plantonic_friendships's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.25
All in all, I enjoyed the memoir. She's a fantastic writer. Her relationship with her parents, mother in particular, and family is relatable. I for one and the daughter who left home and rarely comes home. Not estranged but not close, especially enough to fully understand things like my brothers' sadnesses and such. Or how calls with my mom sometimes are jovial "hello MOTHER" to "Hey, don't make it seem as if we don't have happy times".
I think the lead was buried and once we got to the lead, it never really got into the deeper introspection. Felt like she circled around the main topics and never got to the point.
The middle of the memoir has the most meat to it. The beginning and ending were strangely detached and vague to me - almost too objective.
Even in the interview she had with the other author after the acknowledgement. There are hints that she left details out to protect her family and other people in her life. Which is fair and valid, but it made the narrative kind meander and left holes in aspects of her life - like unfinished thoughts. The memoir ended up being a bit lackluster and in some aspects of trite because there were parts that felt said because it was the safer bet.
Honestly, a pitfall I myself would probably make it I wrote a memoir that could hurt and reflect poorly on those I love.
I think the lead was buried and once we got to the lead, it never really got into the deeper introspection. Felt like she circled around the main topics and never got to the point.
The middle of the memoir has the most meat to it. The beginning and ending were strangely detached and vague to me - almost too objective.
Even in the interview she had with the other author after the acknowledgement. There are hints that she left details out to protect her family and other people in her life. Which is fair and valid, but it made the narrative kind meander and left holes in aspects of her life - like unfinished thoughts. The memoir ended up being a bit lackluster and in some aspects of trite because there were parts that felt said because it was the safer bet.
Honestly, a pitfall I myself would probably make it I wrote a memoir that could hurt and reflect poorly on those I love.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Grief, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
ktxx22's review against another edition
4.0
Ashley Ford out here giving me all the Roxane Gay vibes with just the sheer excellence of her writing chops. I really appreciated the emotion this book has in its pages as well as the ability to make the reader feel deeply. I don’t always enjoy reading memoirs but I really feel like this one is worth the read with a unique perspective.
kaileehaong's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
3.75
Great memoir! Ashley grapples with an experience from her past that she later finds similarities with her incarcerated father. Explorations of family, self, and forgiveness are at the forefront of this memoir.
pastapatrick's review against another edition
4.0
A memoir that speaks to you in the way that only the best ones can where your find yourself taken back to your own childhood, examining it using Ashley’s magnifying glass. I really loved it.
charlottehooker's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written and deeply moving.
I had many revelations whilst reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about those life experiences that I related to less.
I had many revelations whilst reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed learning more about those life experiences that I related to less.