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Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves

Glory Edim (Goodreads Author)

4.42 · Rating details · 2,367 ratings · 482 reviews

An inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature.

Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging can stick with readers the rest of their lives--but it doesn't ...more

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Hardcover, 288 pages

Published April 18th 2019 by Trapeze (first published October 30th 2018)

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Mar 04, 2019 Jenna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, race

"Myths tell us what those like us have done, can do, should do. Without myths to lead the way, we hesitate to leap forward." ~N.K. Jemisen, Dreaming Awake

We read for many reasons. We read to find adventure. We read to escape our problems. We read to learn about others. We read to learn new things. We read to be entertained. Perhaps most of all, we read to know we are not alone. A well-written book can show us who we are and can make us feel we belong.

It was a joy to read Well-Read Black Girl: "Myths tell us what those like us have done, can do, should do. Without myths to lead the way, we hesitate to leap forward." ~N.K. Jemisen, Dreaming Awake

We read for many reasons. We read to find adventure. We read to escape our problems. We read to learn about others. We read to learn new things. We read to be entertained. Perhaps most of all, we read to know we are not alone. A well-written book can show us who we are and can make us feel we belong.

It was a joy to read Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves. It is a collection of essays by African-American women detailing their own transformative experiences of finding themselves in a book. The feeling of belonging you get when you encounter someone just like you. The way it helps you understand your inner self more, and accept and love yourself for who you are. "White" culture is everywhere; "white" is often depicted as the norm, just as "straightness" is depicted as the norm. Minorities are often left feeling like they don't belong, like there is something inherently "wrong" with and about them. It is heartening that there are ever more books and movies and tv shows depicting minorities. Everyone needs to know they belong, needs to see themselves in both fiction and non-fiction. Needs to feel validated in who they are.

I think for minorities in particular, it is empowering to find ourselves in books. I remember coming across a book with a lesbian character for the first time in my teens. I remember my sense of amazement, my feelings of connectedness, my appreciation that I was not alone -- the sense of hope this engendered in me! This was 20+ years ago and I had lived a very sheltered life. And of course, there weren't all that many books about LGBQT+ people back then. The book was The Color Purple and there was Celie, feeling about females the way I felt about them. There, staring back at me from the pages, was somebody like me -- a girl who liked other girls.

The stories in Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves are beautiful, heartfelt, and touching. Some of them made me laugh, others made me cry. They all made me appreciate books even more. After every 3 chapters, Glory Edim provides lists of recommendations for various genres of books written by Black women. This was dangerous for my TBR list which is now quite a bit lengthier than it was before I read this!

Well-Read Black Girl is a book most book-lovers will appreciate and identify with!

“You think your pain and your heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read." ~James Baldwin ...more

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Nov 01, 2018 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: diaspora, debuts, books-about-books-about-books, non-fiction, net-galley, 2018, 2018-color-challenge, anthology

I remember the time my teacher placed a copy of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in my hands. I identified strongly with young Maya. Through her walk a sense of power was infused in me. I felt that I could endure. Just the idea that a little brown girl's voice held that much power. I remember shortly after that Dr. Angelou came to visit my local library. She towered over the patrons yet she always managed to embrace everyone at their own level. Even at that young age I understood that I was in ...more

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Sep 08, 2018 Andre rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I love reading books about reading. It’s always inspiring to hear about what books loomed large in a person’s life. And it’s doubly exciting when those looking back are authors giving insight to the texts that spurred them to write their own stories. I also genuinely respect the way women are able to connect with one another in a way men can’t, (won’t?). It’s really something to see. I’m envious.

Glory Edim has created a phenomenon that started with conversations around a tee shirt she was I love reading books about reading. It’s always inspiring to hear about what books loomed large in a person’s life. And it’s doubly exciting when those looking back are authors giving insight to the texts that spurred them to write their own stories. I also genuinely respect the way women are able to connect with one another in a way men can’t, (won’t?). It’s really something to see. I’m envious.

