Im a big fan of horror, sci-fi, suspense I love shows like The Twilight Zone and Are You Afraid of the Dark? I felt numb. Missed out on our June book club pick? Its a little horror, a little literary fiction, and really interesting. If you choose the second path, as a young Black woman, you'll own your identity, but you'll never sit in the corner office you'll cause too much friction along the way. Hazel is part of a group distributing hair grease that works as social lubricants. I wont get into all of the details, but he settled out of court. That's where it kind of lost me--clever idea, but because I wasn't expecting it it felt a bit over-the-top. Released this month, the book follows two young Black women working at a lily-white fictional publishing house, Wagner Books. Exactly. I could see her as [other characters] Diana or Kendra Ray, especially Kendra Ray. The book started out as a thriller and veered into horror, a la Rosemary's Baby or The Stepford Wives. @this_kat_reads, A post shared by Kat (@this_kat_reads) (opens in new tab). If you enjoy thrillers, I hope you check it out! The Prologue opens in Manhattan in December 1983 as an unnamed narrator, later revealed to be Kendra Rae Phillips, flees New York City in terror. And then, the letters begin to appear'LEAVE WAGNER. 'Another Girl' releases on Tuesday -- September 14, 2021. If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the June 7, 2021, issue of The Other Black Girl Summary T he Other Black Girl is a novel by Zakiya Dalila Harris following Nella Rogers's struggle to maintain her identity as a Black woman in a society which seeks. One day, this all changes when Hazel walks in. I had many more thoughts that I couldn't fit here, so check out my full review on the blog (link in bio). How did it set the stage for what was to come? But definitely planning to write another book and planning for it to be about Black characters in the U.S. Lastly, between the bidding war and a true taste of financial success, how does it feel to have a bit of a cushion? That sets the bar high with the promise of a cultural landmark a novel that's timely, hilarious, witty, mildly terrifying, emotionally textured and conversant on the social and political issues. As Nella and Hazel's paths diverge, those paths might as well be clearly marked, not necessarily respectively, "Success" and "Authenticity." And I realized I wasnt feeling the thriller aspect of the story. Who did you think were sending those notes to Nella? It highlights how in white spaces, Black women do not show up as their authentic selves. So, so that that part of looking around the table and not seeing anyone who looked like me, that part was very real. And while I did find it was a bittooslow-paced at times, I think that was in an effort to not draw away from the truths that the author was writing about. My dad worked at Golf Digest in the late 80s and early 90s, and he was discriminated against: He did not get promoted when he should have been, and he ended up filing a lawsuit. A thrilling realization follows: Nella is no longer the only Black girl at the company. Visibly fatigued by the racist microaggressions of her white colleagues, Kendra Rae rehearses the comments she will voice in her infamous interview. An Amazon Best Book of June 2021: One of the biggest books of the season is Zakiya Dalila Harris' The Other Black Girl, a debut that starts out as a simple, charming story about a young Black woman working at a prestigious publishing house (Harris worked at Knopf) and turns into something altogether different and unexpected.When another Black girl shows up to work at the publisher, the drama . Urgent, propulsive, and sharp as a knife, The Other Black Girl is an electric debut about the tension that unfurls when two young Black women meet against the starkly white backdrop of New York City book publishing. Industry professionals are tweeting their support of guild members. But certain qualities of the novel left me wondering if this over-marketing is simply a move to innocence. I actually, strangely, had an easy time once it got to the publishing stage. Its smart, bold, and twistythe final twist made me audibly gasp. A good twist needs to be set up in the opening pages you need to hold this thing up in front of the reader so its right before their eyes but they cant see it until you pull back the invisible curtain. So she really has to kind of fit herself into the mold that they believe she should be in. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, its not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, its everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. It was just so much fun. Throughout the film, Finney's little sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) has apparent visions in her dreams, and while at first it seems her father doesn't want to acknowledge that they are real - as. Why wouldnt they listen to Nella? This is one of those novels that will stick with me for a long time. I can spread myself a little too thin sometimes with projects, so really just taking it in and working on the Hulu adaptation and getting to spend more time with the characters in that way. 17 Passionate Book Recommendations From Your Favorite Authors, Nine June Beach Reads That Are Like Summer in a Book, What to Read Next: The Best Books of 2020. She works extremely hard and is very dilligent, breaking through her boss's icy exterior and spending extra time on 'diversity' initiatives at her work. Then the notes begin to appear on Nellas desk: LEAVE WAGNER. "The other day, @kirkus_reviews gave #TheOtherBlackGirl a STARRED REVIEW! Many Black women see hair grease as this benign thing. Marley starts talking to Ian Turner online and asks him where he lives. For a lighter read, check out Seven Days in June by Tia Williams. