Project Girl

This comment is not directed towards `Project Girl', but rather a rendering of the empowering message Janet delivers.Janet gives `us' her crisis, and this is using the term mildly, to show how she floundered coming from a mentor-less environment trying to connect with that misty powdery term called success. No disrespect to her parents, I understand them tremendously... doing the best they could with what had been handed down, but tossing out advice such as `study hard to get a "good" job and make "good" money,' is `telling' information that (& I'ma have to say it) is not only unhelpful, but capable of circumventing a lot of pain for a young person like Janet reaching... but reaching for what? ' Her father (who sways her most) couldn't show her. He could only tell her... which to this end some might say others have made it 'out' on this advice with far fewer problems than Janet, but I say we all don't heal the same way.This is where I have to give it to Janet's mother (still with a great respect for her father), but it warmed my heart when I got to the part when Janet tells her mother, "I'm sorry. I feel like I let the family down," to hear her mother turn around and say, "maybe the family let you down." Very touching, albeit, I waited before prematurely applauding, which a lengthy review shortened (there honestly is so much in here)... but in her mother I saw a gem, and Janet (like others who've paved a way their way) is a trailblazer for those in her family coming behind her! Great Work!

I heard the author on This American Life about a month ago about expatriates living in Paris and instantly fell in love with her laugh and personality. When I found out she had written a book, I immediately jumped on Amazon to buy it. After my purchase, I googled her name and came across her Wiki page. I was stunned to see in the first line her birth date and death date. I was crushed to find out a women I didn't know existed 20 minutes earlier was gone. I thought I might be sad reading the book but I was not. She was a very good writer though some parts of the book are emotionally difficult, she writes with passion, clarity, and intelligence. If you are interested in the story of how a black girl made it out of the projects to become a successful lawyer living in Paris despite her self sabotage then I highly recommend.

I didn't personally know Janet McDonald - I was a couple years ahead of her in school, but I grew up with her in the same projects during the same years. I recognize a lot people she mentions (even with the name changes), and her narrative brings back a lot of memories. In the first chapter, she talks about what was probably the first incidence of violence our generation was directly exposed to - the rape and murder of 9-year old Lourdes Bass by 16-year old James Rooks. He threw her off the roof and she landed right below my apartment windows. From the start, the book had a strong grip on me.Even if you have no connection with public housing, this book gives a wonderful overview of the public housing system as well as of the public school system during the early days of the civil rights movement. Whereas Janet took advantage of all her ivy-league school offers, I sat with a dresser drawer full of "full rides" to the same schools, but being a bit more "militant" at the time, refused to go. C'est la vie!

This book is an excellent read. I bought this book after hearing her story real life story on "This American Life"... I have had it for a few years now and love it! I immediately got half way through the book, but due to being busy with day to day life, I have not yet completed it. However, every time I get the chance I read it and will continue to do so until I completed it. As an African American woman with French ties, It was one of the things that caught my attention with this book.

I enjoyed Project Girl and would recommend it highly. As an African American woman, I was profoundly struck by Janet McDonald's constant feeling of racial rejection and lack of confidence in spite of her high intelligence. It helped me to better understand how adults and children from poor, low-income and no-income environments are psychologically affected by race, gender, class and culture and the debilitating affects on their lives ..long after they have achieved a certain level of success.

I'm not sure how to react to Project girl. I was torn between cheering the author's resilience and smacking her upside the head for wasted opportunities. For reasons I can't figure out, I resented the way she appeared to bounce in out of colleges almost at will. Her emotional turmoil is told from the inside; you can almost see the process. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed (wait - where's the rest?!!), but overall a very good read.

The product came as described and delivery time was as promised.

I really liked this book