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chrisandbooks's review against another edition
Should’ve read the other reviews first—there doesn’t seem to be much of a plot to this story, just themes (race in America, LGBTQIA+ experiences, abusive households) weaved into a series of different scenes about coming of age.
corilikestrees's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kel_b's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
2treads's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
What's a book that had a premise that led you to expect something completely different than what you read? For me, it was Notes On Her Color.
🧬🎹🧬🎹🧬
I don't know why I wanted Neal's book to have more of a superhero bend, but I did. I wanted these skin-colour changing women to be out there infiltrating systems and changing them for progress and equality in society. It's more suburban horror. Instead, Neal tells the story of Gabrielle and her mother Tallulah, who are trapped by an overbearing husband and father who only sees the value in their lighter & whiter skin tones that elevate his standing among his white peers.
🎹🧬🎹🧬🎹
When her mother suffers a mental health crisis, Gabi now has to fight for her dreams, love, and gift. Neal uses this to explore internalized racism, repressed expression, queerness, and fortitude.
🧬🎹🧬🎹🧬
🧬🎹🧬🎹🧬
I don't know why I wanted Neal's book to have more of a superhero bend, but I did. I wanted these skin-colour changing women to be out there infiltrating systems and changing them for progress and equality in society. It's more suburban horror. Instead, Neal tells the story of Gabrielle and her mother Tallulah, who are trapped by an overbearing husband and father who only sees the value in their lighter & whiter skin tones that elevate his standing among his white peers.
🎹🧬🎹🧬🎹
When her mother suffers a mental health crisis, Gabi now has to fight for her dreams, love, and gift. Neal uses this to explore internalized racism, repressed expression, queerness, and fortitude.
🧬🎹🧬🎹🧬
a_shelf_of_books's review
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
loriluo's review against another edition
4.0
A unique coming-of-age told from the perspective of a young black and indigenous woman.
For as long as she can remember, Gabrielle and her mother have been different - with the ability to "pass" or to change the color of their skin at will. In their pristine, perfectly white house they can blend in, but unexpected emotions or thoughts will jar their concentration at times and cause their skin to pass into a myriad of different colors. Tallulah has taught Gabrielle that this is a skill she needs to master and control, and one that Gabrielle has understood to be a means of defense and self-protection. It is something that bonds the two together against Gabrielle's father, a demanding and controlling head of household that has already set her path of life for her as a future doctor, forcing her to take piano lessons and dictating the people she can't or can't spend time with. It is through these lessons that Gabrielle meets Dominique, a musician who is nothing like her, and comes to think about a slightly different future for herself.
Jennifer Neal incorporates such a beautiful and thought-provoking method of magical realism that works seamlessly with the novel, as it's a physical manifestation of the weighty themes of racism and sexism, the relationship between mother and daughter, and Gabrielle's own discovery of her identity and sexuality. The prose is beautifully structured, rigid and controlled at the beginning of the novel to reflect Gabrielle's early upbringing and mindset, and slowly evolving as time goes on and her perspective changes. As a former classically-trained pianist, I enjoyed the elements of music that were included and how they became essential to Gabrielle's future path.
Very much a recommended read, and a promising debut novel from a young author!
For as long as she can remember, Gabrielle and her mother have been different - with the ability to "pass" or to change the color of their skin at will. In their pristine, perfectly white house they can blend in, but unexpected emotions or thoughts will jar their concentration at times and cause their skin to pass into a myriad of different colors. Tallulah has taught Gabrielle that this is a skill she needs to master and control, and one that Gabrielle has understood to be a means of defense and self-protection. It is something that bonds the two together against Gabrielle's father, a demanding and controlling head of household that has already set her path of life for her as a future doctor, forcing her to take piano lessons and dictating the people she can't or can't spend time with. It is through these lessons that Gabrielle meets Dominique, a musician who is nothing like her, and comes to think about a slightly different future for herself.
Jennifer Neal incorporates such a beautiful and thought-provoking method of magical realism that works seamlessly with the novel, as it's a physical manifestation of the weighty themes of racism and sexism, the relationship between mother and daughter, and Gabrielle's own discovery of her identity and sexuality. The prose is beautifully structured, rigid and controlled at the beginning of the novel to reflect Gabrielle's early upbringing and mindset, and slowly evolving as time goes on and her perspective changes. As a former classically-trained pianist, I enjoyed the elements of music that were included and how they became essential to Gabrielle's future path.
Very much a recommended read, and a promising debut novel from a young author!
kye_7423's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
It was kind of crazy to read at times like I couldn’t believe what I was reading even knowing that this was a fictional book haha
pooh08's review
4.0
"Notes on Her Color" by Jennifer Neal is a compelling novel that delves into themes of identity, race, and family dynamics. The story revolves around Gabrielle, a young Black woman who possesses the unique ability to change her skin color at will. This extraordinary gift, however, comes with its own set of challenges and complexities.
Gabrielle's journey is one of self-discovery and understanding the weight of her abilities in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving. The novel explores her relationship with her mother, who has her own secrets and struggles, and how these familial ties shape Gabrielle's understanding of herself and her place in the world!
Gabrielle's journey is one of self-discovery and understanding the weight of her abilities in a world that is often harsh and unforgiving. The novel explores her relationship with her mother, who has her own secrets and struggles, and how these familial ties shape Gabrielle's understanding of herself and her place in the world!
mysimas's review
The beginning was amazing:
„MY MOTHER COULD CHANGE THE COLOR OF HER skin. From what I’m told, it was a gift she inherited from her mother, who inherited it from her mother before her, passed down from blood to blood along with diseases, artistic hysteria, and a predilection for loving the wrong men. My great-grandmother was an Aniyunwiya witch and used to change color before sneaking into settlements to gather supplies and conduct trade.”
The whole first chapter was like this and really made me believe I was up for a ride. Sadly, the rest didn’t measure up.
The writing stayed fine throughout, even if it went a bit too lyrical for my taste. But the contents are just a thousand and one metaphores about what it’s like to be black and female and queer in America and there’s literally nothing else to water down this onslaught — no plot /just coming of age story/, no compelling character work, nothing. I skimmed to about the half-way mark and there’s still no change for the better, so I’m giving up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship