Girl, Woman, Other

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

April recap: quite a few good and great reads this month, most notable:
- the tagged book: loved it - a Feb #Roll100 pick and my April #DoubleSpin;
- A Blade So Black: a great YA Fantasy, first in a series - helped my #BookChain get unstuck (stuck again now 😁);
- The House of Silk - great Sherlock Holmes mystery, my Feb #BookSpin.

No bingo to show but just discovered the 2023 reading bracket, so here is mine.

@TheAromaOfBooks @PuddleJumper

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 12mo

PuddleJumper 🎉🎉 12mo

12 likes2 comments

marleed

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Look at this grid - previously unread, all from my shelves, randomly picking black authors for Black History month! Hard to choose but tagged my favorite!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F.

marleed Note: To equate quarter ratings to A-F scores, 3.5 and 3.25 both garner a C+. The difference is that 3.5 almost, but didn‘t quite get to a B- rating. My struggle shows in that sometimes a 3.5 is a slow pick and other times I just can‘t get my thumb up. (edited) 1y

61 likes1 comment

marleed

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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I binged this book and love how the stories of 12 women weave together - less a family tree than a forest floor of entwined roots. These seemingly separate lives warp and weft their worlds with Amma as the thread tying the canvas together. It‘s such a thrill when a book sitting so long on my shelves is a great read.

February #BookSpin - NewToMeAuthor @TheAromaofBooks

IuliaC Great review! I enjoyed this one too 1y

Ruthiella I loved this too. ❤️ 1y

marleed @IuliaC @Ruthiella Just so good - I‘m so glad I made it a priority for Feb Black History month! 1y

TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! 1y

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vivastory

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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In this Booker winning collection of connected stories, Evaristo portrays the Black British Woman in her struggles, frustrations, daily boredoms, loves, heartaches, triumphs. I loved seeing characters from earlier passages return & new connections form in the narrative. Generational struggles are illustrated throughout in several moving passages. Evaristo's characters frequently face challenges & prejudices, but persevere in this brilliant work.

Megabooks So glad you loved it! 2y

kspenmoll I loved this too! 2y

vivastory @Megabooks I'm not a rereader, but I'm so happy that I have my own copy bc I will def be reading this one again 2y

86 likes3 comments

TashaLeigh

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

3 likes

JenGrigg

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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I really enjoyed this book, took a bit of a break from it in the middle because I was unwell (not a reflection on the book) but then struggled to piece it all together - lots of page flipping back and forth at the and a good few 'ahhh, I see now' moments!

2 likes

keepingupwiththepenguins

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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It‘s not quite prose as you know it but it‘s not poetry either. She doesn‘t seem to use any strict formula for grammar, punctuation or formatting. Normally, I‘d find this super-annoying, but in Girl, Woman, Other I barely noticed. It was surprisingly readable, and all of the stories flowed very naturally. So, if that‘s normally your bug-bear, you needn‘t worry. Full review: https://keepingupwiththepenguins.com/girl-woman-other-bernardine-evaristo/

SamAnne Almost finished and loving this one. 3y

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Katerina

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

I've unintentionally managed to colour coordinate with my book today 😃
I've also just finished it and must say that I liked it a lot. For me, it is one of these calm books, that draws you in and makes you wish it could last forever, because you just want to go on meeting more and more of the engaging characters.
I have some thoughts about the role of race and colour, but I have to sort them first.

Recommended reading 😊

6 likes

Frankies.space

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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I loved this book. Many different stories of women from mutlicultural backoground living U.K.

1 like

Beccacraft

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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This is one of my favorite books this year. It follows the lives of 12 characters, mostly women and Black, as they experience love, joy, heartbreak, abuse, enlightenment, and trials. I loved how each character had a unique and complete background and development arc. I felt connected and changed by each one.

3 likes

Jerdencon

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

@laurenashley I got both books today but not sure why there are 2? Not sure the order or what should I read first.... I‘m guessing someone in this group is a super fast reader! #bookwormproblems 😂
#lmpbc #groupg @staci.reads @shellleigh33

shellleigh33 Girl, Woman Other is what you read next and then send on because Tell the Wolves I‘m Home is my book. That should keep it in the correct order 3y

Jerdencon @shellleigh33 thanks! 3y

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BlueBowBooks

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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What an astonishing talent! Evaristo‘s study in Other-ing is engaging, grim, hilarious, and beautiful. The ending was elegant and perfect.

5 likes

mjtwo

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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9-21 Apr 2021
I agree with every other reviewer - this was a fantastic book of stories of the lives of a diverse, yet interconnected group of women, mostly Black and mostly living in the UK. It was beautifully written and the different voices and experiences shone through but...
I found it difficult to recall which character was which when they returned in later stories. Not sure whether it is early onset dementia or did others have this problem?

