Reviews

Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades

lindzzbarb243's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

This book manages to say so much while still feeling so concise and succinct. Brown Girls is a reading journey worth taking

aslaluna's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective fast-paced

4.0

Collective, poetic and relatable 

windandwords's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

i get what the author was trying to do here, and i appreciate the attempt. i like the concept of vignettes (that’s what they’re called right?) in books, but this felt like it was leaning a bit too much on the side of generalising..? i mean, brown girls is a phrase that encompasses a diverse demographic and to group them in together seemed kind of problematic to me.

however, the author did make efforts, with the varied experiences depicted, to highlight this diversity. i guess the generalisation side can be argued away by acknowledging how these brown women are all united with their common place of upbringing: queens, and how they are all childhood friends.

idk i enjoyed this and some parts really spoke to me, but it still has shortcomings.

kate_stewart's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

blfitz's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? N/A
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

britbloom's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

While I initially really like this book (the writing style and vignettes), I started to read more GR reviews and now feel torn.

Did the author try to represent the feelings/lives of too many Queens women? Was the constant name dropping over-representing and trying too hard to fit a certain demographic? Many of the girls go on to college and beyond—why does the author choose to focus on those who leave?

Hmmmm….

erickpin24's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This book made me feel so much love and made me think about everyone I love in my life. The poetic vignettes that it’s told through captured me in a way no other book has done, I felt like I was coming up for air every time I’d finish a section. I feel like most POC narratives that I’ve experienced hand hold a white reader way too much. The vignettes in this book give a very powerful “iykyk” flow that it makes me cry. It makes me cry because this is how life feels.

satanismysouschef's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This is the most poetic novel I've ever read. I love that there is no main character and how the writing style changes as the brown girls change.

lozdouglas's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This might be the best fiction audiobook I’ve ever listened to. The narration was so beautiful and poetic. The writing was phenomenal and truly make you feel a part of the characters

prairna's review against another edition

Go to review page

hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No

3.5