Rating: 
Summary: Finding one's true self.....
Review: Growing up, you only know what you're told. You believe everything that your parents tell you, and their word is law. Mr. McBride must have been thrown for a loop when he found out his mother was actually a Jewish immigrant, and not a light skinned Black woman as she'd told him when he asked her if she was white, as a child. Growing up, all he knew was that she looked different, and was different in her own way, but he didn't know just what the difference was. Until he grew up.....This book is a must read for people of all races, religions, and origins. A wonderful book; beautifully written; a must have.
Rating: 
Summary: When you feel there is too much against you, read this book
Review: This book delves into the topics of religion, race, personal history, and triumph. If anyone has ever questioned how hard their life was (or is) this book will re-affirm that most anything can be overcome and that there is no excuse for not succeeding. The author pours his life out in a simple text that is easy to read; anyone from a teenager to an adult will comprehend the motive behind McBride telling his story. Some reviews of this story have complained that it is anti-semetic, or racist in some ways. This is a true story of a real woman's struggle to find her faith and a man's story of determining where his race falls into place. The major gist of the novel is outlined in the title- A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother. McBride retells of his comfusion growing up with two different colored parents, neither of which he completely resembled, and the ensuing quandry of who he really is. But if you believe that this is just a case of race identification, that is just the beginning. He is also being raised by a Jewish mother, who converts to Christianity. His mother overcomes great odds against her and her family (race issues prevalent in the South in the 40's and on, religious background, poverty, death, etc.) to accomplish a remarkable goal of parenting twelve incredibly successful children. There is never an excuse for failure, and McBride's story proves that in the face of every adversity, people can prosper. This is a wonderful, feel-good book that will have you convinced of the power of determination. Whenever you feel that you are powerless to succeed, or that too many odds are against you, this book will give you renewed hope that life is never a lost cause.
Rating:
Summary: The Color of Water: A Black Mans Tribute to His White Mother
Review: In this remarkable story of the author's journey to uncover the life of his mother, Ruth Shilsky. McBride's mother was born in 1921 to a Jewish Rabbi and his wife in Poland, but moved to Virginia with her family. She found Christianity and love in the embrace of a black husband and her 12 children. The book tells two stories: one from McBride's mother's point of view, and on from McBride's. The author tells of growing up in the projects of New York with a white mother, and she tells her story of a young Jewish girl growing up in the south and then Harlem. Don't be put off by the title. This is not a story about the controversies between races. It is a touching memoir about a woman who doesn't fit and her struggles to raise her family. You will find yourself rooting for her, and you will truely be touched by her drive to keep moving foward.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read
Review: The Color of Water is a great book written by James McBride about his mother. His mother was white while his father was black. The book deals with themes such as race, discrimination, diversity, religion, and self identity. Although the book deals with those very serious themes, it is so well written that it is not boring. One way the author makes the story hard to put down is by using some very funny stories and by switching back and forth from his point of view to his mother's point of view. McBride manages to tell two great stories by switching from his mother's childhood to his own childhood every other chapter. This would have probably made the story hard to understand had he not italicized the chapters dealing with his mother's childhood in order to keep them separate. The only thing that you have to pay attention to, in order not get lost, is the years. Some stories seem like they happened right after the other but they actually happened many years later. Another aspect that makes this a great book is that anybody can read it. The book does to contain any hard words to understand. He uses language that anybody can understand without having to get up to look for definitions in the dictionary. A third way in which McBride made this book hard to put down is by putting in many very funny stories. For example, there is a story about how the kids would all fight for the little food they had, "Entire plots were hatched around swiping food, complete with double-crossing, backstabbing, intrigue, outright robbery, and gobbled evidence"(66). Another funny story was about the mother bringing food from work, and everybody fighting for her purse to get to it, "If you were the first to grab the purse to get to it, "If you were the first to grab the purse when she got home, you ate. If you missed it, well, sleep tight"(67). Another great story was the one about all the pets they had. The story is also great becauseit makes you think about who you really are and about working hard in order to achieve your goals and become successful. His mother tells him, when he asks if he is black or white, that he is a human being and to educate himself or he would be nobody. She also says "God is the Color of Water."
Rating:
Summary: Mommy, what color is God?
