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Queenie
Raconté par Shvorne Marks
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Commencer à écouterNote de l'éditeur
New release…
Smart and funny, this debut novel uses witty charm to fearlessly lay bare the messiness of race and dating, family and mental health, and the struggle to keep it together. Timely and lively, it’s “Bridget Jones” meets “Americanah.”
Description
Bridget Jones's Diary meets Americanah in this disarmingly honest, boldly political, and truly inclusive novel that will speak to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different in its place.
Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she's constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers. After a messy break up from her long-term white boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places…including several hazardous men who do a good job of occupying brain space and a bad job of affirming self-worth.
As Queenie careens from one questionable decision to another, she finds herself wondering, "What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Who do you want to be?"—all of the questions today's woman must face in a world trying to answer them for her.
With "fresh and honest" (Jojo Moyes) prose, Queenie is a remarkably relatable exploration of what it means to be a modern woman searching for meaning in today's world.
Actions du livre
Commencer à écouterInformations sur le livre
Queenie
Raconté par Shvorne Marks
Note de l'éditeur
New release…
Smart and funny, this debut novel uses witty charm to fearlessly lay bare the messiness of race and dating, family and mental health, and the struggle to keep it together. Timely and lively, it’s “Bridget Jones” meets “Americanah.”
Description
Bridget Jones's Diary meets Americanah in this disarmingly honest, boldly political, and truly inclusive novel that will speak to anyone who has gone looking for love and found something very different in its place.
Queenie Jenkins is a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London, straddling two cultures and slotting neatly into neither. She works at a national newspaper, where she's constantly forced to compare herself to her white middle class peers. After a messy break up from her long-term white boyfriend, Queenie seeks comfort in all the wrong places…including several hazardous men who do a good job of occupying brain space and a bad job of affirming self-worth.
As Queenie careens from one questionable decision to another, she finds herself wondering, "What are you doing? Why are you doing it? Who do you want to be?"—all of the questions today's woman must face in a world trying to answer them for her.
With "fresh and honest" (Jojo Moyes) prose, Queenie is a remarkably relatable exploration of what it means to be a modern woman searching for meaning in today's world.
À propos de l'auteur
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Avis
Lovely story. Queenie gets a bit annoying at one point or another but also very relatable. Great read.
This is a hate to love book for me. I hated this book I mean hated it, but in the end loved it. I think I will think about this book for a while. If the first half the book makes you want to throw it keep reading you will be so pulled in that the last half you just to continue so you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. This book will take you on an emotional roller coaster, I mean a roller coaster with a lot of lows, but stick with it you will enjoy the journey in the end. Seriously battling if i should give this 4*s or 5*s. ??
Slow start but worth it at the end. Loved the new age references. Loved it!
It was nice to read about a first generation person dealing with mental health and getting support from her family however her character was intensely frustrating.
When Queenie was able to resist her sexual temptations and move on with her life.
The main character is so whiny and obnoxious that she undermines every interesting topic that should be dealt with in this book (feminism, racism, millennials’ political involvement). I would have found it excellent if Queenie was more relatable and sensible.
Moving! So very much needed being a black women. Relatable on so many levels. Thank you for this!
So many twists and turns from beginning to end. I need an update.!
This was so damn good! You have to read this one!
It was a very entertaining listen... The narration made the book engaging. Good story line and character development
I thought it was just okay. It was nice to have a story about Queenie finding her voice and moving on after a tough breakup, we've all been there, but the story -in my opinion, was a bit flat.
This is well-written and important, but definitely a painful journey. I did love Queenie's therapy sessions in the last third of the book and the author's acknowledgement of how difficult a journey therapy can be. As upset as I got with Queenie's decision making during her breakdown, I never stopped wanting her to succeed - and I usually have a hard time staying engaged with down-spiraling characters.
Starts off a bit slow but a good read. Helps you to look at your life and how things in the past can truly effect you. Queenie was maneuvering through a lot of issues but she was able to seek the help she needed and make better decisions in the long run.
I think that many women in their twenties can relate to the trauma filled twenties. I loved the dynamic of the friendships, and I must say that I laughed a lot!
