jeannamarie's review against another edition
5.0
As a designer in architecture, hearing this story of the yellow house through the lives of the people who lived there is truly special. Buildings typically have a long lifespan, they see so much and slowly begin to tell their own stories. Broom really does a spectacular job of conveying how the yellow house was their constant throughout all the phases and trials of their lives. Even when Katrina devastates their neighborhood, she realizes the house is them. They are all one with the house, despite being in various locations. As a designer this book was special to read for those reasons, as well as dissecting the urban racial and environmental justice aspects of the story.
Broom goes through a fairly detailed account and summation of the New Orleans area and development. This is such an important read to understand not only the political implications of what is happening in our country (happening each decade over and over), but how the people feel about the issues from generation to generation as well.
Probably one of my favorite reads in my semi short life. Made me laugh, tear up and created some thought provoking dialogue between myself, family and friends.
Broom goes through a fairly detailed account and summation of the New Orleans area and development. This is such an important read to understand not only the political implications of what is happening in our country (happening each decade over and over), but how the people feel about the issues from generation to generation as well.
Probably one of my favorite reads in my semi short life. Made me laugh, tear up and created some thought provoking dialogue between myself, family and friends.
sueotwell's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed parts of this book. The beginning drug on for me and was hard to keep up with the many names and relation to each other. I drug through that part and when I convinced myself to continue I started to enjoy the aspect of it and for the group of people this story was about (at least the middle portion of the book). I would never have finished this book had it not been a One Book One Community book club read and if a friend would not have encouraged me to continue reading it. I didn't have issue with the writing itself (I listened on audio book) but parts just drug out and I couldn't find the purpose for all of the dragging. I typically read for entertainment and this book was not written for that purpose so I had a hard time connecting to the story although I did get more understanding of that part of New Orleans and daily struggles for those people.
Overall this was just an ok book for me. Again I was able to finish it so that is a plus for me personally! I do think it was worth the read and the conversations it sparked during our book club discussion was great.
Overall this was just an ok book for me. Again I was able to finish it so that is a plus for me personally! I do think it was worth the read and the conversations it sparked during our book club discussion was great.
bookish_karin's review against another edition
4.0
This took me a while to work through, but persistence payed off. The start is slow. Almost painfully so. But the story unfurls and it all makes sense, why the first chapters are so critical.
lisettemarie's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Drug use
sassieve's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
dkragick's review against another edition
3.0
I just couldn't get vested in this one.
I lied. Finally finished. Caught a second wind near the end.
I lied. Finally finished. Caught a second wind near the end.
lilias's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
siobst's review against another edition
2.0
I’ll always think of this as my “just can’t get through it COVID-19 pandemic book”. So much less driving led to so much less audio book listening. It’s hard to say whether it was the book or the timing. There were very specific things I liked about this book. I enjoyed the narrator’s depiction of a favorite brother. I enjoyed thinking of the house as a character with a vital role in the family. But in general the theme of the yellow house only very loosely held the story together and it seemed to wander endlessly. I read it for a neighborhood book club that never really launched due to COVID. Glad to be moving on.