Member Reviews
I first read Noughts and Crosses almost two decades ago and it still sits with me. It was really interesting to find out more about the author, in her own words.
Wonderfully inspiring, how a love of reading and determination drove her to become the successful author she rightly is.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed learning more about Malorie Blackman’s life as I’ve always enjoyed her books but didn’t feel like I knew much about her. I like how each chapter is told like its own short story in most cases and she shared intimate details of her life in an interesting way.
Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.
Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book
I found this autobiography deeply affecting to read. Her life with her Windrush parents was hard in London - racial abuse was rife. Her refuge - books and libraries. She passed the 11 plus to grammar school which opened up opportunities her mother was never given. However her father left the family and they were homeless. Her portrayal of the family’s very real poverty and suffering was hard to read.
Malorie was discouraged from becoming an English teacher by her careers teacher instead being encouraged to do Business Studies. Black girls did not become teachers! She only managed a term of the course before being admitted to hospital and finding out she had sickle cell disease and had a limited life expectancy.
This gave her the impetus to decide what she wanted to do with her life and eventually led to her becoming a full time author.
She is a truly inspiring figure who still suffers from poor health but who still moves on being positive and a role model for her readers.
A book to be recommended.
What more is there to say about malorie blackman than she’s an icon who deserves a lot more space in this industry. I love non fiction and this filled the hole I had in my reading schedule
A thoroughly fascinating insight into the life of Malorie Blackman. I found it so interesting to discover what her childhood was like, how public libraries were crucial to her becoming a reader and then a writer, and how her family's past has influenced her writing. She comes across as such a wonderfully empathetic woman, with important things to say about our world, and it's no wonder she has risen to become an absolutely incredible children's author.
Malorie Blackman is such a Black British icon that it's only right we get an autobiography from here, in her own words. I very much enjoyed his book!
I cannot fault Malorie Blackman, she is a phenomenal lady and author. This was a fantastic book and I would recommend it to all.
This was such an interesting read, I have read books by this author, however, apart from appreciating her talent, I haven't known ,much about her. I found it to be so interesting and I found myself really admiring her and wanting to learn more.
Not only is she one of my favourite authors but I think she may now be one of my favourite people
Prior to reading this book I didn't know much about Malorie Blackman. I knew she was the writer of Noughts and Crosses but it isn't a book I have read (yet). However, there was something about the cover and description that pulled me in and I like a good autobiography or memoir, so thought I would give it a go. It's a fabulous read.
I love that Malorie Blackman talks about Shakespeare and contemporary fiction in the same sentence and with the same passion. Her love for literacy and reading shines through. Her reflections on the importance of public libraries are similar to my own thoughts. Her narration of her life experiences are honest and whilst not always good experiences, the postive always overcomes the negative. Her determination to become a writer and to represent black people in literature is admirable and well described.
It is interesting that the author did not simply go the university route and forge a path to writing through studying English Literature. Her path was more convoluted and demonstrates what is possible given the effort and support.
I watched the Alan Yentob interview whilst reading the book and it gave me images to go alongside the narrative, for example the homeless shelter she moved to whilst at grammar school. I highly recommend this too.
Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Malorie Blackman was appointed the Children’s Laureate in 2013, I was surprised that it had taken so long for her to be given the mantel. She’s a national treasure who has inspired so many readers. You know when you pick up a Malorie Blackman story, the written word will be coated in honesty, determination and intelligence. She is one of the reasons that young adult fiction treats readers with respect, and I adore her for this.
Learning about Blackman’s life and the constant challenges that others forced upon her due to their own ignorance and incompetence was shocking. But ultimately life affirming as she refused to stay behind those barriers, charging through them and grasping her goals with relish as she proved the nay-sayers wrong.
Just Sayin’ gives you a deeper understanding of how Blackman’s books have so much truth in them.
Just Sayin’ is an illuminating and empowering autobiography from one of Britain’s best writers, detailing the moments and personal anecdotes over the course of Malorie Blackman’s life that inspired her journey to becoming a writer. Noughts and Crosses, perhaps her most successful novel, was one of the most profound and culturally significant books of my teenage years, so I was really looking forward to reading this— and it did not disappoint. Blackman writes of a plethora of experiences that kept me hooked from start to finish, writing of her unexpected sickle cell diagnosis and her experiences of medical racism, her upbringing as the child of immigrants and growing up in a working class household, the miscarriages she has endured and the racism found in predominantly white work spaces, and the importance of libraries and representation in children’s literature. Though covering a wide range of interesting, but at times harrowing, life experiences and topical issues, I really appreciated Blackman’s conversational tone and accessible writing style— it really is an autobiography that can be read by young adults and adults alike, and proves to be a very encouraging and inspiring read for all.
This was a book I had really looked forward to reading and it didn't disappoint. So many things I didn't know about Malorie Blackman's life, so many huge obstacles in her path from a very young age. Her resilience and spirit is remarkable. Thought-provoking and inspiring, the book's message is to never let others define your own capabilities.