Queenie, Candice Carty-Williams, author; Shvorne Marks, narratorQueenie is a troubled young woman of color, from a dysfunctional background. As her character is developed and explored, the author illustrates the racism that not only black women are exposed to, but also touches on the plight of the black person, in general, as an attempt is made to navigate the world ruled largely by Caucasians and men. Subtly, also, there is an anti-Trump sentiment, an anti-police opinion, and a possible anti-Semitic element introduced in the book. Cultural differences and moral standards are different across political, racial and religious backgrounds and they are exposed by the author.Queenie is in an interracial relationship when the book opens. Her white boyfriend and his family embrace her, but she seems to drive them away with her own behavior. She is afraid of too much commitment and of being rejected. When the relationship ends, Queenie is devastated and begins to act out in wanton ways. She is eager to sleep around and actually craves casual, sexual relationships that are even abusive and somewhat violent. She has close friends who worry about her as they witness her decline, but her problems do not seem easily resolved. Her fears and insecurities are the result of her difficult childhood. Abandoned by her mother who was in an abusive relationship and raised largely by grandparents and an aunt who have their own issues, she became an insecure and somewhat irresponsible young adult seeking mostly to pleasure herself without considering the consequences. She is always surprised by the results of her often irresponsible behavior, but somehow she seems unable to make the necessary reforms in her lifestyle. Eventually, outside help brings some resolution to Queenie and she learns that she is indeed valued and is a valuable as a person. The reader watches her as she suffers through the process of achieving maturity and mental and emotional health. She stops feeling sorry for herself and begins to face and deal with her own problems and her own actions that bring so much pain to her life.It is not my kind of a book. There is too much crude language and sexual content for my taste. I would rather have witnessed her progress without the smut. I understood that she was searching for love as she welcomed strangers to her bed. I did not need a description of what transpired between her and her partner in that bed. On the positive side, the book, in its way, pointed out that many people, from diverse backgrounds feel oppressed and it explored some of the reasons. Regardless, everyone has to find a way to function in the real world successfully without abandoning certain principles. Queenie’s poor moral standards and poor work ethics had a negative effect on her future. She was very aware of her color as her identity, yet she loved white men and feared black men, probably due to her experiences, in her past, when she lived with her mother, another troubled woman who still lacks confidence and appears to be weak. As Queenie begins to overcome her personal insecurities, others witnessing her changes in behavior, also begin to act differently, like her mother and her grandparents, who begin to grow, as well. This book has received many excellent reviews which I would expect from an industry that largely supports the progressive movement and the left. However, although I thought the writing was well done, absent the vulgarity, it felt contrived in some ways as unwarranted political views suddenly arose. Still the evolution of this damaged, selfish and immature, insecure young woman, with a depressive personality, suffering from panic attacks, into someone who finally had some self respect and strength of character was enlightening and inspiring even with its somewhat of a fairytale ending. Queenie begins to overcome her insecurity and finally finds her voice.
One of the reasons I love to read is that reading is like a window into another world or to a new perspective. And perhaps, that is why, I feel that the novel ‘Queenie’ by Candace Carty-Williams, is a redeeming experience. The story dwells upon the life of Queenie Jenkins, a twenty-six year-old Jamaican British woman who encounters multiple issues in her life during a challenging year. Stemming from her low self-esteem developed through an abusive childhood, she engages in damaging sexual relationships with multiple men, and is even accused of sexual harassment at her work site by one of her former lovers. Queenie’s life completely unravels when she nearly loses her job, damages a close friendship, and endures countless stress attacks, which force her to live with her overbearing grandparents. The story does touch upon what it means to be black in a white society, and the author presents an honest perspective of some of the stereotypes and experiences, which skin color and culture might instigate. This is honestly a new perspective for me, because as an Asian woman from Hawaii, my experiences differed considerably. This novel offers some insight as to why a character might enter into sexually damaging relationships, as well as to make what might be deemed as ‘poor’ choices, leading to further loneliness and failure. But the novel is hopeful as well, in depicting Queenie as a fighter, who struggles to overcome all the challenges that weigh her down.
