Reviews with content warning for Racism - Brown Girls

Evoking a strong sense of place in the "dregs of Queens" and told from the plural perspective of the eponymous brown girls, Andreades’s debut novel is gorgeous and gratifying. The book’s short length belies its power and range. Lively vignettes narrated by a collective voice articulate the nuances & complexities bound up in the lived reality of brown girls in Queens. Andreades highlights the tensions of growing up within this community: balancing expectations and gratitude, ambition and rootedness, confidence and humility. The tone is unfettered, honest, and compassionate.

Particularly notable is the way Andreades rejects the idea of caricature while also managing to tell a story from a collective narrator. In fact, this writing device turned the disconnected girls and women Andreades wished to represent into a tapestry. I never got the sense that she was flattening or stereotyping, rather imbuing with humanity and value every varied experience, saying, “This? This is us. Oh, and that? That, too.”

Brown Girls would be an excellent choice for those who enjoyed Girl, Woman, Other or Infinite Country. I strongly recommend the audiobook thanks to masterful narration by Tashi Thomas.

Content Warnings

kirstym25's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional 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? Yes

4.25

A moving and powerful narrative about the vast, complex and multitudinous experiences of brown girls from Queens, NY. The first person plural narrative works well to convey the many voices of these women and express their differences, while still illustrating their sisterhood and solidarity. The writing is beautiful, nostalgic, and touched something deep inside me in a way I hadn't been expecting. A brilliant, striking debut and one that I'd highly recommend.

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thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

a surprisingly fast read, brown girls is an important illustration and exploration of the titular subject in all their aspects: their complex identity, family, the immigrant experience, societal pressure, discrimination in many aspects including their race, gender, sexual orientation, etc.

i particularly enjoy the portrayal of how said life struggles never truly end, there's always another hurdle to jump thru whether it be in terms of schooling, career, romance or family life. it's also satisfying seeing the narrator learns more abt herself and slowly comes to terms w/ her identity and place in the world after reconnecting w/ her motherland, and for the most part 'wake up' from internalized racism & colorism and unconscious self-doubt and hatred.

palasi andreades nuancedly delves into many relevant topics w/in the lives of WOC, esp in relations to whiteness, and the ebb and flow of friendship thru time is realistic. overall, i enjoy this book and hope to read more from the author.

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