I'm Every Woman: Remixed Stories of Marriage, Motherhood, and Work

It took me much longer to read "I'm Every Woman" than I would have liked, but it's not because of the book. Rather, it's because of my lifestyle--full-time job, mother, etc.--so I tend to lack time for ME. I'm not complaining, I have a great life, and Lonnae's story was proof of that. The book is REAL. It's honest. It's refreshing. It captures various aspects of my life and many other women that I know. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Excellent work, Lonnae.

Hello Lonnae, Thank you again for signing my copy of "I'm Every Woman" at the Professional Business Women of California conference at the Moscone center. I really enjoyed your perspective on motherhood and the ever-elusive perfect mother load balance. When you signed my copy, I promised to write to you if I enjoyed the book. So here's my attempt to keep that promise. I love the book. From the first page I have been glued to every beautiful sentence. This book is art. Your story is my story. (Down to my Dona Rose who keeps up with my baseboards and babies.) Thank you for telling it in a format more poetic, musical and thoughtful than I ever knew possible. As an attorney, mommy and wife of a very in love husband I appreciate your candor and wit applied to our shared history and future. Thank you for taking the time to research and recite your findings and insights in the proper context. It brings a real depth to the work. As I have read the book I have laughed, nodded in agreement, said "amen" and even welled up. I too see my ancestors smirk and raise a brow at what I often shamelessly feel is my hard life; To wit: my commute (to a great job), my children (healthy, robust and off the charts intellectually), and of course my husband (who loves to love me). Poor me. Right. Thanks for helping me keep it real. As the direct descendent of a lovely tall black woman who was "kept" by a white man in the deep south of the early 1900's, I enjoyed your gift of a new understanding of Great Grandma's real power over her situation. She was not a victim of circumstance, but rather a well supplied provider of a good life for 6 chillen' who could pass if they wanted to. Forget about daddy documentation, this sister knew what mattered in a world where black sons were routinely hung. And I thank God that He pushed her blood through my veins in the form of tall stature and caramel skin in a family of short light bright women! As a sorority member, I am pulled by my inability to fulfill my own club lady duties...but I am so thankful that you provided the context and validated the historical significance of the sisterly bond (and the right to hold up a pinky when sipping on my pricey tea in my large home). I hope to make the salmon pink and apple green a larger part of my life soon. I keep promising...but children, exhaustion and errands keep taking priority. Perhaps one of the things I appreciate most about your story is knowing that I'm not alone. I'm not the only mother still in love with LL Cool J and everything he is and was. I'm not the only mother chagrined that she can't watch rap videos or listen to most contemporary hip hop anymore---even alone---and even though I know my 21 year old self would have been singing "lemme see yo grill daddy" at full voice! (yes...I too memorized my share of NWA and Too Short lyrics), And forget about modern commercial TV for my children---have you seen a Bratz doll? Please. Now, I was a SERIOUS Vanity fan. And learned t

I thoroughly enjoyed this book because it speaks directly to my generation. Often, books that are about mothers, mommy-wars or the like are written by older women or by authors I have absolutely no connection to other than the fact we have children. I could relate to this book on so many levels and her historical references, specifically from the eighties, are right up my alley. This book is definitely on my gift giving list!

I truly enjoyed reading Parker's book, styled really as a collection of essays. Her social commentary is insightful and refreshing. She supports her observations with an impressive array of sources, reflecting research that spans sources from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. Her prose is engaging and evocative. When she writes: "Or to convey the ritual constant -- sometimes affirming, sometimes tearful -- stretching back over all the generations we remember, of planting a daughter between your knees and trying to bring a diasporic sensibility to the Africa growing from her head," she takes me back to Saturday "hair-fixin" nights during my childhood. Although it speaks loudest to African American women, this is a book for everyone. I plan to lend my copy to a Caucasian working mom, as I find myself already quoting Parker to encourage my friend on days when it's tough to be Every Woman.

Lonnae O'Neal Parker's book 'I'm Every Woman' was talking to women just like me -- women who are working hard, raising children and not getting enough time to play, let alone play hard. I love that she ties our modern day struggles to those of the hard-working black women before us. Not only did her stories of bartering with her husband resonate with me, but I learned something about the women I come from. It's nice to get that in a book that is largely about an author's life. So many authors just feed us their opinion without backing it up in history or fact, or anything except 'this is how I feel.' Bravo Lonnae O'Neal Parker. I know what 'every woman' in my life is getting for Christmas! Great read!