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library_lurker's review against another edition
3.0
this book was really absorbing, but pretty disjointed. i thought a decent amount of it seemed like it was more suited for rebecca walker's journal than a published book. i wish there had been more of a narrative arc, and i also wish it had been more queer! we get an endless exhaustive run-down of her many boyfriends, even the ones that don't seem terribly significant to her life, and only a vague mention of the female partner she's raising a child with at the time of the writing. a big theme of this book is the search for home & the lack of a real home, which i could relate to because that's been a big theme in my life. loving women has always felt like home to me & i was wondering if walker felt the same way. but, we never find out!
that said, this book is really lyrical and certain sections pack a powerful punch. she says a lot of really interesting things about difference and it's still worth checking out.
that said, this book is really lyrical and certain sections pack a powerful punch. she says a lot of really interesting things about difference and it's still worth checking out.
nadavdavid's review against another edition
4.0
Rebecca Walker's storytelling and identity formation is compelling and eye opening. At times, the short chapters can feel disconnected from each other, but overall this is a great read and I highly recommend it!
shanz77's review against another edition
5.0
I have been meaning to read this book since it came out and only recently got a copy. The writing is lovely and reads well. I am very glad I finally read it.
sariggs's review against another edition
4.0
This book was interesting and painful to read. I want to shake Rebecca's parents for their inability to actually parent her. They isolated her in a hundred small ways, and although they both sound like intelligent people, they seem uninterested in providing emotional support to their child. I've never heard of a custody agreement where you relocate your child every 2 years. What was the point? Her father was incapable of seeing how miserable she was in a white suburb, and her mother couldn't be bothered to even register her for school. Both parents provided clothing and shelter, and maybe love, but they also provided an unstable environment where Rebecca felt like she didn't fit in ANYWHERE.
Good job civil rights lawyer and bohemian writer. You're lucky Rebecca managed to self-parent.
Good job civil rights lawyer and bohemian writer. You're lucky Rebecca managed to self-parent.
pattydsf's review
3.0
I would not want to be the child of a celebrity. Add to that the fact that Rebecca Walker is biracial and her parents had a bizarre joint custody agreement and you have the makings of fascinating story.
I think that Rebecca Walker is trying as honestly as she can to tell her story. The fact that she and her mother disagree about her version just makes this more interesting.
I recommend this book to those folks who think they know what their kids are up to. I am parent to two wonderful children and I think we have done a good job of bringing each other to adulthood. However, I don't want to know this much about my kids life.
I think that Rebecca Walker is trying as honestly as she can to tell her story. The fact that she and her mother disagree about her version just makes this more interesting.
I recommend this book to those folks who think they know what their kids are up to. I am parent to two wonderful children and I think we have done a good job of bringing each other to adulthood. However, I don't want to know this much about my kids life.
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