I am a huge Renee Watson (@harlemportland) fan, especially her Middle Grade Ryan Hart Series, with the first book being a favourite read aloud for my class, Ways to Make Sunshine. When I saw that she had an adult book available to read on Netgalley, I immediately requested it.

I LOVED this book. I'll admit I wasn't sure if I would in the first few chapters. Watson starts things off with a doctors appointment scene where main character, Lena, is being made to feel less than because of her weight. I know there are some women out there with a positive body image at any size, but I am definitely not there yet and so this doctors office scene hit hard for me and I wondered whether this book might trigger some anxiety and trauma for me. I'm so glad I stuck with it though because it is such an incredible book and it actually ended up doing the opposite of what I was afraid of. Don't get me wrong, it did not cure any of my body positivity and white coat syndrome issues, but it reminded me that there are so many different shapes and sizes and the only one who knows my body completely is me.

Beyond that, I loved the unique perspectives, historical information, black rights and empowerment, and mental health and relationship challenges this book covered. With tiny chapters on such a range of subjects, this book is easy to get absorbed in and while entertaining, also has a lot of things to reflect on and learn about. I would highly recommend this book and can't wait to see what Watson comes out with next (Middle Grade, Adult or anything in between!) Keep your eye out for this one, it hits shelves May 7th!

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher @littlebrown for giving me the chance to read this book!3 s Shay51 3

This book was a breath of fresh air. It had everything I enjoyed. Sisterhood, mother-daughter relationships, romance, self care, discovery of self. The format that the author wrote it in was new to me, and At first I was a bit confused, but as I kept reading, I ended up loving the format. Lena was character that was complex but much needed.

The black history chapters were informative.

Overall this book was very good and I will be telling my fellow reader friends to obtain it.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher & of course the author for gifting me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.netgalley3 s Kami168 9

Well this was just beautiful! Reminds me of Roxanne Gay, but softer and more nuanced. The writing, the writing, the writing ... Just so poetic in a way that is so connected to the overall storyline, gave me similar feels to With the Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo. The story was just so rich and woven together in a way that gave substance and completeness. The chapters are short but each so meaningful. A deeply moving story about being a fat* black woman living in a very white American city, Portland, OR. This simple explanation about what this book is about is really the outer shell of a much more complex story. If you are Black, fat, a daughter, a mother, a best friend, or a minority navigating majority spaces, parts of this story will absolutely resonate with you. If you are none of these, then this is a master class on what it's for those of us who fit within these demographics and you should settle in for not only an education, but a simple yet elegant perspective that will absolutely make you think. For parts of this book I felt so seen not only from an individual perspective, but also as someone who has been a part of a community the one described within. This is also a love song to Portland's Black community, the power of women connection, forgotten history, Wednesday love, and showing up and showing out for yourself everyday.

* I used fat in this review, as this was the language used in this novel.2024 african-american2 s Jess (oracle_of_madness)883 83

This story is so well done.  Covering a range of topics body image and racism, this book at once swept me off my feet while being informative.   There are several topics in this book I will never fully understand,  but the general idea of love is something I think we all can grasp.  Also, the idea of finding oneself is beautifully illustrated in this.  

Out May 7, 2024!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc! arc-s-netgalley-and-edelweiss1 Afoma (Reading Middle Grade)700 403

A gorgeously written meditation on family, fatness, faith, motherhood, and female friendships written in vignettes. I worried about the whole vignette format and whether Watson’s YA & MG excellence would carry well into adulthood fiction and she nailed it. Thanks to Kate at The Mindful Librarian Substack for the final nudge to read this one! Really great storytelling and excellent on audio. Can’t wait for whatever Watson does next.1 Haerlee186 1 follower

Description

At 40, Lena Baker is at a steady and stable moment in life—between wine nights with her two best friends and her wedding just weeks away, she’s happy in love and in friendship until a confession on her wedding day shifts her world.