Glory Edim has created a phenomenon that started with conversations around a tee shirt she was wearing. Well Read Black Girl was the printed tee shirt message. That has turned into a popular presence on social media, a book festival and now this wonderful work. Kudos to Glory. “The essays in the following pages remind us of the magnificence of literature; how it can provide us with a vision of ourselves, affirm our talents, and ultimately help us narrate our own stories.”

In overseeing this work a common theme is representation. Many women comment here on the lack of representation they felt, even years before they had the language to express that lack, that’s why books are important. That became almost a mantra for me as I read through these story essays. Often after reading someone’s testimony, I would silently say to myself, that’s why books are important! Jamia Wilson writes, “Nikki gave me a sense of place that was grounded in my experience as a black child during a time when it felt like most of the books in my school library represented everyone else but me.” She is referring to poet Nikki Giovanni. Books have been an anchor for some, a mirror for others, a crystal ball for a few. In all stories, books matter, words comfort, inspire. And this essay collection insures the clarity of that message and it is one you’ll want to share with others and also frequently return to for its strong references, not only in the various narratives but for the many book recommendations sprinkled through out the text.

This passage from Rebecca Walker, is representative of the entire book, “I still and will always believe that representation of all kinds is essential. My work—the memoirs, anthologies, novels, television pilots, magazine articles—is just one long attempt to make sure that people from different backgrounds are seen and heard, especially people who are in some practical way challenging the status quo, and offering different interpretations of what it means to be a human being right now.” It is absolutely necessary to compile these types of essays to keep spreading the transformative power of literature. A tremendous win for Glory Edim to have her name at the helm of this collection that will be bandied about for years to come. Thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced DRC. Book will drop Oct. 30, 2018. ...more

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Sep 07, 2018 Stacie C rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book-arcs, 2018, black-authors

I’ve always been a voracious reader. My mother used to read me bedtime stories at night and as soon as I learned how to read, more often than not you would find me with a book in my hands. There are two books that stand out that were an obvious reflection of me and my family: The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton and Pass It On: African American Poetry by Wade Hudson. Those two books had Black people on the covers, Black people on the pages and were about Black people. Those were the two I’ve always been a voracious reader. My mother used to read me bedtime stories at night and as soon as I learned how to read, more often than not you would find me with a book in my hands. There are two books that stand out that were an obvious reflection of me and my family: The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton and Pass It On: African American Poetry by Wade Hudson. Those two books had Black people on the covers, Black people on the pages and were about Black people. Those were the two books I would always go back to. Even after years of reading Goosebumps, Fear Street and Stephen King. Even after imagining myself as Hermione in Harry Potter and well into my teenage years I would still find myself randomly grabbing those two books and reading the pages that influenced me so much when I was young. Reading this anthology brought me back to those books even though it’s been over a decade since I’ve read them. When I look back, those books are my anchors and I was lucky to be able to have those at such a young age.

Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves is a beautifully curated anthology. It reflects the vast differences that make up Black women’s experience with literature. From seeing representation at an early age, to discovering true representation later on in life, to questioning your view of society or sexuality or what it means to be a woman and Black. That’s what I love about this book. Not only is it filled with essays by woman I admire and respect but their vulnerability and honesty on the page is invigorating. The stories they chose to share, all inspired by a literary work or works that affected their lives, gives the reader an in depth look at their lived experiences. Each essay is beautifully written and so reflective on who they were while reading and how that has affected the woman they’ve become. So much growth within these pages.

I really enjoyed this collection as a whole. I knew while reading that this is something I would want to adorn my shelves, something I would reflect on and read again in the future. It’s also a resource. Edim made a really smart decision by listing different types of books throughout this anthology. I will now have a curated list of books from different genres by Black women that I can read, which is something I hadn’t expected but was very glad to see. This anthology is something that I believe every well-read Black girl can relate to, because we’ve all had that moment when we’ve read a book that has changed us. It’s beautiful to read a book where other Black women are sharing their experiences as well. I give this 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you Netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Dec 21, 2019 Monica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: racial-matters, essays, women-savvy, 5-star, female-author-fic, aoc, aoc-female, pub_2010s, nonfic_challenge-2019, pub-2018

What a brilliant concept and gem of a book! A thoughtful partner gave Glory Edim a T-shirt for her birthday that said "Well Read Black Girl" and listed her favorite authors like Morrison, Walker, Angelou etc. The T-shirt garnered attention when lots of women wanted one too and it spawned a book club (Well Read Black Girl) in NYC. Edim (founder of said book club) poses a question:

"When did you first see yourself in literature?"

