Jenniemae & James: A Memoir In Black And White (2010) - Plot & Excerpts
This was a fascinating firsthand account of a unexpected friendship between two people who appeared to have nothing at all in common. It is also a thoughtful exploration of the day-to-day effects of both family and cultural dysfunction. The characters became important to me as I read their stories, and I was interested in the ways the writer used this recounting of her family's history to sort out its effects on herself and her life. Some of the most enjoyable moments of reading come from catching a glimpse of a life or time that is different from our own, Jenniemae & James: A Memoir in Black & White affords the read with both. Depicting life in an unconventional family in Washington DC during the 1950’s and 1960’s, Brooke Newman introduces the reader to her father, James, and their African American housekeeper Jenniemae. While it seems the two would have very little in common, they form a unique friendship that provides the reader with ample opportunity to laugh, empathize, and love these two individual characters. The book is not extremely well written, however Ms. Newman succeeds in illustrating complicated times in which she came of age, as well as redefining the complexities of family and those who come to have a profound influence on our lives.
What do You think about Jenniemae & James: A Memoir In Black And White (2010)?
THought it was a quick read. Great story and would love to meet the characters..
—annushka
