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wietse111's review against another edition
5.0
Een heel bijzonder boek. Een essay over zwart zijn in Amerika, geschreven voor z'n tienerzoon. 5 sterren omdat het simpelweg prachtig geschreven is. Krachtige, rijke zinnen. Poëtisch en tegelijkertijd rauw.
Het knapste vond ik hoe dit binnen kwam terwijl ik de ervaringen van Coates zelf totaal niet herken. Ben geen Amerikaan, ben niet zwart en ben geen vader. Maar toch voelde het tijdens het lezen bijna alsof ik het wel kon snappen.
Het knapste vond ik hoe dit binnen kwam terwijl ik de ervaringen van Coates zelf totaal niet herken. Ben geen Amerikaan, ben niet zwart en ben geen vader. Maar toch voelde het tijdens het lezen bijna alsof ik het wel kon snappen.
yaakovakiva's review against another edition
5.0
A must read. Beautiful writer, important words, concise and digestible. I'm grateful for having read it.
dontstopreadin's review against another edition
4.0
You have to listen to this as an audiobook. The emotion conveyed is beautiful, it feels like a long, extended slam poem. This story is visceral and important and strong. It's raw and it hurts and it's full of truth and it's so important.
katy_ryn's review against another edition
5.0
Exquisite. Everyone should read this, absolutely everyone.
lauraborkpower's review against another edition
5.0
This is a remarkable piece of work that is often more poetry than prose and that made me feel as though I was seeing Coates's heart, pulsing with life and love and aching with anger and pain. He writes about his eyes -- his beautiful eyes -- and they are beautiful, because it is through his eyes that we can see the Mecca of Howard University's grounds and all the human beauty that is there, and the run-down section of State Street in Chicago as he drives. We see everything as he sees it, and this job, this job that is essential for good writers to be able to do well, is a hard job to do well. Coates does it.
Listening to this audiobook was emotional, and I recommend it for everyone, even those who have already read this book. Coates narrates himself, and it's perfect to hear his voice, a strong, low voice that rumbles often with an emotion that reaches out to touch the reader.
He has given his son a tremendous gift, and we as a reading community are so lucky to have been let in on this as well.
Listening to this audiobook was emotional, and I recommend it for everyone, even those who have already read this book. Coates narrates himself, and it's perfect to hear his voice, a strong, low voice that rumbles often with an emotion that reaches out to touch the reader.
He has given his son a tremendous gift, and we as a reading community are so lucky to have been let in on this as well.
teamlarson's review against another edition
5.0
This is such a beautifully written book that holds so much power. The story telling is so seamless with such thought provoking and quotable thoughts woven in. Everything in the book is so intentional and it speaks volumes in such a short book. Coates’ feelings on race felt very original and personal. He thoughtfully avoided the same regurgitated ideas and cliches around racial discussions all while highlighting often ignored points of the body, intersectionality, masculinity, and the American dream. Even at its bare bones, it is a poignant letter written from a father to his son.
pronolagus's review against another edition
5.0
With passion and profound insight (obvious), Coates makes this very long letter to his son an open one. And it's important, particularly for Americans. It is, by turn, sad, wistful, joyous, and, ultimately, empowering. There's plenty of dread about the past reading it, but if the lessons of the construct of race can impart anything, it's that what was built, even across long centuries, can be dismantled. It won't be easy, but waking up and being conscious is the first stone undone.
barefootsierra's review against another edition
hopeful
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Police brutality, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Death, Murder, Homophobia, Slavery, and Hate crime
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, and Colonisation