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Bookbroad

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

so-so

A cautionary tale/ reflection on personal preferences for audiobooks rather than a book review. Anyone else find that they can only listen to certain types of audiobooks? For me its non-fiction, humorous - think Caitlin Moran or first person, plot driven, simple stories. Anything else and I‘m distracted, bored or fed up with the narrators voice. Think I‘ll pick up a copy of this one and start again given the general consensus that it‘s excellent.

9 likes

SanjanaGhosh

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

I work in finance but have never ever thought to put my daily mundane work in such beautiful language 😍

22 likes

Addison_Reads

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

#OppositeDay Day 9 #Boy @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheKidUpstairs

Girl, Woman, Other is one of my favorite reads from last year. Loved it! 💚💚💚

TheKidUpstairs I started this one and loved it, but I had to return it before I could finish. I think I should just get my own copy! 3y

Zoes_Human I loved this! 3y

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KarenUK

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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A re-read for my Zoom bookclub next week, this time on audio.... which I think I like even better....

Joyous, busy, messy.... I loved these interconnected stories, populated mostly by Black British women. Every story is full of family and friends and love and heartbreak. Each voice was different and unique, each story had something important to say.
The audio lent itself to the unusual structure and style, giving the writing vibrancy and rhythm.

Karisa Oooh. I loved reading this book too. Curious on the audio version, do they use a different reader for each character/chapter or keep the same reader throughout? 3y

Moray_Reads Loved this one. So clever how the characters were so distinct but intertwined 3y

KarenUK @Karisa One narrator but she is excellent at making each main character come alive, it‘s such a nuanced performance. For some dialogue she does use accents, but mostly just changes her rhythms or delivery for some of the characters. 3y

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Messiejessie

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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Fun, edgy and smart. It was a pleasure stepping into these women‘s perspectives.

15 likes

LeenaRibena

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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Awesome

1 like

Hannah_11

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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Happy international women‘s day!
What could be better than a book all about strong independent British women? I‘m enjoying this book so much and feel like I can relate to each and every protagonist. It‘s honest and dark at some points but empowering and witty at the same time, a real breath of fresh air! #internationalwomensday #feminist #love #pick

6 likes

juliegumdrop

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Reading this for my library book club. It took about 2 hours for me to start enjoying it, but now I like it. I think I just had to adjust to the quick pace.

23 likes

staci.reads

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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This was great! It's a series of stories about a group of women whose lives overlap, some closely and some only on the periphery. They are diverse in many ways, but they all share a strength and resilience that allows them to survive what the world throws at them. #lmpbc #groupG. This one will be in the mail ahead of schedule. @laurenashley @Jerdencon @shellleigh33

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luvlee68

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

luvlee68 i ♥️this cover 3y

3 likes1 comment

staci.reads

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Ok, #GroupG, here's my choice for our #lmpbc . And I will use turquoise as my markup color 🥏 The book has been ordered, and I'm excited to start! @Jerdencon @shellleigh33 @laurenashley

shellleigh33 Can‘t wait to read this one!! 3y

AmyG Great choice as it‘s so good. (edited) 3y

Jerdencon Looking forward to this one too! 3y

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Karisa Not in your group but Such a good book! 3y

staci.reads @shellleigh33 @Jerdencon @laurenashley I'm about to start on GWO, but it's my first LMPBC, so a couple questions...Do we write directly in the books (which I'm perfectly good with) or do people prefer post-its? Or is it up to the book owner? Do people typically sign the book to keep a record of who all wrote in it? Is there any other preferred practice for those of you who have done this? 3y

shellleigh33 It is up to the book owner. I usually write a small message in the front of my book,then little messages throughout, and final thoughts at end. I have had partners who wanted us to use post its and another that we used a small notebook to write in during previous rounds though. 3y

staci.reads @shellleigh33 perfect! Thanks for the reply. 3y

54 likes7 comments

AmyG

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Excellent, cleverly well-written book about the experiences of black women in England. Winner of thr Booker Prize in 2019 and deservedly so.

