I was revising that scene last summer, which was when I had edits back at my desk. I felt hopeless. A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett is such an impactful read. I've always been behind the scenes and that's partly why I like being a writermy words can speak for themselves. Zakiya Dalila Harris's debut is All About Eve at an all-white publishing office. Heres how it works. Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions. NOW. "The premise of this book was quite promising: 26 years old Nella is an editorial assistant tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Nella takes Hazels advice, which backfires spectacularly. Before these changes, you would have paid a 2.75% fee. Many Black women see hair grease as this benign thing. I dont want to give too much away, but I think it spoke to me so much because it really hits home how many spaces dont allow Black women to really show up as their authentic selves. I wanted to plant a moment of horror right at the beginning as a way of pointing to Nellas transformation at the very end. Nella is the only black person in an all-white environment. THE OTHER BLACK GIRL | Kirkus Reviews Nella knows that her comfortable yet dull middle-class upbringing doesn't offer her the same advantages as Hazel's cushier background. Someone who rejected what was expected of her as a Black woman in a predominantly white industry.'. Kendra Rae, who is in hiding at the Resistance headquarters, asks Shani to describe the contents of the jar and draws a connection between Smoothd Out, the substance that burned Kendra Raes scalp in the Prologue, and the method by which OBGs are converting Black women. Chapter 1. Its a little horror, a little literary fiction, and really interesting. You have to hypnotize the reader into believing the story is one thing then you change the rules, and thats scary. Previously, she was an editor at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories ranging from op-eds to profiles to ambitious packages. Every few years a novel comes along and infiltrates the conversation in such a way that the title becomes so pervasive that even nonreaders have heard of it. Enter new employee Hazel, who is Black, self-possessed and savvy in a way Nella has always aspired to be. So the advance was huge. The buzziest debut novel of the summer begins with the protagonist, Nella, a beaten-down editorial assistant at a prestigious Manhattan publishing house, catching a comforting and familiar whiff of hair grease. Part 2 opens with a flashback to the October 1983 release party for Diana Gordons novel Burning Heart. Are you prepared to sacrifice some parts of the story? Rachel Epstein is a writer, editor, and content strategist based in New York City. Unapologetic. Its a commentary on race-relations, and challenges what it means to lobby for and ensure diversity in the workplace, all while keeping you guessing at what will happen next. Why didnt I think of this myself? The band have become the very thing their critics accuse them of. This twisty psychological thriller delivered all of my expectations. Part 2 ends from Kendra Raes perspective, after she receives an anonymous call from a broken Nella and decides to come back to Manhattan and join the Resistance as well. You can order the book on Amazon here. A New York Times best seller, The Other Black Girl is being adapted into a limited series for Hulu. I mean, it really goes into my own ideas that I have about I mean, it's not only publishing, I think it's a lot of industries that are mostly white where we commodify Blackness, where you only need this one version of this thing for this one purpose. These books give us a record of our times via the moments best comic minds. How did it set the stage for what was to come? Initially the women bond over their shared Black experience. She is being offered opportunities that Nella has never been considered for even though shes worked at Wagner for over two years. Occasional chapters seem to rise out of nowhere, but they are actual plot thickeners, devices that will ultimately take 'The Other Black Girl' toward a kind of sad and wholly earned brilliance. Bethanne Patrick is a freelance writer and critic who tweets @TheBookMaven. Still, that didn't hinder the amount of praise Harris received for her ability to create an original and deeply relatable novel. @smileitsjoy, A post shared by joy melody| Reader.Advocate. "It really hits home how many spaces dont allow Black women to really show up as their authentic selves.". The actress has announced that shell be watching from the couch this year. I fortunately did not have it nearly as bad as Nella does. I think at this point everybody knows that's not the thing you say. You can follow her on Instagram @paulinajayne15. What started out as a slow-burn psychological thriller, morphed into a Jordan Peele-esque social thriller, and I am here for it. She could have any role. That is the question I have been asked and expect to continue to be asked more than any other after the seismic news that Fox News had fired its highest-rated host, Tucker Carlson. I also struggle with sensitivity readers as an idea because I understand it completely, and I do think it's better in most