To be fair this book is a mixed bag and I found myself agreeing with some of the negative and positive reviews. The 1st third read as a light but forgettable contemporary story of a twentysomething going through her quarter-life crisis. But the middle, oh boy. This was the moment I almost DNFed. There’s problematic decisions/relationships, plenty of stereotypes. The plot is frustrating. The characters are unlikable, annoying and make irrational decisions. It left me frustrated and bored.BUT then the last third, it made me glad I pushed through. We *finally* get some character development, /some/ of the earlier problematic issues get addressed, and I really appreciated the raw look at mental health. This is not the book I thought I was getting, but by this part it got real and once it was more nuanced it felt more powerful to me. There’s some difficult parts (and *trigger warnings*) but it also felt hopeful by the end.
Queenie is a dark and funny novel about a black 20-something woman living in London. Queenie is going through multiple issues, and doesn't cope with them very well, bouncing from one awful sexual encounter to another while she and her long-term (white) partner are 'on a break'. She tries to pitch black-centric stories to the magazine she works for, only to have them rejected and replaced with a suggestion to write more about fashion. She also has longstanding issues from childhood which involve her semi-estranged mother. Strong themes of mental illness, gentrification, female friendship, family and race in the modern age are interwoven throughout.Looking at this list of problems and themes, it surprises me that Queenie has been marketed as a Bridge Jones-style novel. It is not - it's much darker and more complex. The style is very readable and accessible - I zipped through the book in less than a day - but you have to be ready to deal with Queenie's seemingly inexplicable decisions for the first two-thirds of the book. I do think Queenie's turnaround should have started happening a bit earlier, because what she goes through is quite difficult to read about! But that's not to invalidate those experiences at all - none of them are surprising if you're aware of the imbalance of power when it comes to interracial relationships today, especially the difficulties of navigating the dating scene as a black woman whose image is fetishised by men of other backgrounds. I did enjoy this novel a lot, and could definitely empathise with some of the parts about being the only brown face in any given situation and having friends who, well-meaning as they are, could never understand what it's truly like to be in an ethnic minority in 21st century Britain. I look forward to reading more from the author, and I hope she inspires other women of colour to publish stories in this vein - they are a much needed breath of fresh air!
I received this e-book ARC of Queenie through Net Galley from Gallery/Scout Press in exchange for a truthful review.Queenie is a Londoner whose family origins are from Jamaica. The novel deals with the aftermath after a breakup with her long-term boyfriend, with her life spiraling out of control. Queenie continually makes very odd, destructive (mostly of a sexual nature) choices which harken back to the trauma of abandonment in her childhood. While anxiety, depression, racial insensitivity are serious topics, this novel presents them in a bit of a humorous style, with Queenie's strong squad of girlfriends and her extended family helping her to cope with her issues.
This is a very good book, that is being sold as a romcom (lots of comparisons to Bridget Jones) and most assuredly is neither a romance nor a comedy. Queenie (the character) is funny and smart and lovely. Her WhatsApp chats with friends are a blast, and she has some pithy and amusing observations. But Queenie is also a woman suffering with anxiety, depression and PTSD. She is the first college graduate in her family, the first one who does not live in Brixton in what is left of the West Indian Community as gentrification takes hold. She is dealing with some dissonance between what her educated mostly white friends and acquaintances see and think and what her family and one Black friend think. She is also struggling with the effects of emotional abuse by her stepfather and effective abandonment by her beloved mother. When a breakup proves to be the straw that breaks the camel's back, all that Queenie has been pushing down comes pouring out, and Queenie's life implodes. Her choices than land her in big trouble, and she ends up having to rebuild a life from the ground up. Thankfully she is able to do so with the support of a strong and loving family and great friends (and a therapist), but its still hard work. This is serious stuff, but it is still fun. I loved Queenie (though her terrible choices about work and men meant I was pissed at her for much of the book) and I loved her friends and family. I was really glad to get to know these people.
