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Summary: A wonderful read that brought my husband and me closer
Review: Spent a full day Sunday reading aloud the entire paper back edition of The Color Water. We could identify with so many of the incidents being Jewish and my husband being a psychologist who has dealt with child abuse as well as other family issues. We laughed and cried together as the story unfolded and recalled our own childhoods and family relationships. It was poignant and uplifting at the same time. James McBride is a superb author and we applaud him for this beautiful biography
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Summary: Enthralling!!!
Review: Andre Braugher's soothing voice revealing this facinating story left me wanting for more when it was over!!! I was drawn into McBride's happiness, conflict and emotions as the incidents unfolded. This book was not only about race but it was also about families and relationships and the impact parents have on their children
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Summary: Poignant, endearing, and extremely charming.
Review: I loved this book from beginning to end. I was touched by the life of what Ruth McBride had to endure but was truly inspired by what she did to pull herself and her family. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who ever felt that they have obstacles in their life. What a treasure to read!
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Summary: Wonderful concept which does not fulfill its promise
Review: Although initially intrigued by the idea of McBride's book, after a few pages, I found myself reading with increasing irritation. He never succeeded in imparting the essence of any of the characters -- I didn't feel I knew them or cared about them. Details that should have evoked profound responses in the reader just seemed to be strung together as so many words. However admirable it was that his mother managed to raise a dozen children, all of whom went to college, under what must have been extremely adverse conditions, as a reader I thought the author provided little insight into any of those 12 people. He just kept repeating those facts (that there were twelve of them, their mother was "different" and they all went to college or beyond) over and over in various ways. Each scenario he launched into had initial promise, which each time gradually evaporated leaving me with little emotional or intellectual satisfaction
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Summary: An awesome book! Couldn't put it down!
Review: This is a wonderful book about people. If all would read it, this world would be a better place for everyone. I love how both son and mother think about people. If we all would not care about race, religion, etc. and live with respect of others, what a wonderful world this would be!This is a "must" read. You will go away feeling good about the human race
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Summary: A truly uplifting book!!!
Review: Here is a truly uplifting book about race, religion, and what it means to love one another
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Summary: Unmet expectations
Review: Why didn't this book speak to me as it did to so many others? Somehow my expectations were not met; I found the book strangely flat when I expected it to sing. The title and the concept behind it captivated me. I thought "the color of water" a descriptively wonderful way for Mr. McBride's mother to make her point. And when Mr. McBride said he would unfold the story of his mother and "betwixt and between" we would find his own story, I was intrigued.Expectations are personal things, and I built my expectations on the above. And found myself disappointed in the reading. I felt the author told his story and betwixt and between was his mother's story - the reverse of his promise. Unfortunately for me, it was his mother's story and not his own which I found compelling. When speaking with her voice I found a power, vividness and intensity that grabbed my attention. Those same elements I found lacking in his story
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Summary: More than good reading. Selah.
Review: One of the best I've read in the past year. Moving account of a jewish woman's past, her relationships, her attempts to annul and yet deal with her jewish family's response to her interracial lifestyle. I experienced (through tears, anger, sorrow, joy, and admiration) the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of the undauntingly courageous mother of James McBride. Ruth's faith, consistent faith in the God of her heritage (though not worshipped in the traditions of her heritage) truly shows that the same God is truly God and sustainer of ALL people. Very few books cause me to effectively and immediately change ways of thinking, lifestyle, modes of discipline, etc. This one, however, has. Easy to read. Easy to understand. Ruth's openess in revealing (and rejecting) the Jewish thought on family, religion, money, and race was insightful, yet sometimes very painful. McBride, with both hardhitting and comedic flare, does a good job of delivering both his own life's story and search for that part of himself that practically "begged" for explanation as it is intermingled with his youthful perceptions of his mother's life. Indeed, one can see the gentleness with which McBride has extracted the once buried details of his mother's past. As a single parent of one child, I hope to accomplish with one what Ruth successfully accomplished with and for all of her children. Lee (as in Spike), Singleton (as in John), you guys should read this one right away. This would make a great movie! Though the voices belong to James and Ruth, the messages (in this book) clearly eminate from God. More than good reading. Selah
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Summary: It is just an amazing book!
Review: This book makes you laugh and cry. It makes you realize no matter what skin color you have, what religion you have, or what background you come from, what is important is that we are all equal and should be proud of ourselves for who we are.
You have to put yourself in someone's shoes to understand what a person goes through. That is what the book is all about.
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Summary: A fascinating voyage of discovering family
Review: James McBride's search for his place in the world and his roots is a fascinating journey into race and history. Throughout the novel, the reader continually faces situations that are probably completely alien to their experience (not the least being having 12 children). Yet through skillful description, the reader is "there" during formative moments, when the little boy tearfully waits for his mother, yet again in his gradfather's store, and again on the corner with Chicken Man.
This is truly a wonderful tribute to his mother who has done so much for the rest of us by producing and pushing 12 very talented children. If the other reviewer ever invited the author and mother to tea, I would love to be a guest!
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