cases, but I also cringe against the idea of making a certain person be the person who decides this is okay. Its was funny, mysterious, and there was serious social commentary. Review: 'The Other Black Girl,' By Zakiya Dalila Harris : NPR Why wouldnt they listen to Nella? The only Black female editor at Wagner Books, Kendra Rae gave an interview in which she critiqued the racist structures within the publishing world. Plus, it's a 352-page book whose plot starts to kick off at the last 32 pages." I think Harris really captured these interactions and they had me nodding my head in recognition. I did the same when I was 10. I wont get into all of the details, but he settled out of court. She's expected to speak, but in a certain way, right? One example is the I dont see color comment. @scsreads, A post shared by Nnenna (@scsreads) (opens in new tab). @bookcooklook, A post shared by holly b | bookcooklook (@bookcooklook) (opens in new tab). A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris Critics' Opinion: Readers' Opinion: First Published: Jun 2021, 368 pages Paperback: Jun 2022, 368 pages Genres Debut Rate this book Write a Review Book Reviewed by: Tasneem Pocketwala Buy This Book About this Book Summary Excerpt Reading Guide Reading Guide Questions Glamour may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Then after a bit, the book took a turn that I wasnt really expecting. "FinishedThe Other Black Girlthis week and I thought it was gooooood. I absolutely love books that cover workplace politics and drama, and this was spot on. On the sinister notes that begin to appear on Nella's desk. And, to me, thats the beauty of this book. But after getting to know the main characters, Nella and Hazel, I was left feeling that it also was largely about the power of female friendship and the different ways people navigate the Black experience. And I have so many questions about it as well! Effectively marketed as Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada, the story infuses bits of sci-fi and horror with razor-sharp commentary about trying to ascend the corporate ladder as a woman of color with a truly chilling ending. Shes fed up with the isolation and microaggressions in her day-to-day life, so shes thrilled when Harlem-born and cool-as-can-be Hazel starts working in the cubicle next to her. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. I think pitching to agents was the nerve-wracking part. I worked to make sure that we understood her insecurities and how Hazel stirs them up about not being Black enough and about Nellas desire to be the next big Black editor. hide caption. For my twist, I tried to go against some genre expectations and literary conventions. There can be shades of it. I wanted more tension, or maybe I wanted more overt tension. I love the meta-sardonicism of a publisher budgeting for a marketing spree on a book that calls out racism in the publishing industry. On Nella saying Hazel makes her feel redundant. The Other Black Girl: Unflinching Take on Racism in Publishing | The But when Nella begins receiving threatening notes at work, and cracks appear in what shed hoped would be an idyllic work-wife friendship, Nella begins to suspect a more sinister force is trying to derail her careerand unravel her life in ways she could never have imagined. Rounding up our favorite funny videos of the month. Weve already seen the main character get put through the wringer; weve already been satisfyingly horrified. Meanwhile, occasional chapters seem to rise out of nowhere, but they are actual plot thickeners, devices that will ultimately take The Other Black Girl out of the realm of "office novel" and into another genre entirely, and finally toward a kind of sad and wholly earned brilliance. Do you feel like theres a way to better convey that to white people without hitting that defensive wall? "Head officially still spinning from the summer blockbuster that isThe Other Black Girl! Thats interesting that you mention the weight of Blackness because isn't that essentially what the grease is supposed to lift? It definitely wasnt what I was expecting and it took me a minute to figure out how I really felt. You wait for that moment even after you have been in the sunken place. Both Colin and her boss gets offended and defensive. Shes driven and determined to make her mark in the publishing industry and tries not to let the microaggressions and outright racism of her colleagues at times weigh her down. "This meant one of two things: One of her white colleagues had started using Brown Buttah. This is another question I don't get asked. "This is a satire and a mystery thriller. Theres a lot to unpack in this book. A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist. TOBGexplores the dynamics between Nella, a talented young Black woman vying for a promotion to editor, and Hazel-May, a newcomer. One of the best scenes in The Other Black Girl takes place in a salon, with dozens of women of different ages trying out new coiffures. I knew that would be what connected them, but it's funny because the grease itself didn't become an actual part of the book until I was talking to my partner about it. Im not reading to make sure everyones okay.. As with herNew