The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother

Wow! What a fantastic read! This is one of the best books I've ever read, and I read a lot. I love nonfiction. This is the story of a woman, her son, family, race, hardships, and love. I read it in just a few days and tried to sneak away as much as possible to read whenever I could. This book is sentimental, thoughtful, & clever. The writing is wonderful. If you want a wild adventure of a book with a sweet soul, then read this.

I love this Writer.

I’m not a huge reader, normally it would take me over a month to finish any book. My usual feeling of trekking through the pages of a book was not, yes I said not, found in The Color of Water by James Mcbride. This book is universally relatable on so many different levels. Within most of the chapters there was something that emotionally impacted me on a certain level. This book is a roller coaster, it has it’s ups and it has it’s downs . This is why I decided to give my book 4 stars. James Mcbride is one of twelve mixed race siblings, with a white, single, jewish mom, during the 1940’s. During that time, there was a lot of racial discrimination, along with the holocaust occurring. Throughout his memoir James not only shares his life story, but Ruth's (his mom) as well. This makes for an even more impactful story because we are seeing how Ruth grew up, and learning about the different events that has happened in her life. Knowing her background while reading the story, allows us to understand the way she has raised her children and how she handles different situations with life and/or her kids. I’m not a mom, but I know raising 12 kids is an arduous effort. Ruth wasn’t able to keep everyone in check all the time, no matter how hard she tried. When James step-father passed away, James started to head down a bad path. His grades slipped like a man on ice, along with his behavior. He started getting involved with drugs and petty theft. When Ruth learned that James grades were slipping, and that he also was skipping school she sent him to his sister’s house down in Louisville, Kentucky. James was a mad as a bull. James ended up spending 3 consecutive summers down there. While he was down there he met a man named Chicken Man. Chicken Man played a very influential part in James life, they first met on the “corner” where a lot of the druggies or drunks could be found. While James and Chicken Man were standing on the corner, he explained to James that “everybody on this corner is smart, you ain’t no smarter than anybody here”(Mcbride 150). The Chicken Man shakes James belief that his knowledge makes him smarter than someone else. The Chicken Man shows James that all people are smart, it’s just what they do with their knowledge individualizes them. This part of the book impacted me the me the most because i’ve started to head down bad paths in life simply because I didn’t know how to deal with the pain or emotion. During these times, my two coaches, along with my parents, are the ones that helped get me back on track. They showed me what could happen if I continued to head down the path I was on. Everyone should have a role model in their life, for James that was chicken man or his mom, and for me; my parents, along with my coaches. This book changed my view on life and how no matter how hard times get you still need to keep going. Life is a mountain that we must continue to climb, no matter how many times we slip.It covered racial discrimination, how you can go from a bad situation and turn things around, how far religion can take you, and what you can accomplish with perseverance. James mom came from a dad who had molested her, but she didn’t let that hold her back. She went on to be married 2 times, and have 12 mixed race kids during the 1940s. She kept most of the kids in check ¾ of the time, and was able to provide for them all. Ruth, “wipes her memory instantly and with purpose” (271).She allows the bad to roll right off because she knows she has responsibilities to her kids. She is formidable, she is knowledgeable, she is unexpendable. The way Ruth raised her kids, and dealt with her own life is impeccable. Thank you James Mcbride for giving me a new perspective on how I few things, along with having a new genre of books to read.

I loved this book! It completely captivated me from the very beginning. It was also inspiring regarding the strength that Ruth had from a young age and all through her life. Give yourself a real treat and start reading The Color of Water!

The authors (Ruth and James) tell their amazing stories of childhood in an interesting back and forth. It felt as though James was searching for his truth while all the while he was living it. James mother was struggling with her reality and her saviors turned out to be the people her father used to gain his worldly wealth and the family he abused (his wife & daughters). Ruth's survival was gained from the strength in those around her and her instincts to seek kindness and love. I have read one other McBride book and now I am destined to read them all. I look forward to reading his stories which no doubt have been influenced by his mother.

This book was mesmerizing and I honestly couldn’t put it down. The life of Ruth is nothing short of amazing. 12 children; she never lost herself through all of that. Thank you James McBride for sharing your mother’s life with the rest of us.

I read many different types of books – history, psychology, mythology, philosophy, and novels, literature from all periods of time. When I read a novel, I ask for two things – that the book be written well and that it have heart. If it makes me cry, all the better. James McBride certainly writes well. And he has heart, lots of heart. This book made me cry and I couldn’t stop reading it. After this experience, I’m going to read as many of his other books as I can. Wonderful author. And clearly, I also read memoirs. This memoir read like a novel at times. It was beautiful and honest and sad and happy. After I posted my review, it hit me that this was NOT a novel. But now I'm committed to reading his novels as well. Sigh. It's a good book, period!

This is the second James McBride book I’ve read in the last week and it is interesting to see how much of his own life goes into his fiction. They always say “Life is stranger than fiction” and this very complex biography proves that. Consider being a single mother of 12 children! Poor! And each turned out fine! Almost unheard of in today’s society. More power to McBride for this well written tribute to his mother! Lest one star for being at times confusing.

This is a marvellous book told by a son in praise and honour of his mother - at the same time honouring his mother’s mother, both his fathers and all other 11 of his siblings. It deals with issues of race and faith - of indomitable will and courage - and of triumph.

Fascinating. An incredible woman and an incredible homage

A must read for all!

A great and must read!

It was an interesting insight into a world I have never known - a white Jewish woman falling in love and marrying two Christian black men, her life through the racially tough period in the US - bringing up 12 talented and educated black children without giving any of her children an I sight into her own and her family's history. James' long efforts to get his mother to open up to him about her past in order for him to know himself was really fascinating.