Queenie was a fantastic and realistic read. While I was reading outside of my culture, and probably did not pick up on the slight nuances that comprise Queenie's identity, I still found myself appreciating this novel's existence for a variety of reasons.
First of all, Queenie is a hot mess. She's going through a tough break up, can barely focus on her work (haven't we all felt like we experienced a dead end job at one point in time or another?), and is still suffering from a past trauma that she's attempting to suppress.
As we embark on her journey, we root for her to find happiness. Whether or not that is with another individual or just within herself, so that she might find inner peace. The idea of black women's bodies being highly sexualized and used only for pleasure is a HUGE theme that really struck me to my core. I was raging against the men who perpetrated her in such a way, and I wanted her to take them down.
I also found so much humor in this through Queenie's group chat of gal pals also known as The Corgi's. Each of her friends brought out different aspects to Queenie's character, but most importantly, they were there for her. Even if she wasn't there for herself.
It is a heavier novel that addresses the difficulties that black women face, but I totally agree that love and happiness also exists in this. And reclaiming ones sense of self-importance and self-worth. This book is so important and everyone needs to read it!
First of all, Queenie is a hot mess. She's going through a tough break up, can barely focus on her work (haven't we all felt like we experienced a dead end job at one point in time or another?), and is still suffering from a past trauma that she's attempting to suppress.
As we embark on her journey, we root for her to find happiness. Whether or not that is with another individual or just within herself, so that she might find inner peace. The idea of black women's bodies being highly sexualized and used only for pleasure is a HUGE theme that really struck me to my core. I was raging against the men who perpetrated her in such a way, and I wanted her to take them down.
I also found so much humor in this through Queenie's group chat of gal pals also known as The Corgi's. Each of her friends brought out different aspects to Queenie's character, but most importantly, they were there for her. Even if she wasn't there for herself.
It is a heavier novel that addresses the difficulties that black women face, but I totally agree that love and happiness also exists in this. And reclaiming ones sense of self-importance and self-worth. This book is so important and everyone needs to read it!