York Times-bestselling debutThe Mothers, Brit Bennett offers an engrossing page-turner about family and relationships that is immersive and provocative, compassionate and wise. Mystery/Thriller Reading Friends - Group Read - Other Black Girl: Group So much of this book isnt fiction; being a cis-white female afforded white-privilege, I dont presume to assume I even remotely know what it is like to live in the everyday reality of a person of color, but I believe this mirrors the unacceptable reality that people of color face every day in and out of the workplace. And we need to find a way to stop comparing Black stories to white stories that have nothing to do with the shit we experience. ", It's Hazel-May McCall, resplendent in locs, "every one as thick as a bubble tea straw and longer than her arms," a sharp marigold pantsuit and red patent leather ankle boots "that Nella would have broken her neck just trying to get into.". This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Throughout the film, Finney's little sister, Gwen (Madeleine McGraw) has apparent visions in her dreams, and while at first it seems her father doesn't want to acknowledge that they are real - as. The only Black woman on the editing staff, Nella often feels alienated . We got introduced to some new characters, and I was kind of confused and unsure where the story was going. Hazel also ruins Nellas credibility by defending Pins and Needles in a companywide marketing meeting. Harris makes her entrance as an author with singular style. I really wanted to get at those spaces of unspoken subtext and microaggressions. "She is so curious, she is really just genuinely excited. It was still early on in the querying stage, but it definitely got to me and made me worry. But certain qualities of the novel left me wondering if this over-marketing is simply a move to innocence. And then one morning, Nella looks through a small crack in a cubicle and sees what she calls "the flash of a brown hand. Let's talk about hair in the book because it played such a crucial role. NOW. Nella is excited to get to know her new co-worker and become friends, however, she soon receives a note saying, "Leave Wagner Now.". @booksnailmail, A post shared by SP - bookstagram (@booksnailmail) (opens in new tab). This book is a chilling tale of workplace bullying, isolation, and paranoia. The two women become friends, and Nella vents about a book shes editing called Pins and Needles, which features a racist caricature of a Black woman. 'Another Girl' releases on Tuesday -- September 14, 2021. And throughout this book, I really wanted readers to question their own prejudices, their own kind of analysis of certain interactions. Review: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris - Oprah Daily Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. Reading guide for The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris So, so that that part of looking around the table and not seeing anyone who looked like me, that part was very real. @turnpageswithmimi, A post shared by Mimi N. (@turnpageswithmimi) (opens in new tab). The Other Black Girl Delivers a Humorous but Unflinching Take on the Racist Microaggressions of Publishing By Larissa Irankunda Jan 14th, 2021, 10:20 am For Black women, tokenism is a very . A good twist needs to be set up in the opening pages you need to hold this thing up in front of the reader so its right before their eyes but they cant see it until you pull back the invisible curtain. But as the days pass, Hazel settles in and quickly becomes everyones favorite. Remembering one of fashions most problematic faves, Karl Lagerfeld. But overall, I thought it was a strong, but not perfect, debut and Im looking forward to seeing what she writes next." It's not a coincidence that the central conceit of the book has to do with hair, that longstanding preoccupation of the femme. Check out my book club questions here. She longs for another Black woman as colleague, someone with whom she can share the pressures Black people face overall in corporate America, and particularly in industries like publishing that have long functioned as de facto country clubs, rife with class privilege, nepotism and deeply ingrained bigotry. The Other Black Girl Summary - eNotes.com And how much they have to dilute themselves in order to be successful. Hope you enjoyed book club questions for The Other Black Girl! I've never been the kind of person who likes the spotlight. The twist comes from the fact that viewers know it couldve been so much worse. It's a love letter to Black women and an . Or more likely, since she was pretty sure none of them had accidentally stumbled into the natural hair care aisle there was another Black girl on the thirteenth floor.". What's a young Black woman to do? Zakiya Dalila Harris on How to Write a Twist Ending - Vulture Really intriguing and very original, with some interesting twists that make you question the price of progress and cost of sacrifice in order to get ahead." And so to have this flash of color in this space that's usually really drab and frankly, very white Nella's enthusiastic and excited about that and what that could mean for her.". Hazel (as she becomes known) is in it to win it, all