Scan barcode
hjb_128's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
bookobsessedmommy's review
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Looking forward to reading more from this author. Beautiful story in only a few words.
lezreadalot's review
4.0
But sometimes living pulls back the skin of another life. A possibility.
A tiny memoir of love and finding the one. Sweet, simple, lovely as all of Woodson's writing always is.
lolagreen's review
1.0
Before Her is a Kindle Unlimited Original short story written by award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson. In this 18 page short story, Woodson shares with the reader her experience with the loss of people in her life, including break-ups and death.
I have a very linear mind and often find it frustrating to read books that do not follow a linear format or structure. Before Her takes place over decades and Woodson changes the time she is discussing every 1-4 paragraphs. I definitely experienced a bit of reader's whiplash.
The other aspect of the story that lead to my single star rating was the lack of attention Jacqueline provided to any of the people included in her story. We read a lot about the death of people Woodson cared about but nothing about THEM. And even though the story is an autobiography, we don't learn anything about Woodson either. All I learned about her was that she's black, queer, and has dated a lot of people, and had many open relationships. And as someone who enjoys reading about people over plot -- this was a toughy for me.
If this story was a book, I would have DNF'd. This is just not for me. But I still look forward to reading some other Woodson novels that I've had in my TBR for some time.
I have a very linear mind and often find it frustrating to read books that do not follow a linear format or structure. Before Her takes place over decades and Woodson changes the time she is discussing every 1-4 paragraphs. I definitely experienced a bit of reader's whiplash.
The other aspect of the story that lead to my single star rating was the lack of attention Jacqueline provided to any of the people included in her story. We read a lot about the death of people Woodson cared about but nothing about THEM. And even though the story is an autobiography, we don't learn anything about Woodson either. All I learned about her was that she's black, queer, and has dated a lot of people, and had many open relationships. And as someone who enjoys reading about people over plot -- this was a toughy for me.
If this story was a book, I would have DNF'd. This is just not for me. But I still look forward to reading some other Woodson novels that I've had in my TBR for some time.
meridithmy's review
5.0
Short. Beautiful. Sweet
This book/short story filled my heart with love. It was excellent. Such a beautiful story of the love we share before we meet the one we live forever.
This book/short story filled my heart with love. It was excellent. Such a beautiful story of the love we share before we meet the one we live forever.