thegayngelgabriel's review against another edition
4.0
Dense and chaotic, I don't think I absorbed all of what this book has to offer, but its offerings are so many and so deep that I know I'll be rereading and seeking again from it. Extraordinary insight into radical organizing and what it needs and takes from communities and individuals, its pitfalls, its best possibilities.
silodear's review against another edition
I suppose this book isn't for me right now, though I can see why this is such an important book. My brain isn't so good with the stream of consciousness stuff these days. Read about 100 pages before getting stuck.
jendella's review against another edition
5.0
The only way I can describe this book is reading it was like having my stitches carefully picked open, a hand gently rearranging my insides before sewing me back together with tender care.
We meet Velma in the South in the 1970s. She’s a community activist who is tired, disillusioned and experiences a psychotic break where she tries to end it all. She finds herself in the care of a spiritual community and enigmatic healer who is trying to lead her back to herself. But she’s not the only one in her community at the end of her rope.
This book is profound, prescient and completely timeless. It speaks to the burden of women to carry their communities, and while the observations are sharp and real, the experience of reading this felt like a soothing balm. The storytelling, the imagery, I felt it in my bones.
We meet Velma in the South in the 1970s. She’s a community activist who is tired, disillusioned and experiences a psychotic break where she tries to end it all. She finds herself in the care of a spiritual community and enigmatic healer who is trying to lead her back to herself. But she’s not the only one in her community at the end of her rope.
This book is profound, prescient and completely timeless. It speaks to the burden of women to carry their communities, and while the observations are sharp and real, the experience of reading this felt like a soothing balm. The storytelling, the imagery, I felt it in my bones.
makealongstorycourt's review against another edition
I tried so hard to finish this, but the rambles of prose and unclear plot just didn’t do it for me.
zoracious's review against another edition
4.0
This disorienting but vivid novel deserves another read before I write this review. The book's non-linear, poetic style is a deliberate (and clever) way to reflect the protagonist's own healing, which itself involves a meandering backtracking in time before she can deal with the present (and future).
lulu365's review against another edition
I don't even know where to start...
Basically, this is the story of a woman (Velma) who has tried to commit suicide, but is now in the process of being healed...by both a healer (Minnie) and herself. We get to know Velma through those who know her.
We don't really know how long the healing actually took, but we do know that it took longer than normal. Putting all the parts together and reading the final chapter of the book, it couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes.
The language is beautiful...the events are understandable, but the sequence in which the events are written is confusing. The flip flopping between time, events, and characters without having any clear boundaries had me reading several parts several times. I make fun of Lee when she gets a pen and pad and makes notes, but that's exactly what I had to do. Lol. This is definitely one that I'll try to read again.
So even though I missed the overall meaning (I think) and was lost 85% of the time, I loved Minnie and Old Wife; they were hilarious. Fred Holt was an interesting character and I wouldn't mind learning more about him. Doc Serge wanting Minnie to hurry with the healing so he could pimp Velma out was just sickening.
Spoiler
Basically, this is the story of a woman (Velma) who has tried to commit suicide, but is now in the process of being healed...by both a healer (Minnie) and herself. We get to know Velma through those who know her.
We don't really know how long the healing actually took, but we do know that it took longer than normal. Putting all the parts together and reading the final chapter of the book, it couldn't have taken more than 30 minutes.
The language is beautiful...the events are understandable, but the sequence in which the events are written is confusing. The flip flopping between time, events, and characters without having any clear boundaries had me reading several parts several times. I make fun of Lee when she gets a pen and pad and makes notes, but that's exactly what I had to do. Lol. This is definitely one that I'll try to read again.
So even though I missed the overall meaning (I think) and was lost 85% of the time, I loved Minnie and Old Wife; they were hilarious. Fred Holt was an interesting character and I wouldn't mind learning more about him. Doc Serge wanting Minnie to hurry with the healing so he could pimp Velma out was just sickening.
kylegarvey's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Harm reduction here, in our unusual Black feminist perspective? I dig that perspective in general, but I'm afraid I don't dig this book in particular. Heavy, jarring, confusing is fine enough; but why add the spiritualism? It cracks everything.
alexkapsidelis's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
msmarlena's review against another edition
This was actually the Audible audiobook, 11hr 25min long, narrated by Mia Ellis.
I made it 2hr 20min at .95x speed before I gave up.
Narrator reads every single sentence with the same unnatural cadence, a rhythm so monotonous that I had to rewind over and over to absorb what was said. Absolutely unlistenable.
Which is a shame because what bits of the story I retained seemed brilliant. I might try the digital version at some point.
I made it 2hr 20min at .95x speed before I gave up.
Narrator reads every single sentence with the same unnatural cadence, a rhythm so monotonous that I had to rewind over and over to absorb what was said. Absolutely unlistenable.
Which is a shame because what bits of the story I retained seemed brilliant. I might try the digital version at some point.