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ib3readin's review against another edition
2.0
The cook felt disjointed and rambled, moving from one topic to another. There were some nuggets of insight, but the style was not for me.
jeninmotion's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
It's very well written but also it wanders a lot in a way that makes the pace drag something fierce.
lottie1803's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
aliyatrvd's review against another edition
3.0
2.5, writing style and it’s construction wasn’t my cup of tea but interesting nonetheless
kingabee's review against another edition
3.0
It was a very disjointed and chaotic assembly of thoughts, impressions and facts. It reminded me a little of Years by Annie Ernaux, and it's definitely not my preferred style. Similarly to Years, it was a snapshot of a certain demographic in a certain moment in time, referencing many things that would be completely illegible to anyone from the outside if it wasn't for Google. This is not necessarily a bad thing in itself, I just wasn't sure what purpose it all served.
Reading anyone upper-middle class memoir can be tedious, especially it mostly focuses on the upper-middle-classness of it all. And Jefferson very badly does want us to understand her upbringing was upper-middle class.
This might be eye-opening to some people, but in the 90s in post-communist Poland I grew up believing everyone in America is rich. Additionally, I watched Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the Bill Cosby Show, so there was never any doubt in my mind as to the existence of black upper class in America.
There were of course description of racism from white people, and colourism from within the community but nothing seemed deeply explored and left me wanting more. Negroland doesn't work as a memoir either. It's just a description of the author's school days and her pop-cultural obsessions and fascinations (described now in an intellectual manner). The whole thing seemed detached. We never get to know the author on an intimate level, the way you would expect from a memoir. There doesn't seem to be any arc to her story.
As a memoir it was boring, and as a non-fiction book about the black upper-middle class it was chaotic and unruly.
Even though I enjoyed bits of it here and there, all in all it wasn't a satisfying read I had been looking forward to.
Reading anyone upper-middle class memoir can be tedious, especially it mostly focuses on the upper-middle-classness of it all. And Jefferson very badly does want us to understand her upbringing was upper-middle class.
This might be eye-opening to some people, but in the 90s in post-communist Poland I grew up believing everyone in America is rich. Additionally, I watched Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the Bill Cosby Show, so there was never any doubt in my mind as to the existence of black upper class in America.
There were of course description of racism from white people, and colourism from within the community but nothing seemed deeply explored and left me wanting more. Negroland doesn't work as a memoir either. It's just a description of the author's school days and her pop-cultural obsessions and fascinations (described now in an intellectual manner). The whole thing seemed detached. We never get to know the author on an intimate level, the way you would expect from a memoir. There doesn't seem to be any arc to her story.
As a memoir it was boring, and as a non-fiction book about the black upper-middle class it was chaotic and unruly.
Even though I enjoyed bits of it here and there, all in all it wasn't a satisfying read I had been looking forward to.