feelings I was decides to be courageous and read/listen to this book. You will be so much better for it.

Thank you Ibram. Truly, thank you.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

The God of wordy, disjointed, putrid, & sad books

Revisado: 01-25-23

I started this book over a year ago, didn't finish it, and couldn't remember why I had stopped listening. A week ago I saw it on my list of downloads, read the great reviews, and enthusiastically started listening again. Well...a few hours in I remembered why I stopped listening the first time.

This story is hopelessly negative, gross, and confusing. The author's perspective when writing this seems to have been one of doom and gloom. Even on my worst days when I'm depressed, angry at the world, and hopeless, I can't hold a candle to this author's ability to find what's terrible in all things everywhere. It seems like every single person, creature, and aspect of nature in this book is described in a pitiful, bizarre, menacing, or macabre way. Considering how beautiful a country India is as well as how beautiful the people and wildlife are, I was really surprised by how ugly they were described (with the exception of a few deep dimples and large eyes).

There were far too many characters to keep up with much less care about and none were relatable. I found it really hard to empathize or sympathize with any of them. To make matters worse, the author's super annoying overly descriptive style/never ending adjectives and repetition of phrases made me want to scream. Just tell the damn story, we don't care about the color of every other person's mucus or the particular stench of their bowels. If I hear Orange Drink-Lemon Drink Man or Paradise Pickles or a another graphic description of excrement ever again I might just snap on the spot - uggh!

On the up side, I feel like I've accomplished something significant pressing through this difficult book, and going forward I have the pleasure of knowing that even on my worst days, my thoughts are not half as twisted and sad as they could be, so there's hope after all.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Glad I Stuck With This Story

Revisado: 12-27-22

I was put off initially by the author's little girlish tone of voice, but her story is significant and worth telling and worth listening to. She weaves together her life experiences and their connectedness to nature beautifully. This book has helped me cope through a sad and discouraging time in my life and I'm so glad that she made it and that I learned of through a local farm's book club. Her appreciation and knowledgeable of nature is admirable and inspiring.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Cliche Soap Opera Drama

Revisado: 02-02-22

I was excited to read a story with lesbian characters, however I was quickly disappointed when I realized that most of the lines are very uncreative cliches you've heard in many daytime soap operas or romantic comedies. Additionally, the narrator does a very poor job trying to imitate British accents, so much so that I wouldn't have know at all that they were British if the story line didn't indicate so. Finally, the storyline is pretty far fetched and it lacks depth.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Disturbing, brutal, and graphic child abuse

Revisado: 01-10-22

I stopped listening after the mother deliberately stabbed her young handicapped child with an ice pick, which was only a handful of chapters in. If you are in any way sensitive to violence and especially towards children, do not read this book. I'm now questioning the violent imagination of the author. Who would conceive of such violence towards any innocent person, especially little children?

I'm disgusted, horrified, and disappointed that this book exists. As a writer and African American woman, normally I champion black women authors, but this is just such cruel and sadistic writing, I can't get behind the author or her work. Based on the low star reviews that I just read, I'm glad that I quit reading when I did.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Long-winded, sadistic, overly theatrical, and sad.

Revisado: 08-28-21

I wanted to enjoy this book, but from the beginning I found the writing to be excruciatingly descriptive, particularly when describing anything putrid, sad, or sadistic. Midway through, I was so disgusted and annoyed by the melodramatic performance, overly detailed descriptions of the characters' bodily functions and suffering, I couldn't wait for it to be over. I suffered through to the end just to have closure.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 7 personas

Very Helpful: Missing Pieces of the Puzzle Found

Revisado: 03-20-21

Absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it! It's educational, emotional, and honors ours and our ancestors' stories in such a beautiful, comprehensive, and yet intimately personal way.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Definitely Worth it! Emotional and Inspiring Story

Revisado: 07-29-20

I'm not a big sports fan, but I was really interested in hearing such an important story about something good that came out of Baltimore. So glad I purchased this. It's inspiring, entertaining, and well written. The author takes you on their journey and makes you feel invested in the outcome.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña