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118 of 122 found the following review helpful:
 A TRIBUTE TO MOM... Jul 13, 2003
By Lawyeraau
This book is, indeed, a tribute to the author's mother. In it, the author, a man whose mother was white and his father black, tells two stories: that of his mother and his own. Tautly written in spare, clear prose, it is a wonderful story of a bi-racial family who succeeded and achieved the American dream, despite the societal obstacles placed in its way.
The author's mother was a Polish Orthodox Jew who migrated to America at the age of two with her family during the early nineteen twenties. They ultimately settled down in Virginia, where she led an isolated and lonely life; shunned by whites because she was Jewish and shunned by blacks because she was white. She was raised in a predominantly black neighborhood, where her father, a despicable and harsh man who brutalized his handicapped wife, ran a local grocery store, where he priced gouged his black clientele.
She left home and moved to New York when she was nineteen and never looked back. She met and married the author's father, a black man, when mixed race marriages were still frowned upon by both whites and blacks. Still, she always felt more comfortable around blacks than around whites. When he died sixteen years later, she married another black man who nurtured her eight children by the author's father and proceeded to give her four more children.
The author tells of his childhood, of his family, and of the issue of race that ultimately colored his life while growing up in predominantly black neighborhoods, where his mother stood out like a sore thumb because of the color of her skin. It was always an issue his mother avoided discussing with him, as for her it was not an issue. It was not until the author wrote this book that his mother discussed the issue of race within the context of her own life. From this dialogue emerges a fascinating look at the issues of race, as well as religion, and how it impacts on an individual's identity within our race conscious society.
It is also a very personal story. While the author's family was economically disadvantaged, his eccentric and independent mother always stressed education. She was a strict disciplinarian who brooked no nonsense from her twelve children. A convert to Christianity through her first husband, with whom she founded a Baptist church, she provided her children with the will to succeed. Consequently, all twelve eventually went to college and did her proud.
The story of this unique family is told from two distinct, parallel perspectives: that of the author and that of his mother. While both are interesting, it is his mother's story that dominates this beautifully written book, which is, indeed, a tribute to her. It is truly a story told from the heart, as the love that the author has for his mother is evident with every written word.
33 of 35 found the following review helpful:
Inspirational Reading Aug 05, 2000
By Chad Spivak
I just finished reading it for the second time (first time was when it was a new release), and I still can't get over how much this book touched me. This book is one incredibly moving memoir.The Color of Water is a black man's tribute to his white Jewish mother. I really enjoyed hearing Ruth McBride Jordan's amazing story. Through the telling of her life, we learn a great deal about the the author, James McBride, as well. We read through Ruth's story, feeling her anguish in hard times. We fight with her to put twelve children through college, and we lend our hearts out to her in hopes of easing her job of instilling proper values in her children. McBride did an excellent job of bringing the reader directly into this unforgettable story, allowing us to feel the emotion. The book's format was quite interesting as well, alternating chapters from the mother's point of view to that of his. The Color of Water was just an all-around well written book, and a joy to read. Please read this powerful, uplifting memoir. You'll enjoy it.
43 of 47 found the following review helpful:
A moving portrayal of a memorable family Apr 29, 2002
By Tanja L. Walker
"Tanja L. Walker"
James McBride gives us a wonderful memoir of himself and his mother, a Polish immigrant and Orthodox Jew, a daughter of a tyrannical rabbi father and timid, crippled mother, who dared to ask for something more of this life. Yet in doing so, Ruth McBride Jordan, nee Rachel Shilsky crossed what was once, and for some still is, an uncrossable barrier: she married not one, but two, black men, converting to Christianity along the way. She lost her Jewish family and isolated herself from both whites and, to a lesser extent, blacks, but raised 12 children who all became college-educated professionals.