#Bookspin February @TheAromaofBooks

AmyG Thank you @Mitch as this was a great gift. 😘 3y

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y

Mitch @AmyG 😘 3y

74 likes3 comments

Cazxxx

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Finally going to start this as I‘ve had it for months and keep meaning to read it next, but you know how another book always comes along and you get sidetracked 😂

JoeMo That‘s so true about getting sidetracked. There are books I‘ve been meaning to read for months or even years as I‘m always distracted by the latest title that, if not new is at least new to me!😂 3y

Cazxxx @JoeMo I‘m so glad it‘s not just me 😂 I‘ve also had books for years which I‘ve never read. Too many books, not enough time! 3y

23 likes2 comments

Hannah_11

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

New additions to the library 📚 #books #library #bookcase #feminist #novels #bookworm #newbook

4 likes

AmyG

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

I‘m so excited for my #Bookspin February pick! It only took me 10 minites to find it- when it was right in front of me on my shelf. 😳

Thank you @TheAromaofBooks and thank you @Mitch for this gift. 😘

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y

Mitch Oh enjoy! I have my copy too - but still haven‘t read it. Oh my - so many good books! 3y

LeeRHarry One of my faves from last year - enjoy! 😊 3y

AmyG @LeeRHarry Wonderful to hear. Thank you! 😘 3y

Suet624 I‘m happy you‘re going to read this! 3y

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miribelladiamond

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

pick

Not a fan of chapter 1 but was captivating thereafter

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Soubhiville

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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What a beautiful book! It reminded me a bit of Homegoing, in that it has sections about women who are sometimes closely and sometimes loosely related to each other. Each character gets the focus for just a few chapters before attention shifts.I loved the artists commune at the beginning and was happy to return to those folks at the end. I loved the way Evaristo pulls all the stories together. The epilogue was the cherry on top.

Suet624 You‘re right. I always connect homegoing with this book. I liked both of them a lot. 3y

AmyG I just finished this and I absolutely loved the epilogue. 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Sorry for the delay, I had some errands I needed to run out and do this morning before the weather turned into an ugly mix here.

Our final discussion for this book! Did you love it? Think the jumping stories were distracting. Surprised by the ending? Lots to discuss here #SheSaid

Riveted_Reader_Melissa
@BarbaraTheBibliophage @tenar @vlwelser @KVanRead @SamAnne @GingerAntics @Julsmarshall @arlenefinnigan @Chab256 @Scochrane26 @Sace @CoffeeK8. @MallenNC @Caroline2 @DebinHawaii @Nute @NeedsMoreBooks
And anyone else who would like to join in, if you‘d like to be tagged or untagged just let me know. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I was a bit surprised by the ending.... I thought the after party would have more connections in it, and when it started with a male perspective I was a bit worried we might not see the ladies at all. Then the epilogue I thought was great, although I should have seen that connection coming, a person who didn‘t know their real parents and one who was given up...I for some reason did not. I for some reason thought the father getting rid of his ⤵️ 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ daughter‘s child to protect her reputation was getting rid of, in a permanent way. I was surprised at the time they didn‘t claim it as theirs and another child, so when he “got rid of it” I thought that was a euphemism...I don‘t know why. (edited) 3y

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KVanRead I absolutely loved the book. So thankful this group gave me the nudge read it. I also was a little non-plussed by the after party but loved the epilogue which felt like the real coming together of everything and which had me teary eyed. I guessed the secret about Penelope just before it was revealed which was very satisfying and made so much sense to me. And I thought the final scene with her and Hattie ended perfectly. Talk about empathy. It... (edited) 3y

KVanRead ...would be interesting to see where she will go/grow with this new aspect to her identity but I‘m glad Evaristo left it to us to imagine. I found the last scene left me very hopeful. 3y

MallenNC I loved it. I guessed about Penelope but the ending was still powerful for me. I expected the after party section to have made more of the connections between the characters but I think the author trusted readers to find that themselves. 3y

KVanRead Make sense you would have thought that about the father since that‘s definitely a common euphemism. Perhaps Evaristo was deliberately misleading there to keep us from guessing too early. @Riveted_Reader_Melissa (edited) 3y

KVanRead @MallenNC that‘s a good point about her trusting the reader. I found she did that a lot and I really like that in a book. 3y

MallenNC @KVanRead I like that in a book too. 3y

MallenNC @KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I think Evaristo was diverting the reader about what happened to the baby too. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead I agree! I was like eh...at the after party, but loved the epilogue. And @MallenNC about trusting the reader, yes, exactly. And I enjoyed that. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead as far as the euphemism, I think she played that really well, because from the story either was a reasonable assumption and entirely possible. 3y

vlwelser The part I liked about the party was that she was hinting that they were all there without coming right out and talking about it in every case. I thought the epilogue was the best part of the entire book. This whole book just kept getting better as it went along. Except maybe the party. I could have lived without that. 3y

KVanRead @vlwelser Agree! It just got better and better for me too and the party seemed to bookend by going back to the first chapter characters who while good were probably my least favorite (edited) 3y

AnneCecilie I loved this book even more on a second reading and I‘m so glad I read it with this group. I loved the epilogue and feel that the after party binds everything together. The book start with the premiere and it‘s nice to get the responses. Even if I felt that there were stronger parts in the book like the one about Megan/ Morgan and Hattie. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AnneCecilie I didn‘t remember you were reading this for the second time.... it‘s always a good sign for a book when it holds up to a reread. 3y

38 likes16 comments

vlwelser

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Final #BookSpinBingo update for December!
@TheAromaofBooks

6 bingos.
3 books I didn't even attempt to finish (2 never started).
5 free squares used
6 extra books read that didn't fit on the card.

