I purchased a paperback copy of Rabbit A Memoir in a recent book haul from Book Outlet. It had good reviews and I’ve been working on broadening my reading range to get perspective on different experiences. Scroll on to find out why I enjoyed the book!
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Review & Thoughts
Rabbit A Memoir by Patricia Williams with Jeannine Amber
Rabbit A Memoir was well-written and extremely thought-provoking. I selected this book as part of my desire to expand my reading range and a personal effort to read stories written by and about people that are different than me. It’s important to read stories about people that have experienced extreme hardship. The importance of love and support cannot be overlooked as a vital part of overcoming adversity, especially in a young person’s life.
You don’t have to be family to be loving and supportive. This book was a wonderful reminder to extend kindness to others, especially in their hour of need. You don’t have control over the circumstances in which you are born and raised but with the love and support of others, you can choose to acknowledge that you can overcome anything if you have the courage to dream and the tenacity to work hard.
Ms. Pat’s stories are so incredible that it’s sad to know that they were real, that these stories and situations were part of her reality. It’s heart-wrenching that someone can go through so much chaos and turmoil, and at such a young age. It’s inspiring to read stories like hers, to know that someone who has been through so much can achieve their dreams.
In a Nutshell: This book was an eye-opening reading experience and a great reminder of the importance of providing love and support to those in our lives, especially when they need it most.
My Rating: 4 / 5 Stars
Details From the Book Jacket
Published: May 22nd 2018 by Dey Street Books
Book Blurb:
A remarkably bold and inspiring story of crime, motherhood, and redemption—not since Cupcake Brown’s A Piece of Cake has there been a memoir this unforgettable.
You want to know about the struggle of growing up poor, black, and female? Ask any girl from any ’hood. You want to know what it takes to rise above your circumstances when all the cards are stacked against you? Ask me.
Comedian Patricia Williams, who for years went by her street name “Rabbit,” was born and raised in Atlanta’s most troubled neighborhood at the height of the crack epidemic.
One of five children, Pat watched as her alcoholic mother struggled to get by on charity, cons, and petty crimes. At age seven, Pat was taught to roll drunks for money. At twelve, she was targeted for sex by a man eight years her senior; by thirteen, she was pregnant. By fifteen, Pat was a mother of two.
Alone at sixteen, Pat was determined to make a better life for her children. But with no job skills and an eighth-grade education, her options were limited. She learned quickly that hustling and humor were the only tools she had to survive.
Rabbit is an unflinching memoir of cinematic scope and unexpected humor that offers a rare glimpse into the harrowing reality of life on America’s margins—a powerful true story of resilience, determination, and the transformative power of love.
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads
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