P Mensah

Sadly, the hype preceding this book betrays the clear separation between excellent PR and actual literary skill. I SO wanted to enjoy this book (many low reviews start the very same way). As a black British woman, I wanted to confirm the hype, but the writIng truly falls short; Queenie is not well written. Though I think the story will lend well to a TV adaptation, I feel very suspicious of who and HOW this book was edited, given the lack of subtlety and clunky, unimaginative prose. It took me a long time to write this review; principally because the success of black women can feel so fragile— but it feels intellectually dishonest to heap praise on any work produced by a black woman; that limits our growth in the long run. I struggled through the painful writing style of this book to the very end. Nonetheless, I’m happy for Carty-Williams.

Funny, sharply written and very of the moment :)