by her fabulous self (her look, Nella thinks, "was all very Erykah-meets-Issa"), and before Nella can say "cocoa butter," Hazel has scooped her on a manuscript and is spending long closed-door sessions with their shared editor boss. Many years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. And it sets people up who read it expecting that for failure. I would walk him through all the different pieces of the plot: There was something controlling the women, but robots felt too easy and obvious I was like, Ive seen The Stepford Wives, that has been done. And my fianc said, Well, what if its in the grease? I was so mad. Zakiya Dalila Harris began writing The Other Black Girl while working as an assistant editor at Knopf Doubleday, and her textured observations of the overwhelmingly white world of publishing,. Did you think it was an interesting plot twist or did you not like it? Part 3 reveals the ongoing struggle for power between OBGs and the Resistance. " @calicoedit, A post shared by Ally | Fiction Editor (@calicoedit) (opens in new tab). The Other Black Girlis both a sharp social commentary and a thriller. Instead, she strives for dominance in the workplace and seems to be edging Nella out and alienating her from her boss and her colleagues. I agree and I like when Nella is trying to explain that its a feeling. It started as a slow burn as Nellas life as the only Black person at Wagner Books was described. Hazel dismisses Nellas concerns, gives her a jar of Smoothd Out hair grease as a peace offering, and invites her to a natural hair party. She expresses her opinions about things in a very confident way. One of the most thought-provoking novels Ive read in quite some time. Another Country is a 1962 novel by James Baldwin.The novel is primarily set in Greenwich Village and Harlem, New York City, in the late 1950s.It portrayed many themes that were taboo at the time of its release, including bisexuality, interracial couples and extramarital affairs Original Price $18.00". The thing that is really hard for her is the fact that she feels like she has to speak for every Black person, every Black opinion. I was puzzled in a bad way. ', Ive read comparisons toThe Devil Wears Prada, but this is really misleading. The book is set in the publishing industry, but it holds up a mirror to all of corporate America, displaying the microaggressions and class hierarchies embedded throughout. On the other end, if you have a credit score of 740 or . Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. (Image credit: Design by Morgan McMullen), (Image credit: Design By Morgan McMullen), Prince Harry Will Depart the U.K. Just Two Hours After Coronation Ceremony Ends, Reports Say, Blake Lively Reveals Shes Not Attending the 2023 Met Gala, #ReadWithMC Readers Loved The Unlikely Duo in 'The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise', Jo Piazza and Christine Pride Tackle the Complicated Topic of Motherhood in 'You Were Always Mine', 'Token Black Girl' Is Our October Book Club Pick, 25 Books by Latinx Authors You Should Read Immediately, 'Mika In Real Life' Is Our September Book Club Pick, Read an Excerpt From Sarah MacLean's 'Heartbreaker', A post shared by Suzy Lew (@suzylew_bookreview), A post shared by Tonja Wheatley (@booksnbikram), A post shared by Tina | TBR, etc. You've received so much buzz. Marketed as "The Devil Wears Prada meets Get Out," Zakiya Dalila Harris' new thriller novel, The Other Black Girl, has been one of the publishing industry's most talked-about and buzziest releases of 2021.Harris, who quit her job as an editorial assistant at the revered PRH imprint Knopf to write this book, has endeavored to address the racist history of book publishing through the . But I wanted to play around with a third option in the book, too: that Nella might fail but that her failure could be a kind of success, a way to finally be in control. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. Why did the author choose hair grease for the social lubricant? But leaving that device unnamed, here, does not mean its effects can't be discussed. Oh, congrats. That sets the bar high with the promise of a cultural landmark a novel that's timely, hilarious, witty, mildly terrifying, emotionally textured and conversant on the social and political issues. 17 Passionate Book Recommendations From Your Favorite Authors, Nine June Beach Reads That Are Like Summer in a Book, What to Read Next: The Best Books of 2020. Glamour: The story is so original. Those lessons arent quick. The forthcoming book from 'We Are Not Like Them' authors Jo Piazza and Christine Pride asks the question: Who gets to make the choice to be a mom? At the beginning of Part 4 Diana recounts the chain of events leading from 1983 to 2018. The Other Black Girl Chapter Summaries - eNotes.com While it is clever and important to talk about the fact that token diversity representation breeds unnecessary competition among people of color since there can only be one winner, this is not at all what Peeles brand of horror is about. The person enjoyed it, but said, I don't know if publishing is ready for it. I tried not to think too much about it. The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. Exactly. Why did the book