heyep's review
3.0
This is book is hard to describe. On the one hand, it's easy reading - a compelling memoir written in very simple (even maybe kind of cheesy) prose. On the other hand, it's pretty heavy subject matter. It was fun to read, but a bit of a downer. I would recommend the piece on Gene Cheek's story from This American Life to anybody who might be interested - it played on episode 313: Parental Guidance Suggested ( http://thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=313 ).
brooklyn_book_girl's review
4.0
Ooof. This book. Where to even begin? It's breathtakingly honest. Heartbreaking. Visceral. This memoir is well written. It's hard to read. It makes you think. As someone who grew up in North Carolina and lived in both Winston-Salem and Hickory, it really made me think about life in the south. Especially in regards to segregation and interracial relationships. It also illustrates how love is taught. The ending of this book takes place after I was already born and living there, which really makes me pause to reflect. I'm grateful this book caught my eye and I would recommend reading!
hollysue22's review
5.0
i don't even know where to start about this book. we all know that things were different racially way back when. but i didn't realize that a white woman having a child with a black man was something that both could be jailed for; a felony. the things that gene and his mother went through were sad and wrong in so many ways. it was a really touching story and i really enjoyed reading it. i'm really glad that things have changed from the way they used to be. however, i still think we have a long way to go.
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