Thus are the ingredients of the book. Fifteen current Black female What a brilliant concept and gem of a book! A thoughtful partner gave Glory Edim a T-shirt for her birthday that said "Well Read Black Girl" and listed her favorite authors like Morrison, Walker, Angelou etc. The T-shirt garnered attention when lots of women wanted one too and it spawned a book club (Well Read Black Girl) in NYC. Edim (founder of said book club) poses a question:

"When did you first see yourself in literature?"

Thus are the ingredients of the book. Fifteen current Black female authors write an essay that sprung in many ways from this question. These are authors of every genre including fiction, science fiction, poetry, nonfiction etc. Interestingly enough, none of the essays are repetitive or overlap. It's a really brilliant array. Not every essay is about seeing yourself in literature. Some of them are about what books they enjoyed as children that inspired them, moved them, defined them. It was a fascinating collection. At the end of every 3 essays, Edim recommends books in various genres. Needless to say my tbr filled up. But what was of most interest to me was what went on inside the minds of these writers.

I loved the book and it got me to thinking about my own life. I've been a voracious reader most of my life. When I thought about the first time saw myself in literature, sadly the answer was in my mid 20s. I didn't read any African American themed books in the public school system. In the 80s, many of the classics had yet to be written or even acknowledged and frankly had to be introduced to me by my parents (who were not the readers that my sister and I became). My parents had Invisible Man and The Fire Next Time but didn't really encourage us to read them. Roots: The Saga of an American Family was out but to me it was a huge book I wasn’t' going to tackle. I was reading things like East of Eden and A Tale of Two Cities in high school. My first foray into African American books was The Autobiography of Malcolm X. I read it in my free time during basic training in the military. It felt rebellious and it was the first time I had read a book that had voices that related to my experiences. My first Toni Morrison novel was Song of Solomon. It was the first book that reminded me of family members. And Terry McMillian Waiting to Exhale was one of the first books in which I read characters that had elements that I saw in myself. I was at least 25 by the time that happened. I don't think I had an identity crisis back then; but these days some 30 years later, I'm able to see myself in abundance. I am loving the variety of books for all ages that are available. These days it is worldwide.

My favorite of these essays was written by a woman who has written a book but is more known for her acting, Gabourey Sidibe. But they are all good and all inspirational and interesting. Because of the nature of the current crop of authors (and I mean current in more ways than one), it is my hope that Edim intends to publish more of these books every 10 years or so. This was great! Definitely recommended!

4.5 Bright Stars

Read on kindle ...more

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Dec 19, 2018 Christina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really loved this. I'm buying hardcopies for my daughter's.

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Jan 17, 2019 BookOfCinz rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: all-the-feels, biography-and-autobios, inspiring-and-motivating, short-stories, cant-shut-up-about-this, loved, real-life-sh-t, books-to-read-before-30, debut, believe-the-hype

Being a reader is an incredible gift, providing me with a lens to interpret the world. Most important, it has invigorated my imagination and allowed me to choose which narratives I want to center and hold close.

What a brilliant collection of essays by black women. I love books about books, readers and writers and Well-Read Black Girl covered all three. I admire so many of the writers who contributed to this collection, it is no wonder I devoured this book because I wanted to know more about ...more

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Sep 02, 2018 Tiffany Reads rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book perfectly captures what it feels like to be a black girl that loves books and the difference they can make in your life...I can’t wait for everyone to experience this one!!!

