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There are currently 34 member reviews
for Something Like Beautiful
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Kat (Palatine IL)
Cliche
The author knew all the right things to say and share. But in spite of her assertions that she didn't want to be a victim, that's exactly the impression I got from her. When she speaks of acknowledging the "truth" she seems to hedge her life decisions under the umbrella of being adopted, being sexually abused as a child, being physically abused as an adult, being a single black mother, etc, etc. To me, this was further evidenced with all the statistics, facts and figures quoted. While I can understand how any one of this events could screw with your head, the author was trying to convince me she was past it all. I didn't buy it. Also I feel she is unconsciously putting an awful lot of pressure on her daughter to "save" her. The fact is, in the end, we must each be our own salvation.
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Sandy (Houston TX)
Something Like Beautiful
I struggled through the first half of this memoir. Going in, I had hoped, most of all, to gain an understanding of why the author made the choice to marry a prisoner. Unfortunately, the story with Rashid is never fully developed, leaving the reader (or me, anyway) unsympathetic about her plight. In fact, I found myself more frustrated with the author than anything. Despite the fact that she comes from a supportive family, with a good education and a great job, the author seems to blame all of her troubles on being a woman of color. The second half of the book, however, is significantly better, as Bandele details her downward spiral into severe depression and the struggle to find herself again. I will likely recommend this book to a friend who is battling depression; however, tell her to skip the first half.
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Cheri (Grand Rapids MN)
Single mothers might want to stone her
If you are looking for a book about a strong woman who sacrificed everything to take care of her daughter alone... this is not the book for you. If you are a single mother and looking for a person to relate to that has struggled like you have and survived.. this is not the book for you.
If you are looking for a book about a whiny victim who put her own self into this position and wants to use the race and sexism card and act like she is the only one who has ever raised a child.. then sure waste a few days. I AM a single mother and I can say I have never wanted to slap a person more then this person. I have struggled to raise my child because raising a child is a struggle. Things have not been easier for me because I am white. Things have not come more easily because I have a boy.
Have I looked at my child and thought what if... yeah of course. But I didn't need loads of therapy to be reminded to pull up my big girl panties and just deal with it. She created the shark pit she was in ... and just sitting still isn't going to save her!!!
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Jodie (CORPUS CHRISTI TX)
Unsympathetic
I Really did not enjoy this book at all. The main character made one bad choice after another and tried to blame it on the fact that she is a black oppressed woman. I felt sorry for her daughter. In case she hasn't heard the news we have a black President. This book really irritated me!
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Brenda (Sebring FL)
A Bit of A Disappointment
I did not know that asha bandele was a poet, although I realized that fact within the first two pages. If there was a story to be told, I missed it. The feeling of accidentally reading someone's diary that was not meant to be opened came over me several times and remarks were made that indicated this book was clearly a project of self-indulgence. Although Something Like Beautiful could possibly be discussed and analyzed by a book club, the reading is not for an individual looking for some meaning between the front and back cover.
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Ginger (Chandler AZ)
Something like mediocre
Within the first few minutes of reading this book I knew I would have a difficult time finishing it. I found Asha Bandele's memoir only middle of the road. Her style of writing was ho-hum and plain. She never fully developed her relationship with Rashid. I would have liked to have seen more of that. Her story is the same as so many women out there who are single moms and struggling. I didn't find her life unique at all. She just wrote about it. I would not read any more of her memoirs nor would I recommend this book to other readers.
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