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tellsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Weird. This whole book was strange in the best way. I want to know what made Maria so delusional. I’ve always heard so many things about — you know, I can’t talk kitchen talk on Goodreads. LOL
I was gonna spill long discussed concepts black folks hold about mixed people and adopted people and the way those things intersect, but that’s not a discussion for Goodreads.
I will say tho, that this book was interesting in a hilarious, somewhat absurdist sort of way. Danzy Senna’s writing style is unique in her handling of the psychology of the wanted vs their emotional state as the abandoned. It makes sense when you read the book.. I love the way she writes so deeply into Maria’s ruminations and personal recriminations about her sexual exploits with white men (in contrast to the rest of her life).. her chasing this black dude “the poet”, and what it means to want to be with white men sexually vs black men to build a family.
Danzy also goes into what it means to really go after what you want and what it means to settle for what you should want.. the madness vs the passivity.
I love that she incorporates hair and what hair means in the black community into the novel. I love that she goes through so much about Maria in the foreground while creating a landscape where Maria is doing absolutely crazy shit in the background.
Overall this was a super enjoyable read.
I was gonna spill long discussed concepts black folks hold about mixed people and adopted people and the way those things intersect, but that’s not a discussion for Goodreads.
I will say tho, that this book was interesting in a hilarious, somewhat absurdist sort of way. Danzy Senna’s writing style is unique in her handling of the psychology of the wanted vs their emotional state as the abandoned. It makes sense when you read the book.. I love the way she writes so deeply into Maria’s ruminations and personal recriminations about her sexual exploits with white men (in contrast to the rest of her life).. her chasing this black dude “the poet”, and what it means to want to be with white men sexually vs black men to build a family.
Danzy also goes into what it means to really go after what you want and what it means to settle for what you should want.. the madness vs the passivity.
I love that she incorporates hair and what hair means in the black community into the novel. I love that she goes through so much about Maria in the foreground while creating a landscape where Maria is doing absolutely crazy shit in the background.
Overall this was a super enjoyable read.
maddiebelloff's review against another edition
4.0
One of the most disturbing, gripping books I’ve read recently. Reminded me of I” Love Dick” and “My Year of Rest and Relaxation” and “The Vanishing Half”
kee523's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Odd. Didn't like the characters, but enjoyed the biracial point of view
hollydyer328's review
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Strangely enough, I liked this one. Story moves quick with good writing and VERY complex characters. Maria is definitely strange, and there are some big cringe moments, but as a mixed-race person I could understand where her motivations were coming from. Danzy Senna does a great job of writing about the mixed-race experience and the nuances and complexities around identity and belonging in a binary Black/White America, and she embraces the messiness of that reality while also tipping into craziness! The ending was more ambiguous than I’m willing to go and I wish she added an extra 50 pages to resolve what ends up happening. But I get that the point isn’t what happens in the end but how we got there.
pria42's review against another edition
3.0
Definitely an interesting look at what it means to be biracial but the book just doesn’t do the topic justice. Maria is beyond unlikable and Khalil is two-dimensional at best. Maria mentions, via Gloria and Lisa granted, how perfect he is but it seems like he is completely oblivious to Maria’s obviously problematic state of mind.
shay43geek's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content and Toxic relationship
littlepepperguy's review against another edition
ew. nothing happens, the main character randomly decides to be incredibly racist and terrifying to her boyfriend bc she passes as white and he acts like he's "blacker" than her. Makes a lynch like call to his phone disguising her voice and then doesn't cop up to it when it's heard by other people.
Also, the author is wayyyy to sympathetic to israel no thank you. She looks too white to be saying the shit she was in this novel sorry
Also, the author is wayyyy to sympathetic to israel no thank you. She looks too white to be saying the shit she was in this novel sorry