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Jan 19, 2019 mindful.librarian ☀️ rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adult-reads, essay, aoc

literary spark
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This essay collection is pure gold, my reading friends. An anthology of works about books and reading by some of the most prominent Black female writers today, these essays divulge a vast array of texts that inspired and shaped each author.
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As a school librarian I have always firmly believed that there is no childhood canon that will reach all children, necessitating wide-ranging collections available to all. This book solidified that belief.
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We have no idea what work will ...more

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Jan 13, 2019 Bree Hill rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

One of those gems I’m grateful I picked up. This is a collection of black women sharing their stories of finding authors who inspired them to become writers and finding works where they finally saw characters who looked like them.

I loved reading these ladies’ stories. Highly recommend the audiobook if you can get your hands on it. Also throughout the book are recommendations so have a paper and pen handy.

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Jan 01, 2019 Cortney rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.25 Stars

Seems appropriate that my first read of the year is #diversespines book of the month Well Read Black Girl by Glory Edim. I enjoyed this collection of essays that mirrored some of my own experiences growing up as a lover of books. I must say the two essays that stood out the most were Gabourey Sidibe’s “Gal: A Hard Row To Hoe” and N. K. Jemisin’s “Dreaming Awake.” They were both brutally honest and funny.

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Dec 31, 2018 Bobbieshiann rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Review to come.

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May 15, 2019 Darkowaa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I’m so glad I finally picked this up from my bookshelf, because my reading slump was soooo deep! This collection has taken me out of my slump and imbibed me with new inspiration.

This anthology is a wonderful ode to Black sisterhood and to reading. Each contributor’s take on reading/writing/existing as a Black woman in this world felt like journal entries laden with affirmations to the reader and themselves. To have so many established writers contributing in this collection is an honor I’m sure ...more

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Aug 21, 2018 Noelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Thanks to #netgalley and #randomhousepublishing for giving me my first ARC, Well-Read Black Girl! This book is the epitome of why representation matters. Well-Read Black Girl is an anthology of essays by black women writers. All of the women represented in the book share a common love for reading at an early age, and the lack of representation in books with girls who look like them. Well-Read Black girl is very timely and necessary. Thanks to the wonderful women who contributed to this book and ...more

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Sep 02, 2018 Nicole O rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, netgalley, arc

This book is a much needed anthology of stories from prominent black women writers. Never before have I thought to ask myself when, how or why I fell in love with books, or when I first saw myself within the pages of a story or novel. This collection dives head first into these questions, with each essayist writing about the works and people that have influenced them the most in both their lives and their careers. I guarantee you will walk away from this book with an intimidating (in a good way) ...more

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Jan 03, 2019 Tasha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: reference, biography, african-american, essays-commentaries, purchased, feminism, lgbtq, 2019-favorites, 2019, anthology

A book about reading books with essays written by Black female authors and how they found representation in literature. This anthology had been thinking about my reading life when I was younger and I wish I was exposed to more authors who looked like me and shared similar experiences of a Black girl coming of age in America. Instead I spent my time reading VC Andrews, Dean Koontz, Christopher Pike and Sweet Valley High.

The only thing wrong with this book is that I don’t know when I will have the ...more

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May 18, 2019 Kimberly rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-reads, wellreadblackgirl

I love every single thing about this book, from the book lists, to the personal stories, to the IRL book clubs. Glory you have created something wonderfully magical, a repository for everyone but especially for women of color to easily find ourselves and see reflections of ourselves in the written word.

