Welcome to Litsy!

I love her!! My first Lily to bloom 🧡🌷

I admire her for making her own way! To pay for college, she worked mornings as a secretary at The Pentagon and evenings as a singing-dancing waitress on a dinner-cruise ship, the Spirit of Washington.

#MovieMoms
#MayMoms

Just eh. Not good, not great. Felt like forever to get thru and it focused ALOT just on childhood. Her voice did start to get annoying too.

Book 204 of 2020
#audiobook #scribd #nonfiction

Eentertaining, inspiring, funny, ...really funny, at some points. And, I truly enjoyed listening to her describe her relationship with her father, mother, son, and the many family members she loves and is still, deeply connected to today.

WOW! What an amazing and inspiring person. She did such a great job telling the story of her life. She had me laughing, crying and thinking some serious thoughts throughout this book. I'm sad I haven't seen more of her shows but after reading this book, that's going to change. I highly recommend this as an audio book as she give so much feeling too every word she reads. #femaleauthor #blackhistorymonth #love #inspiring

Taraji P Henson is a true badass. Her memoir was filled with humor, honesty, authenticity, and passion. I admired how as a single mom she did everything she could and more to raise her son. Taraji is truly a Queen👑 #⭐️⭐️⭐️ #bibliophile #tarajiphenson #melanin&books #bookhoarder🙋🏾‍♀️#dontgiveup #passion #perseverance #bosslady #

I‘m a fan of Taraji P. Henson & enjoyed her memoir. Although I liked her narration this is not my favorite author-read book. It comes off as a ‘reading‘ in many places instead of a conversation. At times she mispronounces words which leads me to believe that those particular sections were not her own & felt unnatural. I would‘ve enjoyed this more in print. #blitsy #blacklitsy #readdiversebooks #pocauthors #readblackwomen #readblackauthors

I finally found a book that‘s keeping my attention and is slowly pulling me out of my reading slump. I‘m enjoying the book so far but I have some thoughts about the narration which I‘ll post in my review. #blitsy #blacklitsy #readdiversebooks #pocauthors #blackauthors #readblackwomen #readblackauthors

She started as a secretary at the Pentagon and a singer on a cruise ship and look at her now!!

#BabyImAStar
#PrinceOfJuly

💜💜💜

Taraji P Henson and Tyler Perry were at my office today to talk about their new movie Acrimony and they were HYSTERICAL! ❤️ (And then she walked right past me on her way out so my day is made 😆)

Always been a big fan of Taraji as an actress. But when I saw her speak at Dreamforce, I was so moved and inspired that I had to pick up her memoir.

#Sheworkshardforthemoney
#FierceFeb

Taraji is just badass in my opinion! To pay for her collage she worked as a secretary at The Pentagon and nights as a waitress on a cruise ship! I recently ordered this book and can‘t wait to read it! I usually don‘t enjoy memoirs, but like I said she‘s bad ass and I want to know more! I really want to see her new movie Proud Mary! And I love Empire!

I was already a fan of Taraji as an actress, but I'm an even bigger fan of Taraji as a person now! I love it when a memoir does that. There's a lot to her story that I just had no clue about and I really respect her hustle. I also enjoyed listening to her tell her own story in a personable, real, honest way. #audiobook #memoir #libby

The title could be misleading as not much about Taraji Henson is “around the way”. Actually a pretty good girl with a interesting story of overcoming a tricky childhood to follow her passion as an actress. Interesting read

Up next on audio! I've got a whole bunch of holds pending so I found something available now. I'm LOVING how easy it is to borrow audiobooks on Libby/Overdrive! I even knocked my Audible membership down to 1 per month 🙌🏽

#audiobook #libby

Acting is communication, not only person to person, but soul to soul-a physical, emotional, and certainly spiritual expression.

What should I read first... #decisionsdecisions

Hey Litsy family so glad to be back and posting again!!
I just finished reading "Around the Way Girl" by Taraji. An funny, thought-provoking memoir that gives a glimpse into the life of an actress I've been following since I was a teenager.
I always liked Taraji she's defied so many odds to establish herself as an actress esp being a single black mom from the SE side of DC. This memoir is great for current fans & future fans.

Love her and loved this book. I love to hear people who fought for what they have, she earned it that‘s for sure.
Her narration was like just talking to her. It surprised me when she broke down and cried over her fathers death, having lost my father younger it hit me hard. Definitely a quick and fun read/listen.

I enjoyed this memoir, her family stories were great and the swimming story was hilarious. I liked her stories about Hollywood too. A quick and fun #audiobook

cross-country pit stop #3

I listened to this in one sitting. She's funny, honest and had some really interesting things to say about acting. She is a great narrator - so engaging and full of energy. I think she's an incredibly talented and hard working actor.