✌=ok
😊=good
🌟=really good
❤=excellent

And I tagged my most recent favorite. Although The Nickel Boys was also quite amazing.

TheAromaofBooks Yay!! Fabulous month!!! 3y

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kalivha

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

#BFC21
Let's do this!
Book: 2 books (starting with the tagged book) & 1 manga
Fitness: Floor press 50kg; walk on the majority of days I'm not lifting

I've technically already finished a book today but I'll not count that one!

kalivha @wanderinglynn forgot to tag 😅 3y

wanderinglynn Great goals! 🎉 And Team BFC21 will be here to cheer you on. 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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I finished this one up a few days ago, but I wanted to hold off on my review until a few more people in #SheSaid got a chance to finish it. I really enjoyed these interconnected stories...they reminded me of the old saying that “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about”. Everyone‘s story was so unique, and yet universal, so overlapping and interwoven, yet no one really knew what was going on inside the struggles of another.

KVanRead Great review. Still formulating my thoughts for mine. So glad I read this thanks to you and #shesaid 3y

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AnneCecilie

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

I most confess that I agree with Anna here, I loved Moonlight so much more than La La Land. Actually I was a little disappointed in La La Land, maybe my expectations was too high?

#SheSaid

RaeLovesToRead I didn't like the first hour and a half of La La Land but the last 15 mins rescued it for me 😂 3y

RaeLovesToRead Not a spoiler for Girl Woman Other, just talking about La La Land! 3y

AnneCecilie @RaeLovesToRead I must confess that I don‘t remember much from the movie. That‘s when there was a time jump and they ended up with different people. I wasn‘t a fan of that. I love happy endings 3y

RaeLovesToRead @AnneCecilie ahh you see that was the only bit of the film that I liked ?? I was bored for most of it and then all of a sudden it made me feel stuff. The bit where they have the "what if" sequence and instead of arguing, he just walks up to her, kisses her and undoes all the things that went wrong.... but it's imaginary ??? 3y

AnneCecilie @RaeLovesToRead I don‘t think I payed enough attention during the movie to really get the ending either. Not sure I picked up on all the things that went wrong between them 3y

47 likes5 comments

Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

I love the history in this section, the searching back through generations from granddaughter, to grandmother, to her mother.

@BarbaraTheBibliophage @tenar @vlwelser @KVanRead @SamAnne @GingerAntics @Julsmarshall @arlenefinnigan @Chab256 @Scochrane26 @Sace @CoffeeK8. @MallenNC @Caroline2 @DebinHawaii @Nute @NeedsMoreBooks
And anyone else who would like to join in, if you‘d like to be tagged or untagged just let me know.

#SheSaid
⤵️

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Hattie and Grace had such interesting lives, I wanted more time with both of them... how about you? What grabbed you in this section. 3y

MallenNC I really enjoyed the family connections in this section. Hattie was probably my favorite. Most all the characters in this book could have justified a full book about them. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC That‘s very true. I loved the family history here, and how much each generation moved on from the generation before and how much they didn‘t really know about the generation before. I was really interested to see how these lives connected to the stories in the beginning (so I read ahead 🤫, but we will talk about that next week.) 3y

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MallenNC @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I read ahead too! I had to see how she tied this all together. I‘ll save my thoughts on that! 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC I saw a few people did and posted their reviews, so we‘re not alone! 3y

MallenNC I also liked the section on Megan/Morgan. I thought having a trans or nonconforming character added to the book as a whole. And I liked that Hattie was accepting in her own way. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC I know...I wanted more about Bibi too! 3y

arlenefinnigan @MallenNC yeah I really liked that, the 'I'm too old to be learning new pronouns' bit made it really believable but it was lovely how, even if Hattie didn't quite understand their new identity, she kind of didn't care and just wanted them to be happy. 3y

