Stitching together girlhood memories with the finest threads of innocence, feminist intellectual bell hooks presents a powerfully intimate account...
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reviews
Sep 08, 2010
Chris
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Autobiographical prose by a critical theorist. She attempts to recreate the voice of her childhood and teenage self, maintaining a degree of innocence and naivety, but her (arguably justified) bitterness remains audible throughout. Increasingly frustrating is her shifts in tense and in narrative from first to third person, back and forth. Seemingly pointless, it comes across clumsy at best, unnecessarily stunting an otherwise quite smooth and easily read book.
I'm sure that there is a More...
I'm sure that there is a More...
Jun 27, 2011
Lynn
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This book happened to catch my eye the last time I went to the library, and I just knew I needed to read it. Not sure why--thought I remembered disliking the only other bell hooks I'd ever read. Glad I followed the whim. A brief and unconventional memoir of a young black woman coming into her own after years of being her family's "problem" child, the many, almost uniformly brief "chapters" feel more like poems or pictures. The author's voice is calm and steady; her writing
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Sep 10, 2011
Drick
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In this collection of essays bell hooks recounts memories from her childhood. Her childhood was filled with many fun memories but amidst that fun was the abuse of her mother by her father, and her own struggle to find her way as a young black woman at a time, place and culture that did not value youth, blackness or women. In her Foreward, hooks points out that often whites mistake the assertiveness of black women for high self-esteem; she insists that is how she was raised. She writes "Our
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Jul 30, 2010
Becca
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bell hooks creates an incredible picture of her childhood and I think her strength is developing her writer's voice. The narration coincides with the child development of the story - so as she writes about the early years it feels as though a 7 year old is speaking. While this may sound like a simple task, creating that voice is challenging and hooks does it with such splendor! I so appreciate her honesty and vulnerability, approaching topics that most of us blush about just thinking of.
Aug 06, 2011
Kony
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This memoir speaks simply, eloquently, to my heart. These scattered snatches of bell hooks's childhood cohere readily in my mind, because she embeds them in emotions and sensibilities that resonate with mine. (Although the concrete details of *my* childhood, on the outside, looked quite different.) While reading this book, I began to write more poetically, imagistically, and I think humanely. I don't presume that this book will be or do the same for you. Check it out yourself.
Sep 09, 2011
Mckinley
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I liked reading this rather unconventionally written collection of memories, experiences, dreams and so on. It was interesting what jumped out immediately and what was more subtle. I think it has a lot to say about stages of life much about childhood and how what impressions it makes along with the comforts and discomforts of being a young adult.
Jul 26, 2011
Kelli
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I just finished this book and loved it. Bell Hooks (pen name)gives brief insight to growing up female in a black, southern family. Her words are like poetry, like song. Each chapter was just three pages long and me left wanting more. I don't even have the words to describe this experience but I do know that I am feeling emotionally wrung-out from it. Wow!
May 15, 2010
Rldsr12
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"bell hooks" is one of my favorite strong woman voices in literature. I couldn't put down this fine memoir in which hooks explores her childhood, her realization of what it meant to be black and female, and the journey she began toward becoming a writer. Highly recommended. Paperback: $7.98
Mar 13, 2010
Trixie
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So glad I ran across this in the library; not sure why I haven't read more bell hooks, but man . . . this book was a blessing to read in so many ways.
Sep 29, 2008
debbie
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this is a poignant story of bell hooks' childhood growing up black and poor...it is touching in how she tries to fit into her family roles, but is unable to feel at ease in her own body...she longs to feel happy inside, and doesn't get answers from her parents as to why she doesn't...her family labels her as crazy because she is content to stay in her room and read anything she can get her hands on...she doesn't want to follow the typical role of husband/wife because she sees the violence firsth
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Mar 28, 2010
be
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it is one of my favorite books ever. it holds a permanent place on my bookshelves.
Aug 08, 2011
Malika
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It's bellhooks, 'nuff said. A nice memoir that offers insight into what shaped her.
Jul 27, 2011
Millicent
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bell hooks memoir, third person vignettes of childhood and teenagedom, poor black girlhood in Kentucky. Everything unfair, incomprehensible, and marvelous. The kind, cruel sorts of familial violence, smart girl loneliness, and a love of old men and old women. The word "searing" comes to mind: the dictionary says, "marked by extreme intensity, harshness, or emotional power." Then fading to dull, mottled scar, remembered but not sharply. hooks is a very beautiful writer.
Feb 25, 2009
angrykitty
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this is a semi-auto book that's written mostly as little vignettes....it's one of the books commonly used in the district i work for now that i haven't read, so i figured i better read it.
i thought that this was ok, but not great. i will say though that it's a much deeper book than it appears on the surface.
i thought that this was ok, but not great. i will say though that it's a much deeper book than it appears on the surface.
Jul 08, 2011
Mignon Ariel
rated it:
She's my nonfiction goddess, so you really should ask someone a tad more objective.
She makes Black women scholars sound like the intelligent, sensitive, well-raised, warm, desirable weirdos we are rather than icy, dull, lifeless, ferocious harpies and sour little grapes. Odd ain't the worst fate for a Black-woman-to-be "girl-child."
She makes Black women scholars sound like the intelligent, sensitive, well-raised, warm, desirable weirdos we are rather than icy, dull, lifeless, ferocious harpies and sour little grapes. Odd ain't the worst fate for a Black-woman-to-be "girl-child."
Sep 05, 2008
Nancy
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Is not an ordinary tale, it is the story of girlhood rebellion, of struggle to create self and identity distinct. Interesting snap shots dealing with growing up Black in the South during the beginning of desegregation. Family, race, religion, self-esteem, and girlhood are explored.
Feb 27, 2008
*rob*
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one of my favorite memoirs. it taught me the definition of a memoir: authentic details matter less, the impact and significance of the events matter more and therefore grants creative license to the author. now i fukkin love memoirs! it's like "the fish was thiiiiiiiiiiis big!"
Aug 29, 2011
Tara
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i don't care for poetry really. and this isn't "poetry" but spoken with a poetry vibe. i did like the description of her life. but i wanted more of a story and this is not a story... it's a glimpse. it is a short read and the content was vivid. just not my thing.
Mar 15, 2008
Stephanie
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Her prose in this is faboo. It's familiar, but at the same time very different form her non-fiction. Very unique compared to your usual memoirs. I recommend it if only to get a taste of her prose.
Jul 28, 2008
Chi Chi
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Interesting snap shots dealing with growing up Black in the South during the beginning of desegregation. Family, race, religion, self-esteem, and girlhood are explored.
Jul 08, 2011
Chris
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This is my lunch time book at the moment. It was more poetic and less factual than I was in the mood for, but it was good.
Dec 16, 2009
Jackie
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I really had a tough time reading this book. bell hooks's intimate portrayal of her childhood was honest and real.
Sep 15, 2008
Ryan
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Her first memoir is a sad and inspiring tale of growing up poor, black, and female.
Feb 26, 2008
Nicole
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Beautifully written, touching story. Basically bell hook's auto biography.
May 27, 2009
Allison
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I don't know that I liked it, but she had an interesting, abrupt style.
