Ratings6
Average rating3.7
In her memoir, "the screen actress writes of her family--the one she was born into and the one she created. She shares stories of her father, a Vietnam vet who was bowed but never broken by life's challenges, and of her mother who survived violence both in the home and on DC's volatile streets. Here too she opens up about her experiences as a single mother, a journey some saw as a burden but which she saw as a gift"--Amazon.com.
Reviews with the most likes.
This book was wonderful. Henson's story about David Fincher and what she was planning to do instead of meeting with him was hilarious, as was her recounted phone call with Idris Elba. But many of her memories have a longing to them, a sadness that comes from living. I'd definitely recommend this one on audio.
Why did I pick it up?
I picked up this book because I really like Taraji Henson and the various characters that she has played. I wanted to get a grasp of who she is as a person and who had a hand in making her that person. I wanted to understand her drive and what makes her want to hustle so hard. Also, I believe you can learn a lot about life through the lives of others.
Describe the book in 5 words
Raw, Interesting, Passionate, Engaging, and Funny
Who would LOVE Around the Way Girl Anyone who loves, Taraji P Henson would love this book. I would also say minorities that are now entering the industry and wants an inside look as to what one could face.Are there illustrations? I do not think so. I listened via Audibles.Overall thoughts Overall, I really enjoyed listening to Taraji narrate this book. Side note, she speaks really fast and I had to slow the speed of the narration. However, it was usual Taraji style, raw and honest. You get a glimpse into the Taraji we all know and love. I would recommend.
Cookie Lyon the Writer
If you haven't caught on by my Empire reference yes, I am talking about Around the Way Girl. Five stars. It's not your typical autobiography, where the narrated details every significant milestone in their life, from birth until present day. One of the first things I thought when I started the book was, “wow, she is really spending a lot of time talking about her childhood.” But as I got further into the book, I realized she was really taking her time to make the reader understand the significance of the events she was describing, how it made an impact in her life and the people around her. I loved how she described her experiences playing Cookie, Queenie, or Yvette, she talked about how she really put her all into the parts. It made me look at the roles she played in the movies differently, movies I have seen many times already. I added them all to my Netflix queue to re-watch them with a more critical eye, I highly recommend it! I think the fact that I listened to her tell her story with such emotion it made it even better.
3.75 stars Emotional and honest. I'm really glad I decided to give her memoir a shot. I know Taraji P. Henson from Person of Interest and I was sad when she left after the second season (I now know why). I will be watching Empire - which my grandma has been telling me to watch - soon!