Unmoored and grieving a major loss, Lena finds herself trying to teach her daughter self-love while struggling to do so herself. Lena questions everything she’s learned about dating, friendship, and motherhood, and through it all, she works tirelessly to bring the oft-forgotten Black history of Oregon to the masses, sidestepping her well-meaning co-workers that don’t understand that their good intentions are often offensive and hurtful.

Through Watson’s poetic voice, skin & bones is a stirring exploration of who society makes space for and is ultimately a story of heartbreak and healing.

My Take:
Not quite a novel in verse-but equally lyrical- the promise of the description is delivered in a way that holds weight and releases breath. I read the uncorrected copy from NetGalley and will certainly read again when it is published May 7, 2024.1 Kate Belt1,107 6

I absolutely loved my reading experience with this book & found it hard to put it down. I love how Watson so succintly portrays the unique culture of the place I call home, Portland, Oregon - all the things we’ve done right and those we done wrong, for which we need to make reparation. I love how she recognizes the role of libraries and librarians to preserve and share our stories. It’s about loving and valuing ourselves and our communities. It’s about honoring the foundations given us by our past generations and passing them down to our children - our legacy to future generations. It’s very much a story about family relationships, friendships with a family vibe, and how we bring up our children.1 Lisa84 7

At 40, Lena Baker has a pretty good life. She's got a good job, a wonderful daughter, supportive friends, and a loving finance. Then on the day of her wedding a confession is made and it turns her world upside down. Lena is forced to pick up the pieces of her life, all the while trying to boost her daughter's self esteem, while she is struggling with hers.

I must admit that for the first 1/2 of Skin and Bones, I was unsure if I d it. It's not because it wasn't well written, it definitely is. However, it is written in a way I've never experienced before. The chapters are short (which I love) and can be current time, a flashback, sharing history, or even what seems to be poetry. However, after awhile I realized that even though I wasn't used to that kind of book, I really d it. Skin and Bones was a hard book to put down.

It must be noted that Lena deals with a lot in this book; fatphobia, racism, loss, just to name a few (check your trigger warnings). Her journey was both heartbreaking and inspiring and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her grow.

Ultimately, I really loved Skin and Bones! The characters were loveable and the journey was one that captivated me from beginning to end. If you're looking for a book that is empowering for plus size women, especially black women, I highly recommend it.1 Lisa84 7

At 40, Lena Baker has a pretty good life. She's got a good job, a wonderful daughter, supportive friends, and a loving finance. Then on the day of her wedding a confession is made and it turns her world upside down. Lena is forced to pick up the pieces of her life, all the while trying to boost her daughter's self esteem, while she is struggling with hers.

I must admit that for the first 1/2 of Skin and Bones, I was unsure if I d it. It's not because it wasn't well written, it definitely is. However, it is written in a way I've never experienced before. The chapters are short (which I love) and can be current time, a flashback, sharing history, or even what seems to be poetry. However, after awhile I realized that even though I wasn't used to that kind of book, I really d it. Skin and Bones was a hard book to put down.

It must be noted that Lena deals with a lot in this book; fatphobia, racism, loss, just to name a few (check your trigger warnings). Her journey was both heartbreaking and inspiring and I thoroughly enjoyed watching her grow.

Ultimately, I really loved Skin and Bones! The characters were loveable and the journey was one that captivated me from beginning to end. If you're looking for a book that is empowering for plus size women, especially black women, I highly recommend it.1 Natasha P99 8

Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley provided an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

This book is amazing. I have never read a book quite this. The format is really interesting. It shifts between contemporary fiction novel, format, snippets of history lessons, and pieces that are a mixture of personal essay and poem. The format allows the this author to flesh out the main character, her life, her, emotions, her loved ones, her city, and the world at large. it is masterful.

The book blurb describes this as a soulful and lyrical novel and it’s that and so much more.1 Books Amongst Friends72 4

I’m already looking forward to reading this again. Skin & Bones" by Renee Watson swept me away from the very first page and held me captivated until the end.

LETS TALK ABOUT IT
Autor del comentario:
=================================