general

I read this book on the advice of a friend. For the first 3 chapters, I found the story of 'Rachel' Shilsky and her son James McBride deeply moving. After further reading however, the writer revealed himself to be race-obsessed if not racist and anti-semitic. The author(/s) knew the expectations generally placed on books with this subject matter and did not fail to deliver - a contrived and self-contradictory tale of strength in the face of oppression. While McBride delivers a beautiful story about the colorless nature of god and importance of equality and forgiveness, almost all of the hardships faced by the McBride family are blamed on oppression caused by 'the white (and jewish) man. Furthermore both McBride and his mother refuse to take responsibility for their actions. They are able to justify all manner of behaviour: prostitution, stealing, drug-use and abuse by blaming others for their position. ie Repeatedly approaching to ask a well-known pimp for work as a prostitute, then moving out of his apartment to her family's residence to escape his evil 'clutches'. Ruth McBride unquestioningly suffered at the hands of her father's abuse. She went on to abandon her mother and sister (and arguably her children) all the while feeling pity for herself and blaming her family (and collectively white people and jews) for her uncaring and irresponsible actions. Any hardships she faced at the hands of black persons is ignored and justified on the basis that white oppression forced their hand. Perhaps the story of Ruth McBride and her son would be better told by another sibling who was not so embarrassed by their childhood that they needed to blame all their problems on the actions of others.

Regardless, the color of water is an interesting book to read, if only to look for contradictions and obvious ploys for sympathetic responses...

Read this book so you can tell others not to bother.

Like many of the reviewers below, I found this book to be touching and inspiring. James McBride, a black man, tells the story of his immigrant, white Jewish mother with great sensitivity and with an impressive lyrical sense. It's a remarkable story, one that deserves the acclaim it's been receiving since its initial publication three years ago.

The book is actually more of a dual biography (a dual auto-biography in fact, since every other chapter is related in Ruth McBride Jordan's own words--culled from taped transcripts). Chapters devoted to James' experience growing up in NYC with 12 siblings and his eccentric, but devoted and insprirational mother, are juxtaposed with Ruth's (nee Rachel Shilsky) own experiences growing up as a Jewish girl in the American South.

The book spans an era from the 30's to the late 90's--in under 300 pages. It's conciseness is a genuine strength. However, I'd be lying if I said it didn't leave me wanting to know more about this remarkable family. For starters, I'm curious to learn more about the author's eleven siblings. Scenes from McBride's early childhood are vividly portrayed, and family dynamics are outlined well enough. But later episodes seem sketchy. Did James lose touch with older siblings during his rebellious teen years? What happened with Helen, the sister who ran away from home as a teen, only to return a few years later with a child--and a nursing degree?

And that is what's remarkable about the entire clan. Despite troubled times, all of the twelve children became accomplished, productive professionals. Somewhere along the line, even the rebellious ones absorbed their mother's message about the need for education and the need to strive for excellence. I'm sure all twelve have their tales to tell. Perhaps someday they will--or perhaps James has a sequel or two up his sleeve.

This is one of the best books i have ever read!

the racial issue between a black man's perception of his white mother is presented equally with the outpouring of love and respect he has for her; simply as a mother of 12 children in Harlem who put all her children through collge and grad school. the stories about trips to church, to camp, riding public tansport, getting homemade haircuts, and how awful a cook his mother was are universal and are presented evenly with the tender moments of love and respect and joy he has with his mother.

the other half of this book is his mother's autobiography; the story of a young polish Jewish immigrant living in Jim Crow Virginia, abused by her father. the thinly veiled pain and anguish of memory that McBride's mother reveals futher illuminates his respect for his mother in his own chapters as he describes his mother founding a Baptist church in Harlem with his father.

this book is a gift to mothers everywhere!