MallenNC @arlenefinnigan That‘s what I thought too — the line about being too old to learn pronouns felt believable for a woman of that age. 3y

vlwelser I loved Hattie. The fact that the family is all mixed but one of the ancestors was involved in the slave trade was really interesting. I almost wanted this story to go back even further somehow. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser I agree! The family further back was involved in the slave trade, the son knew and locked the cabinet, and served overseas and waited to until his father died to get married to his Nile Queen. Then stresses about children to leave the family farm too. Families and family histories are so complicated. And then their daughter has a baby so easily after they struggled so hard... I half expected them to tell everyone the baby was theirs 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ↪️ and Hattie‘s younger sister. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @arlenefinnigan @MallenNC Yes, they handled that so well. 3y

KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC @arlenefinnigan @vlwelser I say this every week but I think this chapter is favorite so far. Hattie was my favorite but I loved Morgan and Grace and I wanted more Daisey! Loved the family ties and history and again the theme of connections and the way we either accept and support each other or don‘t and the impact that has. Lots of tears reading this today as my oldest moved back to her university in Vancouver. 🥲 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead tough day! And yes, between the mother-daughter themes and the Christmas themes I bet it hit all the feels this week! I wish her good luck, when does her university restart? That just seems so early. 3y

KVanRead School doesn‘t start until January but she needs to quarantine for 2 weeks since she‘s coming from the US. Her classes will still be all online but she‘ll at least be able to see her flat mate and after quarantine meet up with other friends outdoors. She‘s been with us since last March so it‘s very hard to part but I know it‘s what she needs. 3y

46 likes16 comments

my.books.in.squares

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Time to unwind after yesterdays excitement

Hope everyone had a lovely day 🎄❤️

61 likes

AnnaMac

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

pick

Greay

1 like

MallenNC

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

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A lot of times I do not enjoy the books that win literary prizes, but I loved this. The range of characters and the way they are threaded through the story was so engaging to me as a reader. The book does use nontraditional punctuation but that really didn‘t bother me. I listened to some of this as well, and I plan to listen to it all the way through. I have enjoyed reading this with the #SheSaid group.

My #BookSpin for Dec. @TheAromaofBooks

Cinfhen This really was an excellent read♥️ 3y

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 3y

KVanRead Great review! I‘ve been reading and listening as well and I think it‘s a really great book to do both with. I‘m getting so much out of each. 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Good morning to another complicated and interconnected trio of ladies. There was definitely some shocks in this trio, and some overlaps I didn‘t see coming... I loved how we got the story of the old bag teacher from the last section, how her mother viewed her, and then the teacher she thought was a hard ass before her. 😂 She really weaves these stories and interconnections so well.

#SheSaid

vlwelser I think it's awesome that they're all connected like this. I thought the mom was a bit much but I think that was also the point. Basically you never know everything that's going on with a person. 3y

arlenefinnigan I always wonder what the writing process is with novels like this where there's so many interwoven plot lines. Does the author have a massive chart with arrows showing which character is connected to who and how? 3y

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MallenNC I loved seeing some of the side characters from previous sections get their own spotlights in this one. I was saying WHAT??? to a certain happening in Winsome‘s section! 3y

MallenNC @arlenefinnigan I am always curious about the writing process for a book like this too. I‘m planning to seek out some author interviews when I finish this one. 3y

MallenNC I also really enjoyed the way the parts about Shirley and Penelope this section showed how people‘s motivations and perspectives change as they progress through their careers. 3y

arlenefinnigan @MallenNC in my head I imagine it being a bit like the whiteboards in the investigation room in a police drama 3y

KVanRead It just keeps getting better. I love all the connections and perspective shifts. Its such a lesson in empathy. Like @vlwelser said that person you think you know may have a whole other thing going on, I.e. Winsome!😳 And I love this covers all forms of women‘s relationships—family, work, friends, lovers, neighbors—in some ways feels like a call for sisterhood, to accept each other and lift each other up. @MallenNC @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @arlenefinnigan 3y

KVanRead @MallenNC I also love how she shows how age and experience change us and how we see ourselves and others. Like how we see Penelope starts out defining herself by the man she can get, later embraces feminist politics, and then with her own daughter realizes all that matters is being fulfilled in whatever way works for you. 3y

AnneCecilie I also think that Evaristo shows that the way we see our selves isn‘t necessarily how other see us, and that at a certain point in life we‘re also defined by our history. 3y

AnneCecilie @MallenNC I was also shocked by that. 3y

MallenNC @AnneCecilie I felt that about the difference of how the characters were seen by others and how they saw themselves. It‘s interesting how Evaristo let us see a little glimpse of Shirley in other people‘s stories and how differently she saw herself. 3y