Taraji is so fierce and likeable! Listening to her read was like hanging out with a sassy, slightly older friend offering up advice for success. A mid-40yo's memoir is a bit laughable since that's still so young, but I guess that means she'll have to publish additional volumes in the future ✒ #mommyreads #audiobook #memoir

💔

Second autobiography audiobook for April! I waited three months for this one at my local library. She has wonderful stories about her parents, and her struggle as a single mom in Hollywood. Favorite funny story is when her agent tells her to knock his socks off, and she performs two monologues for him - and he gave her his olive green socks at the end of the audition. Which she still has.

I haven't done much reading this week because of the Read-a-Thon that I had. I've been so exhausted but I'm going to try and finish this memoir by the end of the week.

YAASSS, I 💜 this book! The best way to experience it is to listen to her narration of the audio version. It is perfection! This is a wonderful, warm, hilarious, heartfelt memoir. I especially loved her reflection of being raised by a single mother, and then raising her son as a single parent.
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#aroundthewaygirl #tarajiphenson #cookie #empire #DC #howarduniversity #audible #audiobook #memoir #getlit #kvnreads17

Getting ready to get started!!!!! Excited!

In honor of Women's History Month, I will only be reading books written by women❤️#womenshistorymonth

I am a huuuuuge fan of Taraji P Henson and had a great time listening to this on audiobook. 🙂

#TBRTuesday #litsyatoz #ToB2017

Here's what I've got cooking this week ➡️Working on the Tournament of Books short list, my A to Z challenge, and super excited to get the audiobook of Taraji P. Henson' memoir!! 💕❤

Fantastic audiobook! Taraji is one of my favorite actresses and I have always thought of her as someone who is authentic, fearless and full of heart. These aspects of her, and so many more, are in every part of this memoir. It was fascinating to learn more about her personal life, her thoughts and feelings on different roles she has played as well as motherhood and race and gender issues. Her reading (just like in her acting roles) was perfect!

Took a break to listen to this audiobook and take the dogs for a walk in the rain down to the river, which is very high right now from all the rain. The neighbors little puppy followed us down, she is soooooo cute! I may have spent about 20 min after the walk on the porch listening to my audiobook and petting and snuggling with her. 🐶Now I'm eating lunch and writing in my reading notebook! This audiobook is fantastic. 😍
#24in48

Listening to this awesome audiobook, eating some yummy dessert and trying to decide what comic/graphic novel to read next. 🤓#24in48

This was a quick, funny, and at times emotional memoir. The audiobook is read by Taraji, her personality and sense of humor make it so much more memorable. If you're a fan of her acting, you'll appreciate the insight into her background and upbringing.

Just finished Taraji P. Henson's memoir and loved it. Anyone who is a fan of Empire and Cookie will enjoy this book. #Empire #Cookie #AroundTheWayGirl

Stuck on a subway car while there was a minor health emergency at a station on the line. But I don't care because I've got both a seat and a fun audiobook going. I love Taraji and watch Empire only for her outrageous strength as Cookie Lyon. But I love hearing her story in her voice.

I start every year off with a book buying ban and end every year shoving books in the cart like I'm trying to get that last charitable donation/tax deduction in before the clock strikes midnight. 😬

Today @8little_paws suggested I try to do the #LitsyAtoZ challenge in order to clear my TBR. I took her advice and shocked myself to learn I have enough books on my shelves and kindle to get through the alphabet almost twice!

Next year is gonna be a great reading year. Cheers to 2017 and books and book nerds. #abcedarianTBR #FunFridayPhoto

#12daysofxmasphoto Day 5 I recently added this book to my TBR based on all the great Litsy reviews. I don't actually watch Empire but her character's name is Cookie. 😉 #cookies

This is a hell of a memoir, esp on audio. Taraji was raised by a single mom in a difficult area of DC. She narrates w/raw emotional intensity, candor, & introspection to discuss honing her acting craft in school, racism/sexism, facing rejection for being too "edgy" (code: "black girl from the hood"), abuse, friendship, losing her dad, & single motherhood raising a black son. Her passion & grit shines in every sentence & brought me to tears. ??

So I padded these statistics because really, I only read 3 books this month. 👀 Five of these I were over 2/3 finished before November started. I've been in a reading slump ever since the election that I'm finally starting to dig out of. 😬

But overall, I was able to finish a bunch of things! So onto next month. Starting fresh with #DarkTowerDecember with @TheNextBook.

Stitching bees for days & listening to Taraji P. Henson's memoir. It's wonderful so far! I love that she lets her authentic self shine through. She's a great narrator for her book & she has quite a story to tell. 🐝

#audiobook #blackbooks #diversebooks #memoir #blm #audiostitching

No YOU'RE on a ladder getting decoration boxes down and crying while listening to Taraji P Henson.

Today in my ears.

Audiobook is sooo good. Girl totally made me tear up at a part of it.

A little taste of why I love her!! 😍😍Definitely not disappointed thus far!