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. @lifeaholocislander, A post shared by Deborah (She/Her) (@lifeaholocislander) (opens in new tab). This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. to support our journalism and get unlimited access to our coverage. One of the most thought-provoking novels Ive read in quite some time. The person enjoyed it, but said, I don't know if publishing is ready for it. I tried not to think too much about it. She's the drug kingpin of Litchfield and addicted to drugs herself, and to make matters worse she recruits her 13 year-old sister, Eva, to help smuggle drugs into the prison. Not saying we should start prepping but we should start prepping. Now we're owners; whereas two years ago, I would never have imagined ever being able to own anything. In the Epilogue, Nella becomes a Lead Conditioner who arrives in Portland, Oregon to fix Shani. The Other Black Girl is both a sharp social commentary and a thriller. You have to hypnotize the reader into believing the story is one thing then you change the rules, and thats scary. The band have become the very thing their critics accuse them of. 2023 Met Gala Carpet Is Approved by Your Dentist. Zakiya Dalila Harris: It's funny. Nella and Hazel are at the center of Zakiya Dalila Harris's debut novel The Other Black Girl (full disclosure: Harris is the sister of our own Aisha Harris, one of the hosts of Pop Culture Happy Hour). Unaware of this scheme, Nella attends Hazels natural hair party with the intention of learning more about Hazels shady behavior. And how much they have to dilute themselves in order to be successful. "It really hits home how many spaces dont allow Black women to really show up as their authentic selves.". Harris makes her entrance as an author with singular style. There were a lot of plot holes, one-dimensional characters, and many characters were introduced and didn't contribute at all to the plot. I also love the Black character in [fictional novel] Needles and Pins, Shartricia. @booksnbikram, A post shared by Tonja Wheatley (@booksnbikram) (opens in new tab), "In the cutthroat world of New York publishing, Nella is an editorial assistant sick of being the only Black girl in the office. What will happen to Shani. I mean, I wanted to have this mysterious element that kind of throws a wrench into Nella's plans, her life at Wagner Books, but I really want the reader to think about the note. I thought there was so much good dialogue in this book, specifically the way that Harris wrote some of the conversations between Nella and her supposedly liberal white colleagues. Heres how it works. Marrying the Ghost of Karl Lagerfeld at the 2023 Met Gala. Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel! However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission. And it sets people up who read it expecting that for failure. NOW' she starts to really consider her role. Want more stories like this one? The Black protagonist tries to save the white people in the story from zombies. She was already using it. Offline, shes likely watching a Heat game or finding a new coffee shop. Nella is thrilled to have a Black colleague and hopes that together they will be able to bring awareness to the discrimination and stereotyping occurring at Wagner. I think you need to listen to the person who's being affected by it. The best twists are ones that feel, in retrospect, almost inevitable. The Other Black Girl traces the experiences of five Black women at Wagner Books from 1983 to 2018 to address subjects including systemic and internalized racism, Black female experiences, workplace privilege, and the role of media in racial representations. One day, a new assistant starts, who is also black - Hazel. Greg Warren dared to go where no comedian has gone before. Hope you enjoyed book club questions for The Other Black Girl! New York, Why was Richard involved as well? And so that contrast really sets up a lot of interesting I'll just say interesting dynamics between them. Hazel recommends that Nella share her concerns with her boss, Vera Parini, and the author, Colin Franklin. Perhaps the most telling sign of a great book is how many people have an opinion about itand a variety of them at that. (@smileitsjoy), A post shared by Ally | Fiction Editor (@calicoedit), A post shared by holly b | bookcooklook (@bookcooklook), A post shared by & (@lattesandpaperbacks), A post shared by Mimi N. (@turnpageswithmimi). But overall, I thought it was a strong, but not perfect, debut and Im looking forward to seeing what she writes next." It's true that sometimes when you talk to white people and youre trying to discuss a racial issue, they can go on the defense so hard. But this post is about the marketers. There is something sinister about the way Hazel is ousting Nella while also using their shared Blackness to sow familiarity. Then, once I got it on the other side, people have been so open to it. But as the days pass, Hazel settles in and quickly becomes everyones favorite. Why did the book start off with the prologue from Kendra Raes perspective as she fled the city? But it seems that no one else is liking the minty-fresh look. Just when she resolves to sweeping her uneasiness under the rug, another Black girl Hazel joins the company. Its original, complicated, humorous, scary, sad and engaging. The . There is a lot I had to cut. The book is set in the publishing industry, but it holds up a mirror to all of corporate America, displaying the microaggressions and class hierarchies embedded throughout. Thank you for subscribing and supporting our journalism. Find out exactly what readers loved and didn't love aboutMarie Claire'sJune book club pick, below. Punctuating these scenes