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Sep 06, 2018 Joshunda Sanders rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I wanted to re-read my galley again, which I took some time to do this weekend, before I wrote a review because I wanted to remember and savor all of the goodness of this anthology, which for Black women & girl readers is replete with testimony and witness, healing and recognition, a booklist to last you for a good long while and more than that, even. More maybe than I can express here, so I'll write more certainly as someone who has her own story of a life shaped by finding Black women I wanted to re-read my galley again, which I took some time to do this weekend, before I wrote a review because I wanted to remember and savor all of the goodness of this anthology, which for Black women & girl readers is replete with testimony and witness, healing and recognition, a booklist to last you for a good long while and more than that, even. More maybe than I can express here, so I'll write more certainly as someone who has her own story of a life shaped by finding Black women writers then becoming one in order to give back the nuanced gift that was passed along to me.
It felt like it should be as easy and simple for me to write about a book I love so much and one in which so many different complex yet simple aspects of myself are represented and laid bare as it is for me to point out (or try) when something isn't quite working for me in a book or there's something amiss, but I found the opposite to be true here, like when I'm working on a novel or story and I'm too close to a character or a scene, there's too much recognition emotionally, so I can't actually logically figure out how to describe it with language. Some things demand to be felt first.
So it was with the bibliomancy I found reading Well-Read Black Girl: Finding Our Stories, Discovering Ourselves. When I was reading it the first time, I remembered how I felt the day that Solange's album, A Seat at The Table came out. I was still working in government but in the last days and another weary black woman got on the elevator with me and -- totally out of character -- I leaned over to her and said, "You should listen to Solange, she'll help you feel better."
If this anthology had/has a soundtrack, I know Solange is on it, singing, "this shit is for us."
And by us, Glory means Black women. The specificity of that love is what I mean by bibliomancy, why I view this as a sacred text, for me. Why it is healing. Black women are always watched, policed, hunted, burdened. But we are rarely served, gifted, celebrated, lifted with joy, with recognition, with space that acknowledged that we are our own best thing, that we are more than shadows of the experiences of others who are more often deemed universal. But in this anthology, I recognized a small, sweet point, which is this: It is rare for us to cultivate exclusive space for the Sisterhood as it is called where others are not looking or eavesdropping or watching for things to appropriate or steal from us and call theirs. Reading and writing community, alongside real life events and activities, remain the sole acts of resistance to these demands from others that Black women give over even aspects of our inner, emotional, imaginative and mental lives to those who want everything about us positioned and turned toward their edification.
Glory writes in the introduction that Maya Angelou and the other authors she encountered "have taught me that, as Black women, we define ourselves for ourselves. We are not looking for anyone else to give us validation; because we have each other...Instinctively, Black women writers have always had to take care of ourselves. Creating our own limitless boundaries, whether we explore taboos, stereotypes, the theoretical idea of love, or the literary canon itself. We are writing ourselves into spaces that neglect or ignore us. Headstrong. A necessary quality to withstand the losses and celebrate the victories."
I could write much much more here, but I want to elaborate more on my own platform, which I'll do. Each writer -- from Veronica Chambers to Dhonielle Clayton, Tayari Jones to Jacqueline Woodson, N.K. Jemisin and Barbara Smith and Rebecca Walker and Jamia Wilson -- offers deep insight into their development as a reader, writer and creative. For many of them, this begins with titles and the first mirrors of themselves, of black girls or people seen in a positive light or any light at all; for some it was not necessarily representation but the way our foremothers like Toni Morrison offered us new information and language for being in relationship to ourselves and others, how Nikki Giovanni offered us poetry of joy, bell hooks & Alice Walker offered us feminism that had our whole selves in it, April Sinclair gave us space, finally, to explore sexuality outside of the confines of heterosexuality for Black girls and on and on.
If you're reading this review, you're likely someone who loves and knows Glory Edim, and is part of the Well-Read Black Girl fan club anyway. But I recommend that you pass on this love to the other Black girls and women in your life who are not yet convinced of the quiet, steady healing power that resides in picking up just one of the books recommended here, reading just one essay at a time over the course of however long. It is a gift. It is the rare gift that is becoming less rare and will increasingly become less rare, as what Glory calls a continuation of our "literary inheritance" and legacy. It's existence and publication whispers to us, "You deserve your own story. Your own chapter. Your own book. Here. Come see. Then pass it on." ...more

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Dec 12, 2018 Classy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: short-stories

Reading about what books sime of my favorite authors enjoyed or what books inspired them was fascinating. I felt like I was chatting with each author over a drink while they talked about their love of books and how the written word helped them deal with the obstacles they faced. .5 ...more

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Jan 09, 2019 Emily rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

"Reading for me was a vehicle for self-exploration when real life wasn't safe." -Dhonielle Clayton

Well-Read Black Girl is a fascinating collection of essays edited by Glory Edim, who created the Well-Read Black Girl community. These essays are by women from different walks of life who all adore reading. They talk about when they first found themselves in books, authors and books they connected with, and how reading changed their lives. If you are a book lover, your hear will be touched by ...more

