A review by melihooker
Your Face in Mine by Jess Row
4.0
I am surprised this book has such a low rating. I suspect maybe it's because it more character driven with a loose plot that doesn't really go anywhere. I hate to say that at the risk of turning people off from this book, because it's brilliant, but it's the truth.
The basic plot is Kelly has an unexpected run in with an old high school friend, but he doesn't realize right away because his old friend, Martin, who was once white is now a Black man.
Martin has undergone racial reassignment.
Based on that you would think it is more social commentary - what is race, what makes you you, what would happen if we could choose our race, etc - and it is, but that comes more in the latter half of the book.
What you get in the first half is predominately about friendship, and friendship lost, love, and love lost, both through the natural progression in life that pulls people apart but also death.
I think I read this book at just the right time because I can't think of a strong thread that pulls the reader through to the end but I was engaged and excited to pick this up every night to get further along. I love Jess Row's writing, and this story is unlike anything I've read. Took a little dip toward the end, so wasn't a perfect read, but one I won't soon forget.
The basic plot is Kelly has an unexpected run in with an old high school friend, but he doesn't realize right away because his old friend, Martin, who was once white is now a Black man.
Martin has undergone racial reassignment.
Based on that you would think it is more social commentary - what is race, what makes you you, what would happen if we could choose our race, etc - and it is, but that comes more in the latter half of the book.
What you get in the first half is predominately about friendship, and friendship lost, love, and love lost, both through the natural progression in life that pulls people apart but also death.
I think I read this book at just the right time because I can't think of a strong thread that pulls the reader through to the end but I was engaged and excited to pick this up every night to get further along. I love Jess Row's writing, and this story is unlike anything I've read. Took a little dip toward the end, so wasn't a perfect read, but one I won't soon forget.