MallenNC @AnneCecilie I was not expecting that character choice at all. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC Yes, we saw how both kids saw her, how she saw herself, how her mother saw her, and then others in the generation before her as she was growing up. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC Yes! Winsome! I‘m was half waiting for him to show up in another storyline so we could see who he scooted off to be with next! 😮 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @arlenefinnigan I feel like they have to have a chart at some point, to have both school kids with the teacher, then another teacher who hires the students mother as maid, etc, etc... even if you start and keep building outwards, you‘d have to keep track of the interconnections at some point. I‘m really curious how she wraps this all up at the end....if it all collapses back together or spirals out more. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AnneCecilie I agree with you and @KVanRead I think by showing how they are perceived and how they perceive themselves, you get this bigger sense of sisterhood feeling...we are more the same than we think, maybe not judge so much by our limited viewpoints. 3y

KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m also really intrigued to see how she brings this all together in the end. So far she keeps surprising me so can‘t wait to see what‘s next! 3y

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sarahlandis

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

pick

This book was simply phenomenal. Every chapter introduces a new character and the amount of detail and history and depth that Evaristo writes for each person is outstanding. I also had to constantly look up new vocabulary words which I LOVE. I woke up with my book and my dildo next to my bed one morning and snapped a pic- I think it was a decent and funny homage to the courageous, intelligent, sexual, fantastic women I was reading about 🤷🏻‍♀️❤️

TheNeverendingTBR What a prop 😂👌 3y

IuliaC Very inspired and suggestive 👍😁 3y

SamAnne I love that you posted that on Litsy. 3y

sarahlandis @SamAnne life is too short to NOT post things like this 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Just a reminder these are the books coming up for #SheSaid if you need to put in your library holds.

@BarbaraTheBibliophage @tenar @vlwelser @KVanRead @SamAnne @GingerAntics @Julsmarshall @arlenefinnigan @Chab256 @Scochrane26 @Sace @CoffeeK8. @MallenNC @Caroline2 @DebinHawaii @Nute @NeedsMoreBooks @Currey
And anyone else who would like to join in, if you‘d like to be tagged or untagged just let me know.

MallenNC If anyone has an Audible membership, Well-Read Black Girl is in the membership sale they have going on right now. It was $7 or $8. 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Another trio of interrelated stories, very different choices and lives and yet all intersecting in essential ways. The “bad” in one person‘s story gets their own story highlighted too, which I am loving because it‘s so true of humans. That someone essential to your story, was living their own life and you didn‘t even notice. I love how she‘s interrelated and interlaced them, but shown how different their experiences and choices are too! #SheSaid

MallenNC I think I liked this section even more than the first. Each of these women had kept secret terrible things that were done to them and they all dealt with these in different ways. It‘s interesting how in Carole‘s section her mom seems difficult but in Bummi‘s section, Carole was the difficult one. I liked how both narratives were provided, and they were both more sympathetic because of that. (edited) 3y

Currey @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I would love to be tagged and will try to catch up with everyone. Thx 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Currey I‘ll add you to the group tag, welcome! 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC Yes, I loved the both sides of every story quality of this, for Carole and Bummi it was excellent, even LaTisha‘s fit in so well considering. 3y

MallenNC @Riveted_Reader_Melissa LaTisha‘s story about her dad leaving was an interesting parallel to Carole‘s father being gone (though obviously for very different reasons) because of the hole left by their absence. I found myself rooting for Brummi the most though. She had been through so much I just wanted her to find happiness or at least contentment. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC Yes, and both said he died, almost like LaTisha copied her true story. And then their parallels with school and teachers and choosing different routes, then parallel‘s with Trey. Made me think about our book in Oct, Know My Name, about women being discouraged from reporting and that allowing those abusers to continue abusing. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC And her reaction when her dad returned...thinking her son needed him and his influence, hopefully he‘s better to her son than he was to her. Such sad circumstances we find ourselves in, that people who really let us down in our lives are then people we have to rely on. 3y

MallenNC @Riveted_Reader_Melissa It made me think of Know My Name also. These women weren‘t wrong to think if they tried to get help or get justice they‘d be let down, so I can see why they chose to just deal with it in isolation. 3y

KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC Great discussion you two ! So many good insights. I‘m sorry I‘m always arriving late to this thread — combo of Pacific time zone and sleepy Sunday mornings ☺️ I liked the first chapter but admired it more than connected with it—this second chapter has has me falling in love with this book. Carole‘s and then Bummi‘s stories were so powerful. I just want to hug them both! And LaTisha‘s was equally affecting... (edited) 3y

KVanRead I love the shifting perspective so artfully done. Really strongly demonstrates how you never know what‘s really going on with someone and yet in some level we always think we do - we can‘t help it. One thing she did that really stood out for me was not describing Carole‘s outward appearance much until we‘d had time to form an opinion of her. Only then she tells us about the fake lashes and make up and weave and of course I hadn‘t pictured that... 3y