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Aug 25, 2018 Erica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Initially, when I learned of this book I thought it was a gathering of fiction by some of today's most prolific African-American women writers. To my surprise, the book instead consisted of prolific women writers of color writing about the books that influenced them early in their careers and beyond. Although all of the essays were wonderful and include some of today's most touted writers including Jesmyn Ward, Tayari Jones, and Jaqueline Woodson, a few stood out to me. Veronica Chambers story ...more

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Nov 05, 2018 Tonja rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I love reading books about reading. I especially enjoyed this one as it brought together stories from Some of our best black authors. It shines a light on the importance of hearing these voices regardeless of race, age or gender. The essays were creative and original. It was a treat to read some of my favorite authors like Tayari Jones, some I had not read in awhile such as Rebecca Walker and a few new names I’ll be sure and pick up!

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Dec 07, 2018 Bookishfolk rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I couldn’t love this book more if I tried. The stories were honest, real, inspiring and completely captivating. Reading about how books played a pertinent role in each writers life was everything to me and I connected with these writers possibly more than I’ve ever connected with a writer before. I felt like I was getting a deep dig into their life-and I’m so grateful for that. Oh and the book list at the end-literally made my day! Excellent book-all the stars!

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Nov 08, 2018 Imani406 rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year. When anyone asks for book recommendations, this will now be my go to b/c it proves a plethora of book recommendations. Don’t get me wrong, I still have my top 10 list of favorite books (some which are noted in this anthology) but this here encompasses almost all the great black woman authors. This is absolutely a book for the well read black girl or those who inspire to become one. I’d highly recommend this book.

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Sep 28, 2018 Trina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs, 2018-trina-s-netgalley

Spectacular collection of well-written works by brilliant african-american female authors that has something for everyone no matter the race, religion, or gender. Glory Edim brilliantly brings together essays from writers: Jesmyn Ward (Sing, Unburied, Sing); Tayari Jones (An American Marriage); Lynn Nottage (Sweat); Jacqueline Woodson (Another Brooklyn); Gabourey Sidibe (This Is Just My Face); Morgan Jerkins (This Will Be My Undoing); Rebecca Walker (Black, White and Jewish); and Barbara Smith Spectacular collection of well-written works by brilliant african-american female authors that has something for everyone no matter the race, religion, or gender. Glory Edim brilliantly brings together essays from writers: Jesmyn Ward (Sing, Unburied, Sing); Tayari Jones (An American Marriage); Lynn Nottage (Sweat); Jacqueline Woodson (Another Brooklyn); Gabourey Sidibe (This Is Just My Face); Morgan Jerkins (This Will Be My Undoing); Rebecca Walker (Black, White and Jewish); and Barbara Smith (Home Girls: A Black Feminist Anthology).

I enjoyed reading this collection tremendously. Edim provided a representation that spotlighted an inclusiveness that resounded to my core and made me shout out loud. I was so intrigued by the literary genius of the authors throughout this work that I have purchased a few of the complete works on this list and plan to purchase the rest as classics that I’ll read over and over again. They were just that good!

I received an advanced review copy (ARC) of this book from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

From the Publisher/NetGalley.com
An inspiring collection of essays by black women writers, curated by the founder of the popular book club Well-Read Black Girl, on the importance of recognizing ourselves in literature.

Remember that moment when you first encountered a character who seemed to be written just for you? That feeling of belonging remains with readers the rest of their lives—but not everyone regularly sees themselves in the pages of a book. In this timely anthology, Glory Edim brings together original essays by some of our best black women writers to shine a light on how important it is that we all—regardless of gender, race, religion, or ability—have the opportunity to find ourselves in literature.