are two chapters told from the perspective of Shani, a woman whose career Hazel sabotaged before coming to Wagner. I wanted more tension, or maybe I wanted more overt tension. Fed up with the isolation and microaggressions, shes thrilled when Harlem-born and bred Hazel starts working in the cubicle beside hers. And I knew that I wanted my protagonist, Nella, to fail. (@tbretc), A post shared by SP - bookstagram (@booksnailmail), A post shared by Deborah (She/Her) (@lifeaholocislander), A post shared by joy melody| Reader.Advocate. Get Out also has an amazing twist, with his friend driving up in the cop car at the end. THE OTHER BLACK GIRL By Zakiya Dalila Harris In an interview with BUILD Series, Stephanie Beatriz, who plays Rosa Diaz on "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," spoke about her experience auditioning for two. I really wanted this book to live up to the hype but it wasn't at all what I expected it to be. Instead, she strives for dominance in the workplace and seems to be edging Nella out and alienating her from her boss and her colleagues. Why did Diana work with Imani on distributing the hair grease? So that scene where Hazel is telling Nella, Don't you want to be free? That scene was me taking my own personality and my own perspective of what it was like to work on my book and feel like it mattered when, on the other side of it, people are dying. Your ultimate guide to the (arguably) best film genre: the romantic comedy. I couldnt turn the pages fast enough in the second half of the book. On Nella saying Hazel makes her feel redundant. Harris, who sold her manuscript while she still worked as an editorial assistant at the venerable Alfred A. Knopf, Publishers, in Manhattan (where else? What's a young Black woman to do? Its bold, innovative storytelling from a rising new talent whose career I will watch with eager anticipation." Paulina Jayne Isaac is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia. Im not reading to make sure everyones okay.. Do you think that the idea of not being able to put that feeling of racism into words is something Black readers will relate to? The time travel chapters didn't help because I wasn't sure what was going on and how it connected to the present. Why didnt I think of this myself? And throughout this book, I really wanted readers to question their own prejudices, their own kind of analysis of certain interactions. I don't know how this would work. I knew Nella and Hazel would connect over hair; Nella feels as though she has been on the outside of Black culture and Blackness her whole life, and I wanted this to be the thing the women would bond over. I think Harris really captured these interactions and they had me nodding my head in recognition. I think of it this way: When I go into small stores or really, any store, I always make sure my hands are out of my pockets. I saw all of your beautiful posts and I copped it as soon as it came out without even reading the synopsis. The Other Black Girl follows 26 year old Nella Rogers, who is the only black editorial assistant at Wagner Publishing. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Part 3 reveals the ongoing struggle for power between OBGs and the Resistance. Women, Black women especially, arent allowed to get dark there are many amazing writers doing this work, but its not mainstream. Read an excerpt from the bookhere (opens in new tab). There will be spoilers so for more context about the book, check out my spoiler-free review first. Also, I get it. Wagner Books is so rich for storylines. Harris says Nella is fascinated by Hazel. Now that she's undeniably been cursed with human feelings, there's no telling what's in store for Cherry. Kudos to the author for committing to a book that SHE wanted to write." Todays biggest stories, from pop culture to politicsdelivered straight to your inbox. Pre-Order These Highly-Anticipated 2021 Books, 25 Great New Memoirs to Add to Your TBR Pile. When Hazel McCall joins the team, Nella is thrilled and eager for the friendship and comradery that will surely come with having 'the other Black girl' on staff. Unfortunately I could relate to the isolation, racial microaggressions, and frustration of being the only Black girl in an organization. That is, until Nella starts to receive threatening notes to leave Wagner and she realizes Hazel may not be who she seems. Wagner surprises Nella by hiring another Black woman named Hazel-May McCall. One of my favorites is from George A. Romeros Night of the Living Dead. NOW. She expresses her opinions about things in a very confident way. " @calicoedit, A post shared by Ally | Fiction Editor (@calicoedit) (opens in new tab). I also wasn't the only Black person where I worked. Part 2 opens with a flashback to the October 1983 release party for Diana Gordons novel Burning Heart. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. I did the same when I was 10. The most gripping TV drama of the year is happening behind closed doors. A New York Times best seller, The Other Black Girl is being adapted into a limited series for Hulu. All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. 'Black Girl Missing' Ending Explained - Was Lauren Baker Found Alive? A lot of it is exaggeration. Her Black coworkers from other floors seem to favor Hazel, and Vera asks Hazel to assume Nellas usual tasks. What are your thoughts about the epilogue? Nella is excited to get to know her new co-worker and become friends, however, she soon receives a note saying, "Leave Wagner Now.". It is not fair to market this book asDevil Wears PradameetsGet Outbecause its legitimately neither. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Nella and Hazel are at the center of Zakiya Dalila Harris's debut novel The Other Black Girl (full disclosure: Harris is the sister of our own Aisha Harris, one of the hosts of Pop Culture. THE OTHER BLACK GIRL by Zakiya Dalila Harris RELEASE DATE: June 1, 2021 In Harris' slyly brilliant debut, a young editorial assistant is thrilled when her glaringly White employer hires another Black womanbut it soon becomes clear there's something sinister about the new girl, who isn't what she seems. Nella knows that her comfortable yet dull middle-class upbringing doesn't offer her the same advantages as Hazel's cushier background. I also knew that Hazel would be some kind of robot. A lot of it is fiction. Thats people being people. Young Nella Rogers is a poorly paid editorial assistant at Manhattan-based publishing house Wagner Books in 2018. 'The Other Black Girl' In This New Thriller May Not Be Your Friend. Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. @booksnailmail, A post shared by SP - bookstagram (@booksnailmail) (opens in new tab). Money was very, very, very tight before the book, even with my partner sharing the rent. Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. Was that a conscious choice of hers? When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but the eyebrows of the Black literati. If youve read it and want to discuss, send me an email so we can chat! Both Colin and her boss gets offended and defensive. However, it soon becomes clear that Hazel is not focused on new friendships. How does it feel being a name in the zeitgeist? I was still one of few, not many, and the only Black woman in editorial. Eric Garner was on my mind when I saw it, so the fact that the hero doesnt get confronted by a white cop was a moment of comic relief. The most recent example: The Other Black Girl by first-time author Zakiya Dalila Harris, a former editorial assistant at Penguin Random House. Below is an edited version of our conversation. They make a difference into whether or not a place feels inclusive. Everything was happening. It also allowed my partner and I to move out of our tiny studio and into an apartment that had real rooms and doors. When Elle, battling depression, becomes . Stunned and jealous, Nella confronts Hazel. Published in 2021, Zakiya Dalila Harriss The Other Black Girl is a psychological thriller set in Manhattans competitive, predominantly white publishing scene. Hazel also ruins Nellas credibility by defending Pins and Needles in a companywide marketing meeting. The twist comes from the fact that viewers know it couldve been so much worse. Theyre slow and painful and turn you inside out. I thought this novel was amazing! I loved when we found out Hazels locs were fake. Glamour: The story is so original. @lattesandpaperbacks, A post shared by & (@lattesandpaperbacks) (opens in new tab), "Admittedly, this was a #bookstagrammademedoit read. I don't think anyone's actually mentioned that point. The revelation came from my partner, now my fianc. The black child offers Albert the same ultimatum of giving her the soul and becoming Shiva or dying with his final moments and memories. When I started writing The Other Black Girl, I already had an ending in sight. One month later, Diana receives a frantic call from someone who wants to do something about Kendra Raes bad press. What are their goals with it? Thats really exciting! She is the only Black employee at Wagner Books and shes rightfully tired of it. Nella Rogers wants that one other person in her work life, with an added layer: Nella is Black in the all-white Wagner Books office in (where else?) This book is a chilling tale of workplace bullying, isolation, and paranoia. I wanted to show that, despite the fact that Nella was raised in New England around white people and middle-class families, she still has those anxieties about not being Black enough. Were you surprised she took it? Whatever she does next might seem quieter, but watch for it: It will be brilliant. And it was exhausting. It was more for the reader, because I want them to think about who they think would have left it for her. Get ready to turn that frown upside down. Book Club Questions for The Other Black Girl I just didnt know exactly how. Shani, who attended the event, reports her observations to the Resistance the following day. When the company hires another black girl, Nella hopes theyll be each others allies. All in all, I would say that you should check this one out if youre looking for a new thriller to read. They're both the same dial turned a slightly different way. I'm incredibly proud and fortunate to have worked on this film. It just made the most sense because I'm putting product in my hair almost every day. I could see KiKi Lane for both Nella and Hazel. And, to me, thats the beauty of this book. She also launched and managed the sites virtual book club, #ReadWithMC. One day, Nella's nose twitches: She's detected the unmistakable scent of "her favorite brand of hair grease" in the air near her cubicle. Weve already seen the main character get put through the wringer; weve already been satisfyingly horrified. I also struggle with sensitivity readers as an idea because I understand it completely, and I do think it's better in most cases, but I also cringe against the idea of making a certain person be the person who decides this is okay. One of the best scenes in The Other Black Girl takes place in a salon, with dozens of women of different ages trying out new coiffures. Being the only one means a lot of things for Nella. A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace,The Other Black Girlwill keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist. The Other Black Girlis a slow burner that is built around office politics, microaggressions in the workplace, and code-switching.
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