A Very Late Review of Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams | To Be Black and Loved

Check out my review of Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams. I'm probably the last person to review this book. FYI: This video does contain SPOILERS.
Website: www.tobeblackandloved.com/
Twitter: @beblackbeloved
Goodreads: / jonathan-david-pope
Book Review | How We Fight For Our Lives by Saeed Jones | To Be Black and Loved - • Book Review | How We F...

[@butterflymoon6368]

That's an interesting reading. I mean, I really like how she incorporated flashback. I didn't find it abrupt in an unwelcoming way - it was an enjoyable break and served to draw parallels and link historic moments back to their present-day counterparts. We think she hasn't come far but in contrast to her past, she has taken a small step forward. I also felt these flashbacks helped with the fact that I was never bored when reading it. I agree with her needing a black therapist but as someone who has only just accepted that therapy is something she should even be seeking, Queenie is not going to know that. In fact many, many black people in the UK don't know that. Most of out mental health professionals are white, not black. I do think that black Americans are really coming from a position of privilege from seeing how they read this book. They make links that are very obvious to people who have been living in a country that openly discusses race issues. That's very new to us in the UK and when I say new I MEAN new. I'm talking after-George-Floyd-died new. Black therapist? Therapist? Mental health? Internalised racism? What now? These are all things you guys get because you've had generations of black american elders to help you along the way. Our generation will basically be 'the elders'. Lastly, Queenie still has a lot to work on including questioning the 'good' white people she's hanging around with and the understanding of the fact that Tom was toxic (I still don't think she gets that). I honestly think this needs to be a two-parter or a trilogy. We need to see Queenie grow. I think it's going to be a TV series so I guess we will.

[@jessicashaw6815]

Thanks for such a thoughtful and insightful review! I just finished this and agreed with a lot of what you said, I really liked the novel actually, but there were definitely things I wished were more fleshed out or resolved further.

[@NuSanniang]

Your review said everything i was feeling, and i agree. 6/10

[@CNJL1]

I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought the hot topics the author added into the book felt forced. I wish she would have stuck to Queenie's antics. I was also not convinced that relationship would send someone down the path of self destruction but then again Queenie was delusional. The therapy part of the book was too long. I don't think the therapist could tackle race in the novel because the author is not really good at tackling race. Queenie's family was more interesting and it would have been nice to see her get closer to her family and embrace her blackness/culture, instead of the therapy. I wish I read this around the time I watched I May Destroy You, which handled similar topics in a much better way. to compare the two with them both fresh in my mind. . That being said, I feel the book is worth a read and I'll probably still check out the author's next book just to see how she's evolved as a writer.

[@ToBeBlackandLoved]

I May Destroy You was fantastic. And though Arabella had so many flaws, it made sense and was discussed during the series. This was a novel I really struggled with. I might have to re-read Queenie and see if my feelings change.

[@LochanReads]

Brilliant review! Even though I loved this book I could absolutely see where you're coming from and agreed, Queenie does make some awful decisions 🤔 I'd recommend leaving a little note just to say this is a spoiler review but otherwise great video, I subbed! ❤

[@ToBeBlackandLoved]

Thank you! Just added that to the description. I appreciate it!

[@LochanReads]

@@ToBeBlackandLoved Great to hear! X

[@abicore2529]

Thank you! You said exactly what I was thinking the whole time I read this. Like if she fears all black men because of her emotionally abusive stepfather, why exactly is it that she continues to go back to white men who are physically abusing her? Like just an explanation addressing the difference between the two would have made the issue less off putting. In terms of the social activism, to me, it feels awkward(?) and surface level.

[@butterflymoon6368]

'if she fears all black men because of her emotionally abusive stepfather, why exactly is it that she continues to go back to white men who are physically abusing her?' - well she realises that right? But the answer to your question is 'validation'.

[@HeartBreakHigh]

I haven’t read this book, as it got so many awards, I knew it was going to be a book putting BW in a bad light. The book is now been made into a TV series on Channel Four in the UK. The first two episodes were shown together. I caught the second half of the second episode, then watched the repeat of these episodes on catch up and I was stunned at the character and her “antics”. In all my life on earth, I have never encountered a BW like Queenie. She is 100% unrelatable to me. Her general cluelessness, hyper sexual, promiscuity, the yte boyfriend relationship, etc. The character isn’t real. In terms of BW representation in media and entertainment is no where near the stage where this type of fictional character can be put out there. The misrepresentation of BW is still rife and Queenie has added to this continual denigration. I will not be watching this again, nor do I recommend it. The flashbacks in the book, equally do not work in the TV version.

[@tractorbooty15]

TV adaptation may even contribute to the increased sexualisation of BW as there so many casual encounters😮

[@sennnia]

I relate to Queenie bc I have self destructed like that (I even lost my job due to sexual harassment but in a very different way and for different reasons). But, I honestly think this books is more coming from the premise men are trash --- the only good man in this book is her grandfather and the two gay guys who are barely in the book. James cheated on Fran. Simon is abusive to Darcy -- it's never discussed by the signs are there. Gina's ex-husband and lover are trash. And every single man Queenie engages with is trash. Racism, fetishization, and tokenism, has a huge role to play in queenies life. She gets brutalized (more) bc of her race, but idk. As a white passing biracial woman, I have faced similar brutalization and I can't help think it's more about men taking advantage of vulnerable women and less about race. Especially how it's written in the book. I feel like the author wanted to tackle all of these big important things about trauma, generational trauma, mental health, racism, consent, so on. But she flattened those things to "this is just what being a black woman is" without exploring all the factors and nuances. Without having a conversation about why nonblack men are allowed to harm her and black men aren't -- or why men in general can be harmful. Or idk, not every man is harmful? Could we get some more good dudes in this book beyond her grandad? I gave it a 3.4

[@butterflymoon6368]

why do we need good dudes if there aren't good dudes? to make guys feel better? I mean really, this is life. I feel like when people say that they're very privileged.

[@PeteS_1994]

It’s all perspective

[@pgfinna]

Sounds a bit like Borderline Personality disorder. Okay I'm sold on reading it

[@peacekeeperbabe]

❤ black guy reviewing book! Disappointed that review failed 2 mention many toxic men in story/lack of safe space 4 Queenie...

[@ToBeBlackandLoved]

Not sure what you mean, I definitely mentioned how toxic all of the characters in this book were, and that I wish that in Queenie’s therapy sessions they would have unpacked her relationships with these toxic men. Appreciate you watching!

[@ThatAutisticBlackMan]

3:01 for start