Reviews tagging 'Racism'

By Her Own Design by Piper Huguley

9 reviews

browngirlty's review

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This was a different book for me. I normally enjoy thrillers and mysteries. I enjoyed everything about this book the author was great writer I felt like I could visualize everything written. This book was an emotional read for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Racism

emilyb84's review against another edition

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism and Adult/minor relationship

bookrecsondeck's review

emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship

sashahc's review

emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I just read “By Her Own Design: A Novel of Ann Lowe, Fashion Designer to the Social Register” by Piper Huguley.  It’s a fictionalized memoir of a real person.  Ann Lowe was a Black woman and granddaughter of enslaved peoples who designed bespoke clothing for the New York elite, including the wedding dress of Jackie Kennedy.  It’s a fascinating story and character.  After I read it, I looked up an interview with Ann Lowe in Ebony and whether it was true in the details, the book definitely seemed to capture her spirit.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Gaslighting, Classism, and Domestic abuse

tiasreads's review

Several things bothered me about this book, but the two main problems were:
1) The many small inaccuracies and inconsistencies the author didn't bother to check. Such as saying that a person left, but a few sentences later saying that the same person helped Ann do something and then left. Also, saying that Ann and her first husband moved "northward" from Montgomery to Dothan, Alabama, when Dothan is 125 miles south of Montgomery. This is sloppy and amateurish. 
2) The continual message that black people need to get themselves a white savior or two. I really hope I don't have to explain why this is not okay, especially from a black author.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Death of parent

jblock321's review

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Racism

maritay918's review

challenging emotional informative inspiring sad

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

Trying to keep the historical setting in mind, I did love Ann’s passion and marveled at her talent. However, I could not shake this niggling feeling that she was a bit too self-focused. It was a complicated relationship between Ann and I as I read. LOL  Overall I liked the book. Never knew about Ann, so I was happy to learn about how she impacted “high society” fashion in the South and eventually in other places in the US, like New York. 

Not to be missed was the societal context in which Ann lived. I think it was handled well in both areas of class and race. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Medical content

Minor: War and Sexism

hannah_lou's review

emotional inspiring relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I loved reading this book! It felt like I was reading Ann’s autobiography, rather than a novel, because it was so well-researched. The dialect was great but always comprehensible. I enjoyed the easy pace and short chapters. 
Ann took a remarkable place in history and was connected to many notable people; she also bridged the gap between very different eras of civil rights. I would call this story a coming-of-age story for Ann, our country, Jackie Kennedy, the civil rights movement, and fashion all in one. 

Marvelous read. 

A word about the first third of the book and a certain child marriage:

It’s hard to read about the grooming and eventual marriage of twelve-year-old Ann. Sexual acts are described, not in graphic detail, but enough detail to be uncomfortable. While it’s hard to read, I encourage you to keep reading because the marriage does end and I believe Ann finds healing and independence.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Classism, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Grief, Domestic abuse, Racism, Infertility, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Racial slurs, and Pregnancy

sarahsthoughtsonbooks's review against another edition

challenging hopeful informative inspiring reflective tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcoholism, Sexual violence, Rape, Pregnancy, Racism, Misogyny, Infertility, and Domestic abuse