start off with the prologue from Kendra Raes perspective as she fled the city? I couldnt turn the pages fast enough in the second half of the book. I did get one response specifically that stands out. Its original, complicated, humorous, scary, sad and engaging. I also added a prologue, where you see another woman dealing with the effects of the grease before you meet Nella. It was George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and COVID-19, obviously. You have to be thoughtful about how you are speaking with people, how you see the office, because all of those things matter. It highlights how in white spaces, Black women do not show up as their authentic selves. All of those zany hijinks that you see in an office when you're close with other people like that. The Other Black Girl (Atria) by Zakiya Dalila Harris debuted at #6 on The New York Times bestseller list in its first week on sale, and it's no wonder: The book is spot-on for our times.The novel drips with in-the-know wit, skewering "well-meaning" but clueless white book publishing executives while painting the day-to-day experience of BIPOC employees who have managed to penetrate the . Then you find out that hes a serial killer on the very last page. Nella is delighted to learn that the scent means Hazel-May McCall has been hired as a new editorial assistant. I love talking to people, but in intimate settings. So that element was was pretty on point. Part 1 ends on a cliffhanger: Is Nellas career at Wagner, like Kendra Raes, now over? Weve seen her get embarrassed at the office. What If a Whole Stand-up Special Were About Peanut Butter? But she soon starts to suspect that Hazel is competitive with her. There is a lot I had to cut. She shares her concerns about how the only black character was written. In Zakiya Dalila Harris's debut novel, The Other Black Girl, Nella Rogers is a young black editorial assistant at Wagner Books, an esteemed publishing company in New York City with a penchant for only hiring "Very Specific People who came from a Very Specific Box"the majority of Wagner's staff is white, middle class . ', Inspired by Nella and her frenemy Hazel, I made this HAZELnut N(ut)ELLA bundt cakesurprisingly intense and not as sweet as it appears, I think it would do these characters proud. Theyre slow and painful and turn you inside out. Published in 2021, Zakiya Dalila Harriss The Other Black Girl is a psychological thriller set in Manhattans competitive, predominantly white publishing scene. I love Get Out. I also wasn't the only Black person where I worked. This content can also be viewed on the site it originates from. She's tired of being just about the only Black person in the room or really any room at Wagner. Now that the game is out, we know Star Wars Jedi: Survivor has a post-credits scene for players to watch. I mean, I wanted to have this mysterious element that kind of throws a wrench into Nella's plans, her life at Wagner Books, but I really want the reader to think about the note. 2023 Met Gala Carpet Is Approved by Your Dentist. "I definitely had really high expectations for this book and my feelings about it went on a bit of a rollercoaster ride as I was reading it. Terms of Service apply. But that excitement soon gives way to fear. Most impressively it changes genre as the narrative progresses. Book club questions for The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris will unravel all the key plots and character development in this twisty thriller. It is well-observed and funny. If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the June 7, 2021, issue of It will leave you feeling some type of way, which is something that I like in thrillers that I read." I feel like I give different answers every single time. Hazel is part of a group distributing hair grease that works as social lubricants. Review: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel! Twenty-six-year-old editorial assistant Nella Rogers is tired of being the only Black employee at Wagner Books. Its bold, innovative storytelling from a rising new talent whose career I will watch with eager anticipation." One of the best scenes in The Other Black Girl takes place in a salon, with dozens of women of different ages trying out new coiffures. 2K views, 27 likes, 7 loves, 18 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Dbstvstlucia: DBS MORNING SHOW & OBITUARIES 25TH APRIL 2023 APRIL 2023 No. Looking well beyond issues of race,The Vanishing Halfconsiders the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a persons decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins. One day, Nella's nose twitches: She's detected the unmistakable scent of "her favorite brand of hair grease" in the air near her cubicle. @lifeaholocislander, A post shared by Deborah (She/Her) (@lifeaholocislander) (opens in new tab). It's a vibe. And the endingIm still thinking about the ending. When Elle, battling depression, becomes . But the tide turns when Hazel becomes the office favorite and Nella starts receiving threatening notes urging her to leave Wagner immediately. Angela BassettI feel like it's clear from the book that I love Angela Bassett. Defeated and somewhat relieved, Nella finally consents to conversion.