Review: This book is an amazing voyage of discovery. McBride unravels a life forgotten and buried by a mother who was born in 1921 to a Jewish Rabbi and his wife in Poland, and found Christianity and love in the arms of a black husband and her 12 children. The book tells two stories. The author tells of growing up in the projects of New York with a white mother and she tells her story of a young Jewish girl growing up in the south and then Harlem, always an outsider wanting only what all girls want, the love of her family and to be accepted. It was early on in life that Ruth Shilsky realized that this would never happen. She found herself up against some of the greatest odds a person could face in an era of blatant racial prejudice and a family that turned their back on her because she dared to be different. The life she made was a remarkable one and the children she produced are all extraordinary people, to put it in the words of the author. An inspiring read of warm languid prose, I couldn't put it down, nor could I stop rooting for "Mommy" who just never stopped moving forward. 3/2/01
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: I chose to read The Color of Water for my World Literature class assignment. I am very glad that I did choose this book because it was definitely the best book that I have ever read. James McBride interweaves the life story of his white mother and his own life story, in a way that will keep you from putting this book down. It is a book that will provoke so many different and new emotions in you as you read and experience and share their hardships and accomplishments. The following review explains exactly why I fell in love with this book,and why I believe it is an excellent read for everyone. McBride begins the book with an excerpt from his mother's life. Then next thing you know you are hearing him tell a story from his youth. This back and forth storytelling keeps you alert and craving to know more about their lives. His mother is a whtie, Jewish woman who came with her family to America in 1920 and leaves her family when faced with racial conflict after she marries a black man. This is a story of the hardships and the sucess of a widowed, white, mother raising twelve children on her own in a small New York apartment. Throughout all of the ups and downs, Ruth McBride never loses her fatih in God and never lets her children give any less than 100%to getting their education. The Color of Water, is a moving story involving race, religion, love, and finding one's self. I really love this book because of the way that James' mother goes about her day to day life and ignores all of the racism and just carries on and does not poison her children's minds. In the chapter "The New Testament", james asks his mother what color is God, and her response is, "God is the color of water. Water doesn't have a color". One of my favorite quotes from this book is at the very end when James is talking about how they all go to his mother's house for Christmas, and he says "In running from her past, Mommy has created her own nation, a rainbow coalition that descends on her house every Christmas and Thanksgiving and sleeps everywhere - on the floor, on rugs, in shifts; sleeping double, triple to a bed, two up, three down just like old times". I wish that I could get evedryone to read this book because it is a work that could wake some of the human race up to acknowlege the hateful ways we sometimes treat one another, and at the same time how we can often take the good things in life for granted, expecting them to always be there. James McBride tells his and his mother's stories with such love, vibrance, and color it is hard not to laugh, cry, be outraged, or feel sympathetic towards him and his mother. I think that this book is a true masterpiece, and I know that I will suggest it to friends, and I will continue to read it and enjoy it for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: My Home Town
Review: I saw the author, James McBride, on television one weekend discussing the book. I was thrilled because all of it took place in my neighborhood, and his family didn't live too far away from me. I don't remember his mom riding a bike, but I do know Lewiston Ave. very well. After I read the book, I drove down Lewiston Ave ---remembering the scenes in the book. I also drive down Dunkirk St. frequently. It was a good book. If it was a novel, I wish for a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: Important
Review: I am extremely skeptical about memoirs written in the nineties because I have found them to be overwhelmingly sentimental and, other than for entertainment purposes, unbeneficial. "The Color of Water" avoided being classified in this category. The plot has already been sufficiently revealed in the other 250 reviews, so I want to concentrate on why you should read this book. The primary issues are about race and identity. It is fascinating to read about how a man, who is born from a white mother and a black father, has to not only deal with the unfortunate racial problems in this country, but also has the added element of an unknown identity. Since the mother has a such a painful past, she won't share it with her family. Identity comes from one's parents. We, as readers, get to discover this identity as his mother's past is revealed. The strength of the book is that James' past and his mother's past coalesce to form a beautiful entity. I tell you, the chapter, "A Bird Who Flies," is one of the most powerful things I have ever read. It could also be argued that this book gives one pointers about how to survive in this brutal world. I think the mother provides sound advice. Not a life-changing book, but an educational one with some insight about life.
Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: I truly hated for this book to end and I simply could not put it down.This is a wonderfully written story which chronicles the remarkable lives of the author and his mother.I readily recognized the neighborhood where he grew up since I was raised not very far away and remember well the transition that took place in Queens and everywhere during the restless, militant era of the 60's.The message that I got from reading this book is that no matter how bad ones circumstances are, and no matter the color of ones' skin, personal growth and development, respect and admiration, happiness and success can be attained if that is what one chooses. In the case of Mr.McBride, he had a parent who believed in all of her children, an indomitable belief in God and who was fiercely determined to succeed. These values she instilled in her children, and they in turn will do the same for their children. Finally, one other message that came across loud and clear particularly from the mother, is the message that says, there is only one race -the human race and within the human race there are decent people and there are indecent people. Without a doubt, the McBrides fall within the decent people category. Their story is a remarkable testament to the values that all civilized human societies strive to attain. Please read this book.You will want to own it and pass it down to your loved ones.
Rating:
Summary: HEALING CATHARSIS
Review: It's funny how when we want to read something interesting, we never think about reading a tribute, particularly to one's mother. We just assume that it would be too ordinary, too sweet and sappy. However reading THE COLOR OF WATER was one of the most heart-warming experiences I've ever had reading a book. James McBride, a Black writer, is a master at his craft and could not have done a more thorough job. His attempt at tribute is actually a revealing history of his White mother's life. He alternates chapters (as first person speaking) between his mother and himself. Religion, incest, race and prejudice are discussed in detail. Through his mother's two marriages to Black men and all of her personal hardships, she remained determined to raise and educate her children to be the best they could be. This book explores and connects the divisions of race and culture through two generations of family love and education. The real tribute to Rachel McBride Jordan is the success of all of her children. This is a woman we'd all be better off for having known. And a writer-son who knows it.
|