KVanRead ...at all. Really masterful way to make us see our own bias and so subtle but powerful. I totally understand the Booker nod now. I was also reminded of Know My Name and also wondered about sex education and access to birth control. I thought somehow the U.K. would be better on that and I really wanted to ask LaTisha about it!! 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead I try to post it early enough on Sunday that everyone can jump on at some point during the day...and I don‘t blame anyone for lazing in on a weekend morning, I‘m envious, so enjoy every second of that! And yes, this second chapter made me appreciate the book even more, I like how she‘s layering the stories, so well done, you think you know the whole story, then read it again from a totally different perspective! 3y

MallenNC @KVanRead That‘s the good thing about doing the discussion in this kind of post — it‘s here when you are ready! 3y

MallenNC @KVanRead I am with you in really liking this section. I enjoyed the first one but was more connected into these three stories. The idea of how we all think we understand other people in our lives but really we don‘t know what they are dealing with and how that affects their motivations is such a good thing to explore. And to remember in our real 3y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

It‘s a new month and a new book! Fiction for a change too!

How‘re you feeling about chapter 1, setting up the lives of these women and the lessons they‘ve lived through, and maybe learned from. Did you find yourself relating to their stories? Maybe relating to them? Maybe relating to some more than others?

#SheSaid

Riveted_Reader_Melissa I found myself relating to Yazz, who is just starting her life & her rants about how the world is falling apart anyway no matter what she does. And how her mom is old 😂 and should retire so Yazz can sell her house 😂 so young & sees her mom as so old. And then finding out some of her friends that she thought were discriminated against were rich and cheaters. I loved it, maybe because it was the fresher prospective for me (an old) & remembering 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa ...those growing pains of youth. 3y

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MallenNC All three of these sections were compelling though I find myself thinking most about Dominique. Maybe because it was the last part I read, but really because I felt so bad as she lost herself in Nzinga. I loved the intro to Amma‘s because I could picture the National Theatre so well. Yazz was harder for me because of how she was judging her mother but wanting to benefit from her as well. But that did seem real for that part of life. (edited) 3y

vlwelser My library hold didn't come through. I will hopefully catch up with you ladies next week. 🤞🤞🤞 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC All three were really great. I think because as women, you can relate to different parts of each of them in your own life. Amma was the hardest for me, she was more free and independent for most of her life, coming-of-age than I‘ve ever managed. (edited) 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @vlwelser Fingers Crossed too. And yes, join in whenever you get ahold of it. The posts will be here and ready when you are. 3y

SamAnne I didn't get a chance to start this one this week but plan to dive in today. It has been on my TBR list for months. 3y

MallenNC @Riveted_Reader_Melissa That‘s a good point. I could see myself in parts of their stories even though their lives were all very different from mine. I‘m looking forward to meeting the rest of the women in this book. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @SamAnne The post will be here when you are ready for it. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC In some ways it‘s making me think of The Breakfast Club (yes, showing my age here)...but all thrown together, all have their own crazy life story, their own world, they seem like they have little in common....but at their core, they have more in common then they probably even realize. (edited) 3y

MallenNC @Riveted_Reader_Melissa That‘s almost always true, that we have more in common that it seems on the outside m. I think it‘s going to be interesting to see how that plays out as the narrators continue to change. 3y

MallenNC I can already see why the book was a prize winner. I don‘t always like the kinds of books that win the big prizes but this one is working for me so far. The lack of punctuation doesn‘t bother me either. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC I‘ve read part and listened to part, and am enjoying both...both lack of punctuation stream-of-consciousness and British accents. 3y

AnneCecilie I got lost in all the stories, but for different reasons. Amma follows her dream no matter what, Jazz thinks that the world is doomed and Dominique shows how easy it is for anyone to end up in a toxic relationship. 3y

MallenNC @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m switching between both formats too. I tend to listen first and then go back to the print since I miss some details. 3y

MallenNC @AnneCecilie That‘s a good summary of each person‘s story. 3y

AnneCecilie And I think a thing that all the 3 women have in common are how important friendships are to them. We get to know a lot of their friends too 3y

KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC @AnneCecilie This book is somehow not what I expected but it‘s good! Feels less like a novel so far and more like a collection of nonfiction narratives the structure and the telling of which sort of reminds me of our last book. So many significant ideas of identity, race, class, and privilege are explored. I especially liked the Roxanne Gay inspired discussion of privilege being contextual. Like Melissa I ... 3y

