First, I love your review. When I was done reading it, I felt very conflicted… I had some of these similar thoughts you expressed as well. I think the characters could have been developed more especially Malika and Owen… I also think Nella was targeted because of her lack of confidence…the ending was wild and I felt more was needed to wrap everything up…
Great review. Just finished today and the ending left many unanswered questions for me. I agree with the lack of development. I’d love to know more about the resistance and the obg’s. I’d love to know why Nella was chosen. I’d like to know what Malaika will do with the information she now has. Will she join the resistance and eventually try to take down Nella?
Great Review. The structure and pacing of this book made it a chore for me to read. Agree it did explore some interesting ideas around race / corporate responsibility politics.
completely agree! I really did enjoy the book and thought it had a great premise but I would’ve loved more development on the OBGs and resistance. I feel like everything came to a head in the last 50 pages of the book and I just wanted more of it. I’m excited though because they’re turning it into a tv show so I think there’s going to be more opportunity there to expand on these characters and their world
I love your review - I thought the introduction of all the characters that seemed divorced from Nella was challenging to read - I didn’t mind the time jumps.I love the prologue Kendra Rae is compelling and the author does a wonderful job at creating suspense But I wish we could have expounded on her boyfriend more and made clearer the time lines and character like Shani .
Thanks. Just saw the trailer for the Hulu show/movie and wanted to know what it was all about. I can see things like this happening in companies with no HR department but HR is there to protect you from discrimination. This is why an onsite HR department is a must for me when looking for a job
Excellent review, I also finished the book with mixed feelings. I agree there were sections/characters I would like to know more about. Perhaps in the Hulu show that is being developed.. Overall an entertaining read, as this was her debut, I am looking forward to reading her next book.
I loved your review of this book, however I did not feel the same way about it as you (although I did find it very stressful and triggering.) I think I didn't like it mostly because it was marketed as a thriller, which it fell short. I did like the idea of the book but, as you said, I wished it would have been structured differently.
I read THE OTHER BLACK GIRL this past June and there was a point where just opening the ebook made me a little stressed out. I did not care for the book at all after the first few chapters, but the author definitely got me to feel something
Great review! I just finished the book and was eager to hear more perspectives on it. I agree that some aspects could have benefited from more development, but I found the book really engaging and thought provoking.
Excellent review! I just finished the audiobook and had so many questions. I love this book and can’t wait for more from Harris. If you haven’t read “Such A Fun Age”, high recommend, a great companion to this novel.
Would love a video exploring what happ in the epilogue. It seems like Nella decided to join Hazel. However, doesn’t Shani know who Nella is? The third person narration of Shani seemed to suggest that Shani knew who Nella really was despite name change.
@@onlyamani3988 I will wait patiently. I am curious to see if the characters are depicted accurately to how you imagined them ….. thank you 🙏 in advance
I'm here because I just watched the Hulu series, and now I'm curious about the book. Based on this review it seems the series chose to take a different twist at the end (Nella's comment to "burn it down") from what happens in the book. Which feels a little meta to me in a fun way since that's what Nella's character (in the series) wanted Diana to do (change the ending of Burning Heart, to make it even better).
Are we sure our protagonist got turned into an other black girl? first off she has a straight hair at the end .... wasn't she given a curl cream to use? also, the ending alludes to the fact that she doesn't need the secret curl cream to properly code switch since she had done it without the cream the entire time.... also we know she used to be relaxed and her reverting back to that probably means she accepted herself for who she really was... (given her identity struggles throughout the book).
oh interesting, I remember Nella having a lace-front at the end of the novel so I assumed with the context that she'd taken the cream and was now an OBG.
@@onlyamani3988 yea because it’s interesting Nella was sent to convert Shani ... someone who knows the deal ... I think something about Nella must be different compared to the other OBGs. Also the book seems like they can do a prequel or a sequel the way they set it up.
I have several problems with the book. First i read several reviews and lately it seems that if you write about an important theme reviews are good no matter what, and frankly unfortunately, no matter what critics said, most young black writers are not the new James Baldwin or Toni Morrison. The reviews i read treat this novel as if it was literary fiction about the racism and power struggles on the work place, and well, it's true the themes are touched but very lightly. It would be great if the white characters (and i'm not talking about Harris only, because it's a problem in a lot of novels) are better developed. Ally of villain you need a fully developed character to make it work. Anyway, the big problem is the plot twist. In my opinion it doesn't work at all. It's totally unbelievable and the connection with the main storyline is not good. It's a pity because the story is entertainning and treating a serious problem like racism in a lighter way is a great idea (Such a fun age has similar problems). The novel is a page turner which explains its success in the USA. In my opinion it would have worked way better without all the plot twist, simply writing about the work enviroment, racism in the publishing industry and the oppressive competition between women in the work place
First, I love your review. When I was done reading it, I felt very conflicted… I had some of these similar thoughts you expressed as well. I think the characters could have been developed more especially Malika and Owen… I also think Nella was targeted because of her lack of confidence…the ending was wild and I felt more was needed to wrap everything up…
Agreed!
Great review. Just finished today and the ending left many unanswered questions for me. I agree with the lack of development. I’d love to know more about the resistance and the obg’s. I’d love to know why Nella was chosen. I’d like to know what Malaika will do with the information she now has. Will she join the resistance and eventually try to take down Nella?
I really hope there is a sequel, because this book is really good, and unique
Here because I saw the trailer
Great Review.
The structure and pacing of this book made it a chore for me to read.
Agree it did explore some interesting ideas around race / corporate responsibility politics.
completely agree! I really did enjoy the book and thought it had a great premise but I would’ve loved more development on the OBGs and resistance. I feel like everything came to a head in the last 50 pages of the book and I just wanted more of it. I’m excited though because they’re turning it into a tv show so I think there’s going to be more opportunity there to expand on these characters and their world
They are supposed to be making a TV series or something based on this book.
