andthatsonliterature's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
WHAT A READ! I felt for Malaya not because of her size, but I felt she wasn’t seen the way she deserved to be seen outside of her size. While our experiences as l big girls were drastically different, I do wonder if it had something do with growing up in different eras. I know the plus size industry has changed ALOT with most of those changes happening within the last 10 years so I imagine it was pretty nonexistent in the 80s. This story definitely tapped into some core memories, especially for teenage me. I wish this book had existed when I was a teenager dealing with puberty, growing pains, and the pressures of society. Those things combined can really do a number on you during your impressionable years. This was an amazing read. And for me it was personal, necessary, and very reflective.
browngirlreading's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
suswana's review
4.0
It took a few chapters to adjust to the pacing but after finishing the whole book, I love Malaya’s character development and sense of self by the end of it. There are moments throughout where she’s shown the power of people who have chosen to be just themselves even in the character of her grandmother. It has a strong message, displays the complexities of humans and celebrates a Harlem we all once knew and still exists in pockets. Very well written.
ravenclawomanistcyborgwitch's review
4.0
Book: Big Girl
Author: Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
Pgs: 288
Genre: Literary Fiction
what the mirror said
by Lucille Clifton
listen,
you a wonder.
you a city
of a woman.
you got a geography
of your own.
listen,
somebody need a map
to understand you.
somebody need directions
to move around you.
listen,
woman,
you not a noplace
anonymous
girl;
mister with his hands on you
he got his hands on
some
damn
body!
I wish Malaya Clondon would have heard this poem so that she could be encouraged. Big Girl is a lovely, big-hearted novel full of light and sadness. I loved Malaya, who only wanted to feel love or to feel love in general from the music that she listened to, the food that she ate, and the people that she loved. She is a talented artist that loved music and was brought up to love it by her father. Her interest evolved to loving Hip-hop in all IRS forms. This story was a hard read, especially regarding her parents/grandmother, who really meant well, but ended up hurting her instead. The fatphobia and misogynoir from all sides did not stop her moments of queer romance. This coming-of-age story broke my heart into pieces but gave me hope for Malya and other girls like her. I created a playlist inspired by her father, her love of hip-hop, and, most of all, her love of beautiful black girls like herself. Thank you, @hearourvoicestours and the publisher, for letting me be a part of this tour.#BigGirl #HearOurVoices #hov
Author: Mecca Jamilah Sullivan
Pgs: 288
Genre: Literary Fiction
what the mirror said
by Lucille Clifton
listen,
you a wonder.
you a city
of a woman.
you got a geography
of your own.
listen,
somebody need a map
to understand you.
somebody need directions
to move around you.
listen,
woman,
you not a noplace
anonymous
girl;
mister with his hands on you
he got his hands on
some
damn
body!
I wish Malaya Clondon would have heard this poem so that she could be encouraged. Big Girl is a lovely, big-hearted novel full of light and sadness. I loved Malaya, who only wanted to feel love or to feel love in general from the music that she listened to, the food that she ate, and the people that she loved. She is a talented artist that loved music and was brought up to love it by her father. Her interest evolved to loving Hip-hop in all IRS forms. This story was a hard read, especially regarding her parents/grandmother, who really meant well, but ended up hurting her instead. The fatphobia and misogynoir from all sides did not stop her moments of queer romance. This coming-of-age story broke my heart into pieces but gave me hope for Malya and other girls like her. I created a playlist inspired by her father, her love of hip-hop, and, most of all, her love of beautiful black girls like herself. Thank you, @hearourvoicestours and the publisher, for letting me be a part of this tour.#BigGirl #HearOurVoices #hov
sde's review
3.0
This was a hard one to rate. Someone in our book group recommended it because she said it had a voice unlike any she had heard before in a novel. That is true, but there is so much talk and description about food that I thought it obscured what could have been an even better story. A person in the book group who has struggled with an eating disorder said that that was very true to life - that is what you are often thinking about - and enjoyed it. But it sometimes dragged for me, even though it was a short book.
Malaya isn't an overweight girl. She is dangerously obese. I feel for the parents trying to figure out how to address this, and they fight a lot about it. It is a very tough situation, and I have no idea how I would deal with it.
The snippets about gentrifying Harlem were poignant. In a few sentences the author evoked the conundrum of gentrification. No more crack vials lying on the sidewalk. Kids can go out and play now. But so much community and anchor places get lost in the process.
I also thought Malaya's thoughts back to their tiny apartment in the Lower East Side (?I think) were interesting and true. Her parents moved to Harlem to have a better life, but some things can be lost when you are striving.
Malaya isn't an overweight girl. She is dangerously obese. I feel for the parents trying to figure out how to address this, and they fight a lot about it. It is a very tough situation, and I have no idea how I would deal with it.
The snippets about gentrifying Harlem were poignant. In a few sentences the author evoked the conundrum of gentrification. No more crack vials lying on the sidewalk. Kids can go out and play now. But so much community and anchor places get lost in the process.
I also thought Malaya's thoughts back to their tiny apartment in the Lower East Side (?I think) were interesting and true. Her parents moved to Harlem to have a better life, but some things can be lost when you are striving.
rovingreader's review
emotional
funny
reflective
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
3.0
sierradescence's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.75
reviewsbylola's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0