KVanRead found Amma the hardest to relate to although I definitely related to her as a mother. And I think I liked the Yazz section the best as I found it quite funny at times. As a mother of 19 yo and 17 yo girls I can see that age from both sides now. And I keep thinking of that Mark Twain quote about how when he was a boy of 14 his dad was an idiot but by the time he‘d turned 21 his dad had learned so much!😂 (edited) 3y

KVanRead @AnneCecilie Yes, I agree about the friendships being central. I think the theme of women helping women feels really central to this. I also liked how she acknowledges that women can also be harmful to each other like Nzinga and potentially Nenet. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AnneCecilie Their friendships with other women are definitely key. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MallenNC I‘m with you on the big prize winners, I don‘t often “like” them, no matter how “great” they are, but so far so good. 3y

MallenNC @KVanRead That Mark Twain quote is so true! And I definitely see that in how Yazz sees Amma. 3y

MallenNC @AnneCecilie It‘s nice to read something where friendships are central. Even ones that aren‘t perfect. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @KVanRead Yes, I‘m glad I‘m not the only one smiling at Yazz‘a growing pains...and it might be that my niece and nephew are about her age 19 & 21 and in college. They think they know everything, and yet you can see how much growing they have yet to do..and even see it starting with her realizations about Courtney and Nenet, life isn‘t as cut and dried as she thought it was. 3y

KVanRead @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes! Love what she does with Courtney and Nenet! 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @tenar Did you read this weeks section yet? I hope I caught you before, you might want to skip Carole‘s section. 3y

tenar @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I‘m still in chapter 1 and am at a practical standstill in my books right now with the holiday season, so you caught me in time! You are so thoughtful and kind, I really appreciate the heads up. 3y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @tenar You are very welcome, I glad I caught you in time. So far each part has 3 peoples stories, Carole‘s is the first in Part 2 , and her story has numbered sections, skip section 2 for sure, you should be safe to join her story at #3 again if you want or just skip the whole story. And don‘t worry about it, the whole book I mean, the holidays are a busy time, get to it when you feel like it or need a break from something else. 3y

vlwelser I'm just catching up now. Good grief, right? This book is really engaging so far. And it's really reminding me of Zadie Smith's White Teeth for some reason. 3y

39 likes31 comments

Megabooks

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

Best fiction of each month of the year #challengeaccepted @Cinfhen

January -> April
May -> August
September -> December?

Bookwormjillk I didn't realize it at the time, but I think Rodham is one of my best of the year too. I keep thinking about it, and need to go back and revise my rating. 3y

Megabooks @Bookwormjillk me too! It is definitely one that makes you think! 3y

Megabooks When are you going to pull the trigger on Ducks @BarbaraBB ?? 😉💙💙 3y

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Cinfhen Oh wow!!! What an interesting list!!! A few of your favorites I totally agree with and a few.....were not my favorites 😜💕💕💕Thanks for taking time to share your BEST BOOKS of 2020 3y

Megabooks @Cinfhen thanks!! It‘s good for people to have different opinions! And I‘m glad to finally have the list myself! 😂😂 3y

erzascarletbookgasm Wow, Ducks is your favourite. Finishing it is a feat! 👏 3y

Megabooks @erzascarletbookgasm it took me six days to finish (a long time for me), and I absolutely loved it! 3y

Chelsea.Poole I'm slowwwwlllyy reading Ducks here and there, glad to see you've marked it as a favorite -- it gives me encouragement 🦆 Loved several of your choices! Especially

Knockout Queen

Megabooks @Chelsea.Poole it‘s hard to pick a best of the year but it was fantastic!! 3y

BarbaraBB Seven of these are on my TBR (Yes, Ducks among them) and I‘m sure it‘s your fault 😉💜💜 3y

Megabooks @BarbaraBB probably!! 😂😂 3y

sarahbarnes I loved Girl Woman Other and Ducks! And Transcendent Kingdom and Breasts and Eggs are on my TBR! 3y

Reviewsbylola TKQ was five ⭐️ for me. 3y

Megabooks @Reviewsbylola definitely the best BOTM choice of the year 3y

Megabooks @sarahbarnes the crop of 2019 Booker nominees was good in general. I always seem to get to them the next year though! 😂😂 I have Shuggie Bain and Burnt Sugar on my unread shelf now 3y

CarolynM I'm glad to see Transcendent Kingdom on your list. I got a copy from my subscription service in October. It looks good. 3y

Megabooks @CarolynM oh yes, enjoy! A thought-provoking book for sure. 3y

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MallenNC

Girl, Woman, Other | Bernardine Evaristo

It worked out well that my #BookSpin is the #SheSaid book for this month and the #DoubleSpin is one I want to read for my #Nonfiction2020 Bingo card.

TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y

Singout The street address book looks fascinating. I wish it was in audio in my library! 3y

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