Whether it’s learning about the complexities of femalehood from Zora Neale Hurston and Toni Morrison, finding a new type of love in The Color Purple, or using mythology to craft an alternative black future, the subjects of each essay remind us why we turn to books in times of both struggle and relaxation. As she has done with her book club–turned–online community Well-Read Black Girl, in this anthology Glory Edim has created a space in which black women’s writing and knowledge and life experiences are lifted up, to be shared with all readers who value the power of a story to help us understand the world and ourselves. ...more

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Dec 13, 2018 Tender&Delicate rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This essay collection defined, magnified and gratified what it means to be a well- read black girl with such exuberance. Each author found a unique way to express their love of books and how this has sculpted them as women, readers and writers. Allowing readers to remember and reflect on their own love story with books and how it evolved over time. Recapturing authors and stories such as V.C Andrews, Judy Blum, the Bernstein Bears and Sweet Valley brought back so many memories that has shaped my ...more

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Oct 25, 2018 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Editor Glory Edim shares authors' brief reflections on their literary influences, primarily in terms of books or their authors. These stories are broken up by short bibliographies of black-women-authored books fitting specific categories. The author's essays include white and black authors, both male and female. I wish Edim's lists included mysteries written by black authors, but it did not. A closing bibliography includes the titles mentioned throughout the book. Since the book is written ...more

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Feb 05, 2019 chantel nouseforaname rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: black-women-writers, 5-star, essays, feminism

Beautiful. There's magic in finding yourself. There's something powerful about seeing your face in the stories around you on television, in film, in the media, in books, etc.

It's a privilege not generally afforded to people of colour but that we're snatching it left, right and centre. We're telling our own stories and there are so many OGs/legends who shared their/our stories for our pleasure, and so that we could have a place. They carved out a space for us, the Toni Morrisons, the Nikki ...more

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May 16, 2019 Mark Robison rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I’m not the intended audience for this book, but I think anybody who loves books will love this. It's a bunch of writers talking about books that inspired them, and through their telling, an amazing picture of America emerges.

In between some of the essays are lists of recommended books by black women in various categories: classics, poetry, science fiction, feminism, etc. The contributors include many excellent writers in their own right such as Jesmyn Ward, Tayari Jones, N.K. Jemisin, and ...more

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Sep 03, 2019 Richelle Robinson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: diverse-reads-2019, diverse-authors

I need all brown bookworms to read this anthology. You won’t regret it at all. This anthology reminded me of my younger book worm self and I found myself nodding along as I read. This book also gives you plenty of recommendations for several genres written by black authors which I loved as well. Some of the authors in this anthology I have read before and some are new to me. I did like some stories more than others but overall I enjoyed this anthology very much. I listened to the audio book and ...more

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An Interview with Glory Edim, Founder of Well-Read Black Girl	1	5	Jan 13, 2019 09:08AM

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About Glory Edim

Glory Edim

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Glory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a Brooklyn-based book club and digital platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. In fall 2017 she organized the first-ever Well-Read Black Girl Festival. She has worked as a creative strategist for over ten years at startups and cultural institutions, including The Webby Awards and the New York Foundation for the ...more

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“The literary establishment continues to privilege work that’s just a touch removed, “refined” they would call it. Writers who tone down their anguish, their rage, their nontraditional, “deviant” choices are perceived as more skilled, more worthy of critical acclaim. This often has a lot to do with racism and sexism, and the stories we are “allowed” to tell as people of color.” — 2 likes

“It kept coming back to joy-- how could I live a life filled with it? And always, the answer that came back to me was "Write."

... I am here because of the indigenous people of this country, because of the enslaved people who were here before me, the young people of the civil rights movements who fought hard to get me to this moment.

My biggest responsibility is to recognize that I am part of the continuum, that I didn't just appear and start writing stuff down. I'm writing stuff down because Andre Lorde wrote stuff down, because James Baldwin wrote stuff down... and all the people who came before me -- set the stage for my work. I have to keep all of that in my heart as I move through the world, not only for the deep respect I have for them, but also for my own strength.

So my advice to other young writers: Read widely. Study other writers. Be thoughtful, Then go out and do the work of changing the form, finding your own voice, and saying what you need to say. Be fearless. And care.

The fact that young people continue to rise brings me such joy. They are where I look to find my hope.

-- "Continue to Rise: A Conversation with Jacqueline Woodson” — 2 likes

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