I’ve been going through my ebook collection recently and finding random things to read when I’m outside with my dog. Rather than buying something new or renting from the library, I’ve decided to make use of the rather extensive digital library I already have, and this one by Issa Rae is one that popped up recently when I was scrolling through my kindle app on my phone.
I don’t remember buying this book and I don’t actually know that much about Issa Rae, either personally or professionally. I’ve never seen either of her TV shows, but I did see “The Photograph,” which I loved.
Since I’ve only ever seen Issa Rae as a gorgeous woman, I was confused when she spent most of the book talking about being chubby and unattractive. I was like, ”Am I thinking about the right person?”
Sure enough, later in the book, she talks about losing weight, becoming more attractive, and basking in the attention she got from men who had previously ignored her.
In between all that is a pretty interesting, yet relatable life full of travel, family drama, romantic drama, and a whole chapter devoted to how much she loves food. That I could definitely relate to, but I made the mistake of reading that chapter when I was already really hungry, and of course reading it just made me even more ravenous.
I also appreciated what Rae called her ABG Guides (awkward black girl guides) to dealing with certain kinds of difficult people. I’m not black, but I am an introvert and often awkward, so a lot of the advice definitely still applies to me.
This book alternated between funny and sad and heartwarming and I fully enjoyed every minute I spent reading it.