Tracy C
I LOVED this book! I got chocked up in several places of the book. I was on the edge of my seat. There was a lot of scientific data thrown out there, but I just let it bounce off of me. It was important to the character, but not to me, except to demonstrate that they really understood what they were covering and it was “realistic”. I can't wait to talk about it in my book club. And I can't wait to watch the movie that was made after this book was written. I love it! And I think I will love the movie! Will Wheaton did a great job of narrating.
This book is very deep and thought provoking. Thought I could get through it quickly like most of the other books that I read or listen to. This one, however, brings forth a lot of topics and ways of thinking, or philosophies maybe, that need to be mulled over and pondered. I appreciate my initial listen of this book for giving me this insight. But this is a book filled with information that I want to review, probably several times. For this reason, I will be purchasing a digital copy so that I can read it on my Kindle and highlight the passages that strike me, or take notes where I have comparisons to make or other things to add.
I felt like I can't get this time back. This book has shown up on many lists of books that were books that should be read... not missed. I don't know why. I feel like the dead ship at the end of the book (I don't think that's a spoiler!) I kept waiting for some intense sense of enlightenment. This is a spoiler... It never happened! What was the point?!
Edited to add... I'm not capable of a DNF, on purpose. Or I would have DNF'd this one for sure!
WTF?! Are there actually people out there like this that are THIS eff'ed up??? I was definitely sucked in to the story, but I absolutely HATED how it ended!!!
I'm debating myself on whether to throw a spoiler in here and the no side is winning right now. Although, the yes side is saying, save others from this ending! Ugh!! If someone would like a spoiler, let me know and I'll throw it out there. But for now, I'll leave it out.
I liked the writing, and the characters were well developed.
It's difficult to judge a book that's an autobiography. I don't want to judge Helena's story itself. Each of our stories are ours, with all of our ups and downs. So I'll try to base this on how I think she told her story. I was sucked in and wanted to hear what she had to say, so it wasn't difficult get through or anything. I think she presented her story well, but in some areas I think she went into greater detail than was necessary, and I would have liked her to dive a bit deeper in others. I understand she was trying to protect some people, so in that sense I get it. But the areas she dug into weren't the kind of details that most people would get (medical stuff). She went through a lot in her life and came out on the other end of things OK I guess.
People are Eff'd up!!! WOW!!
I like the way that most of the book played out, and the characters were introduced. But the end seemed to come in a rush... like someone suddenly remembered they had a deadline and had to wrap it up quick!!
Also, the last chapter was really kind of weird for me. Like an after-thought.
Overall, I liked the book though. The story was good... one that I would never think of! haha
Age appropriate... teen, tween, YA. Difficult to read, from a subject matter perspective, but things like this SHOULD be difficult to read. I really liked the way that JPR tied her story back to the events about Emmitt Till. A lot of youth probably haven't been taught about Emmitt Till, so it's a good way to tie difficult current events, into some [also difficult] historical events.
Great discussion starter written by an excellent Black author.
An interesting read, unlike any other book I've read. Based on the description I received from a friend with regard to this book, I thought it was going to be different people all walking around the same block. It was instead, people walking around blocks that are close to them in proximity. But it's amazing how different the perceptions of people can be. The things that people notice are so different based on their own lived experiences, compared to someone else. It's like when you get a new car, or you're thinking about getting a new car. You never really saw that car before. But all of a sudden you notice that same make and model, wherever you go! Your perception of it is heightened, because of your exposure, your experience. Quite amazing, actually.
Well written for its time. It's the “time” that has me dropping this down to a 3 from a 4 or 4.5. I just can't get past how “haughty” people were back then. Speaking opening about being rich, and marrying for being “rich”. In the end (spoiler alert, kind of), the ladies were happily married, but their mother still focused on how rich everyone was. I would rather (maybe naively) be rich in spirit and happiness than in monetary aspects.
Excellent book. I would recommend this book to anyone on EITHER side of the political spectrum and everyone in between. Elizabeth is about what's best for the American PEOPLE! Not the special interest groups lining the pockets of people on BOTH sides of the aisle. She calls it like she sees it, and this book is eye opening. It calls out situations that I (a relatively informed person) had no idea were taking place. And it explains the situations in PLAIN TERMS! EASY for anyone to understand! Please read!
Difficult for me to get into. The book was, to me, more about the writing and language than it was about the characters or the story. I almost wanted to quit on it, but I'm one of those people that can't put down a book once I've picked it up. I wish I could get past that. I've been reading a lot of modern fiction, so perhaps I just wasn't ready for it. I'll give it another listen before returning it to the library.