This is not a portrait of a saint, either mother or son. But both can forgive the other, something that Ruth's Jewish family cannot do. (That, by the way, should not be seen as representative of all Jews; indeed, the epilogue shows a moving scene in which James McBride gets in touch with his Jewish side in a very positive way. Many Jewish people are caring and understanding and not at all prejudice against blacks. Ruth's family wasn't among them.) Anyway, that these are not saints make the people more human, more believeable, more loveable. And by reading it, maybe we would become more accepting of families that don't look like our own. (Though I have to confess, I might be a little worried if a family with 12 kids moved in next door, regardless of the racial makeup! :-) )
29 of 32 found the following review helpful:
A Great Book - A Wonderful Experience! Jan 22, 2000
By Betty Fox (GrandmaBetty)
"The Color of Water" by James McBride is a beautifully written and memorable tribute by a black man to his white Jewish mother. I was so touched by the story of Ruth McBride Jordan and her 12 black children. Ruth, born Rachel Shilsky, is the daughter of a failed Orthodox rabbi and his handicapped wife,growing up in the South. She was abused by her father and was deserted by her family when she fled to Harlem and married a black man. As a widow she raised her 12 children by herself. There was very little money and hard times. However, she always instilled in her family her strong faith in God and her powerful belief in the value of a good education. She guided them through college and graduate school to become professional and successful adults.James McBride is such a gifted writer and the story just flows. I especially enjoyed the format of the book (each chapter switching back and forth from the life of the mother to the life of the son). I am so thankful to the author for sharing his wonderful story and for introduing his fascinating mother who said it all when she told him that God is "The Color of Water". I recommend you read this book....You won't be disappointed..It's the BEST!
16 of 17 found the following review helpful:
 Water Isn't Black or White Oct 12, 2000
We don't like to hear that we look like our moms, but what if you were "black" and your mom was "white"? The Color of Water is a biography of McBride's mother taking place in the mid 1900s. In the simple context of a slightly unusual family, governed by an unusual mother, I can say that it is the most capturing, and thought provoking book I have ever read. McBride's mother was white and raised an Orthodox Jew. Her past terrifying, though strangely simple and not obsurdly unusual. After learning of a sad childhood, we hear of her life as an adult and the affects she had on her children. She was ridiculed for marrying a black man, living in poor housing, and having twelve, black children. However, we are surprised that from her values and perseverance, she is able to send them all to good colleges, making doctors and professors out of all of them. McBride wrote an incredible biography in tribute to his mother. His purpose of identity was well met. The development of his characters helped his purpose. In addition, his writing style was capturing and thought provoking as it repeatedly shifted points of view from the mother to the son. As I mentioned earlier, one of McBride's strong points was achieving his purpose. The purpose of this book was to give a perspective on human identity, which was also the underlying theme. The Color of Water portrays the importance and weight of a mere individual. An example of his purpose is the way his mother couldn't handle her past. It shows how everyone has a hard time facing the truth. People look disgusted in his mother when she married a black man. That is an example of how people can't handle seeing others act against their own beliefs. Most of all, his own need to understand himself and what it meant having a white mother. This is an example of a problem everybody has about their identity. He shows the human need for understanding their family and themselves. Through our eyes as an outsider we can see this family as unique as an outsider could see our own family. In addition, one of the ways he accomplishes his purpose so well is through the characters. Mc Bride has very good characterization. This is done with simply sticking to the facts and not elaborately playing up people's ordinary ways. However, at the same time, he throws in little creative touches that give readers a slightly more visual interpretation. He does this in the description of his mother's "bow-legged" walk. Instead of describing his grandfather as greedy, he sticks to the facts of what his grandfather would truthfully say or do. It is a skillful and interesting way of accurately portraying his character. McBride portrays all the characters fully in this succint way. Like his grandfather, there's also the grandmother, his mother, various minor characters, and even himself that he captures with their true characteristics. Also, another good point is that I really liked his writing style. There was suspense and direct links drawn by alternating a chapter of his life through his own eyes with a chapter of his mother's life through her eyes. Like his character description, he used concise detail. It was evident but not over abundant and unnecessary. Also, I appreciated the relevant and interesting content with powerful links to each event individually as well as to the theme as a whole. In all, it was a great book. The Color of Water made me think alot about the ideas of race, identity, and human nature. This is what the author intended. I thought family life, and people's influence on eachother. I realized how much all these things can be for the good, in truth, how much of a hold people can have on their lives and the impacts they can make on others. One can hold onto the good impact of others and learn and forget about the bad impact people make. In thinking on all this, I agree with a quote on the inside cover saying, "this book will make you proud to be a member of the human race."
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