Queenie is on a downward spiral that has its roots before the book opens. A problematic relationship with her Jamaican mother, a boyfriend who is more determined to break up with her than she realizes, and short attention span result in a neediness that sends her on a path to self-destruction and breakdown. She knows that her sexual encounters and inability to perform at work are harmful but seems unable to stop the pattern. Luckily there are friends, family, and colleagues in her life who pass her a lifeline. This is an engaging novel describing contemporary issues that Millennials face in the work place, at home, and socially, heightened when immigration and race are factors.
This review is based on an excerpt only. I wasn't sure if I even wanted to read Queenie. I decided to read the first look, and then decide. I'm so glad I gave this book a chance. I was immediately pulled in, and the story easily held my attention. Queenie is a likeable, sympathetic and relatable character. I rooted for her from the first page. What woman hasn't had a discouraging doctor appointment? The added stress of a break up in progress and a mundane job compound her problems. I identified with her character. Queenie is relevant and real. For example, her very loud aunt giving every detail of Queenie's personal life to the entire doctor office made me laugh. I've been there! And, her aunt uses self righteous religion as a weapon to beat Queenie down. I sympathize. Her life is so stressful, and I can't wait to read the rest of Queenie.
A special thank you to NetGalley, BookishFirst, Gallery/Scout Press, and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.Meet Queenie Jenkins—a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman who is straddling two heritages and trying find her place. She has just been dumped by her long-time white boyfriend and is on notice at work where she is constantly comparing herself to her white middle class peers.Needless to say, Queenie is not in a good frame of mind and she is making some pretty awful decisions concerning who she spends her free time with and with whom she is seeks comfort from.Carty-Williams has written an honest account of one woman's struggle, which sadly many women can relate to, and at the same time, given us a character to root for. Unfortunately Queenie's story isn't unique, there are many women out there struggling with issues of sexism, racism, and self-acceptance. She is a modern woman trying to navigate her way through a messy break-up, figuring out where she fits in, and learning that her self-worth does not come in the form of toxic relationships.Queenie is so much more than Bridget Jones, and I don't mean that as a slight to Helen Fielding's brilliant heroine, but there is no comparison. Bridget is a funny, awkward and endearing character that journals her life in cheeky entries, whereas Queenie is a more series character with incredible depth. There is also a heaviness about the book and again, this is another reason why a Bridget Jones comparison is doing this novel a disservice.I adored her grandparents, especially her grandfather (and those of you who have read this book will know what scene I am referring to). What I didn't like was that the author uses Queenie's promiscuity as a symptom of her anxiety and I'm not sure that this is entirely accurate—I think that it is rather a symptom of her lack of self esteem.What is also interesting is that Carty-Williams makes no apologies for Queenie, nor should she. She is a bold, brash, and flawed character who at times does some really unlikeable things. But we keep pulling for her.Carty-Williams explores identity, racism, mental health and what its like to be a young woman in the dating scene in the age of technology. She tackles some daunting social issues and uses Queenie's humour and solid supporting cast of friends/grandparent to keep the story from getting too dark.
Wow. This book was amazing. It was like therapy for the soul. It reminded me so much about my own stories of family and relationships and just being a Jamaican woman. It’s authentic. It made me reflect on my past year and how I’ve grown and how I will continue to grow. Just like the book says “I am enough.” And “next year will be better”
Phenomenal, intelligent and important! Also funny and a page turner!
Such a good read!! Or rather listen? From the authentic Jamaican accent to the prose this book is truly a treasure! Watching Queenie find herself was such an amazing journey. The author expertly laced BLACK issues such as BLM, gentrification, colorism with feminine issues of self worth and body image issues. I would absolutely listen to this book again!!
I resisted listening to this book because there’d been a lot of hype about it and I never feel like hyped up books meet expectations. With that being said, this book is worth every bit of praise it’s received! I’m not even sure what to write other than it’s the best book I’ve listened to all year by far!
Enjoyed listening to Queenie. This was the choice for our bookclub this month, and I had started reading it, but switched to audio book 1/2 way through . Thoroughly enjoyed the reader for the selection. She brought much life to these characters. Ending is satisfying, but seemed thrown together.
Im listening as i read the book and the person who is reading skipped over a lot of words. Im not sure if her version is a bit different who id she didnt rhink ot mattered...its throwing me off.