I love your review - I thought the introduction of all the characters that seemed divorced from Nella was challenging to read - I didn’t mind the time jumps.I love the prologue Kendra Rae is compelling and the author does a wonderful job at creating suspense But I wish we could have expounded on her boyfriend more and made clearer the time lines and character like Shani .
Thanks. Just saw the trailer for the Hulu show/movie and wanted to know what it was all about. I can see things like this happening in companies with no HR department but HR is there to protect you from discrimination. This is why an onsite HR department is a must for me when looking for a job
Best review of this book that I have seen on UA-cam! Very well thought out
Excellent review, I also finished the book with mixed feelings. I agree there were sections/characters I would like to know more about. Perhaps in the Hulu show that is being developed.. Overall an entertaining read, as this was her debut, I am looking forward to reading her next book.
I'm excited to see if the show manages to fill out some of the backstory/side characters that the book didn't quite manage to
I just watched the show. It was so good and relatable for black women trying to climb the corporate ladder. I wish Nella was willing to free herself.
Excellent and thought provoking review.
I loved your review of this book, however I did not feel the same way about it as you (although I did find it very stressful and triggering.) I think I didn't like it mostly because it was marketed as a thriller, which it fell short. I did like the idea of the book but, as you said, I wished it would have been structured differently.
Loved listening to your overview of The Other Black Girl.
I read THE OTHER BLACK GIRL this past June and there was a point where just opening the ebook made me a little stressed out. I did not care for the book at all after the first few chapters, but the author definitely got me to feel something
Great review! I just finished the book and was eager to hear more perspectives on it. I agree that some aspects could have benefited from more development, but I found the book really engaging and thought provoking.
If one were to describe this as reminiscent of the Stepford Wives, would that be giving too much away of the story?
Excellent review! I just finished the audiobook and had so many questions. I love this book and can’t wait for more from Harris. If you haven’t read “Such A Fun Age”, high recommend, a great companion to this novel.
Would love a video exploring what happ in the epilogue. It seems like Nella decided to join Hazel. However, doesn’t Shani know who Nella is? The third person narration of Shani seemed to suggest that Shani knew who Nella really was despite name change.
Shani is aware of who "Nella" is as the last line suggest Shani recognizes "Nella's" voice.
@@Danielle_4. her figurative voice or literal? What do you think the ending tells us?
Thanks for the review!
Great review 🎉
Great review
Analysed superbly!!
Hie 😂 I am curious to find out on your review of the series ( the other black girl)❤. Kindly asking if you could make one .
this isn't a bad idea...
@@onlyamani3988 I will wait patiently. I am curious to see if the characters are depicted accurately to how you imagined them ….. thank you 🙏 in advance
I'm here because I just watched the Hulu series, and now I'm curious about the book. Based on this review it seems the series chose to take a different twist at the end (Nella's comment to "burn it down") from what happens in the book. Which feels a little meta to me in a fun way since that's what Nella's character (in the series) wanted Diana to do (change the ending of Burning Heart, to make it even better).
@@cecileestelle9448 I just knocked off from work I’m going to finish it off 😄
i completely agree with everything you said! i kept thinking so much about capitalism while reading it too! amazing review 👏👏
Are we sure our protagonist got turned into an other black girl? first off she has a straight hair at the end .... wasn't she given a curl cream to use? also, the ending alludes to the fact that she doesn't need the secret curl cream to properly code switch since she had done it without the cream the entire time.... also we know she used to be relaxed and her reverting back to that probably means she accepted herself for who she really was... (given her identity struggles throughout the book).
oh interesting, I remember Nella having a lace-front at the end of the novel so I assumed with the context that she'd taken the cream and was now an OBG.
@@onlyamani3988 yea I reread and saw that 🤷🏾♀️ so maybe I’m wrong
@@lakoucafe1684 my assumption is she's an OBG *but* I think the author did intend for some ambiguity
@@onlyamani3988 yea because it’s interesting Nella was sent to convert Shani ... someone who knows the deal ... I think something about Nella must be different compared to the other OBGs. Also the book seems like they can do a prequel or a sequel the way they set it up.
@@lakoucafe1684 I definitely though Nella had become an OBG because she had a new name just like Hazel did!
Book: Racist Mother of a Black Son. CRV Publisher. It would make a series. Provocative. Best book published in Brazil.
It wouldve made more sense if it was a straightener as opposed to grease
Great review!! I really enjoyed this book!!
Oh oh how hard to chose a book
I have several problems with the book. First i read several reviews and lately it seems that if you write about an important theme reviews are good no matter what, and frankly unfortunately, no matter what critics said, most young black writers are not the new James Baldwin or Toni Morrison.
The reviews i read treat this novel as if it was literary fiction about the racism and power struggles on the work place, and well, it's true the themes are touched but very lightly. It would be great if the white characters (and i'm not talking about Harris only, because it's a problem in a lot of novels) are better developed. Ally of villain you need a fully developed character to make it work.
Anyway, the big problem is the plot twist. In my opinion it doesn't work at all. It's totally unbelievable and the connection with the main storyline is not good.
It's a pity because the story is entertainning and treating a serious problem like racism in a lighter way is a great idea (Such a fun age has similar problems).
The novel is a page turner which explains its success in the USA.
In my opinion it would have worked way better without all the plot twist, simply writing about the work enviroment, racism in the publishing industry and the oppressive competition between women in the work place
Read it, did not enjoy it!
Same it was long and the climax was at the end and it was short I didn’t enjoy it