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Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me
An inspiring memoir of family, community, and resilience, and an ode to the power of books to help us understand ourselves, from the renowned founder of Well-Read Black Girl
“She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order.”—Toni Morrison
For Glory Edim, that "friend of my mind" is books. Edim, who grew up in Virginia to Nigerian immigrant parents, started the popular Well-Read Black Girl book club at age thirty, but her love of books stretches far to public libraries alongside her little brothers after elementary school while her mother was working; to high school librairies where she discovered books she wasn't being taught in class; to dorm rooms and airplanes and subway rides—and, eventually, to a community of half a million other readers.
When Edim's father moved back to Nigeria while she was still a child, she and her brothers were left with a single mother and little money, often finding a safe space at their local library. Books were where Edim found community, and as she grew older, she discovered the Black writers whose words would forever change her: Nikki Giovanni through children's poetry cassettes; Maya Angelou through a critical high school English teacher; Toni Morrison while attending Morrison's alma mater, Howard University; Audre Lorde on a flight to Nigeria. In prose full of both joy and heartbreak, Edim recounts how these writers and so many others helped her to value to find her own voice when her mother lost hers, to trust her feelings when her father remarried, to create bonds with other Black women and uplift their own stories.
Gather Me is a glowing testament to the power of representation and the lasting impact of literature to gather our disparate parts and put them back together.
“She is a friend of my mind. She gather me, man. The pieces I am, she gather them and give them back to me in all the right order.”—Toni Morrison
For Glory Edim, that "friend of my mind" is books. Edim, who grew up in Virginia to Nigerian immigrant parents, started the popular Well-Read Black Girl book club at age thirty, but her love of books stretches far to public libraries alongside her little brothers after elementary school while her mother was working; to high school librairies where she discovered books she wasn't being taught in class; to dorm rooms and airplanes and subway rides—and, eventually, to a community of half a million other readers.
When Edim's father moved back to Nigeria while she was still a child, she and her brothers were left with a single mother and little money, often finding a safe space at their local library. Books were where Edim found community, and as she grew older, she discovered the Black writers whose words would forever change her: Nikki Giovanni through children's poetry cassettes; Maya Angelou through a critical high school English teacher; Toni Morrison while attending Morrison's alma mater, Howard University; Audre Lorde on a flight to Nigeria. In prose full of both joy and heartbreak, Edim recounts how these writers and so many others helped her to value to find her own voice when her mother lost hers, to trust her feelings when her father remarried, to create bonds with other Black women and uplift their own stories.
Gather Me is a glowing testament to the power of representation and the lasting impact of literature to gather our disparate parts and put them back together.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published October 29, 2024
About the author
Glory Edim
5 books25.8k followersGlory Edim is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a Brooklyn-based book club and digital platform that celebrates the uniqueness of Black literature and sisterhood. In fall 2017 she organized the first-ever Well-Read Black Girl Festival. She has worked as a creative strategist for over ten years at startups and cultural institutions, including The Webby Awards and the New York Foundation for the Arts. Most recently, she was the Publishing Outreach Specialist at Kickstarter. She serves on the board of New York City's Housing Works Bookstore. --Penguin Random House
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 4, 2024
Glory tells the story about her life. Her parents came to the US from Nigeria. She learned so much from her mom about her culture. A great read.
October 16, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published October 29, 2024.
This is a beautiful and eloquently written memoir! It reads as a biography but even more as a tribute to the power of books. Glory turned to books early on - books were here escape and the words from Black authors literally saved her at times. “There is something magical about finding just the right book at the right time.”
Glory’s home life was not ideal. Her parents got divorced and she had to take care of younger brother. Her father left unexpectedly to return to Nigeria and her mother eventually remarried. There are family secrets.
A random T-shirt from a boyfriend engaged strangers in conversations about Black authors and their books and eventually led to the Well-Read Black Girl Book Cub.
The book is current and addresses her real like reactions to racism. “It was Rodney King who taught me that my little brother was not safe in America.”
This book is a must read for anyone who loves books.
This is a beautiful and eloquently written memoir! It reads as a biography but even more as a tribute to the power of books. Glory turned to books early on - books were here escape and the words from Black authors literally saved her at times. “There is something magical about finding just the right book at the right time.”
Glory’s home life was not ideal. Her parents got divorced and she had to take care of younger brother. Her father left unexpectedly to return to Nigeria and her mother eventually remarried. There are family secrets.
A random T-shirt from a boyfriend engaged strangers in conversations about Black authors and their books and eventually led to the Well-Read Black Girl Book Cub.
The book is current and addresses her real like reactions to racism. “It was Rodney King who taught me that my little brother was not safe in America.”
This book is a must read for anyone who loves books.
November 10, 2024
Glory Edim (b. 1982) is the founder of Well-Read Black Girl, a platform including a podcast and book clubs highlighting notable historical and contemporary literature by Black authors. Gather Me (with a title inspired by Toni Morrison's classic Beloved) is Edim's memoir, where she recounts the pivotal role of literature in her life, from childhood through her coming of age to her adulthood. Edim is a first generation American -- her parents both immigrated to the US from Nigeria and divorced when Edim and her younger brother were children, with their father moving back to Nigeria suddenly and abandoning communication with them (or so it seemed). Edim had to grow up early, playing a large part in raising her younger brother and later her younger half-brother after her mom remarried, but reading remained a mainstay, helping her process her grief and, as she grew older, understand her parents' perspectives and process new information she learned about both her parents and her father's death. Books remained a touchpoint in other areas of her life, from navigating middle and high school, her romantic relationships, her career, and social and racial issues she's encountered throughout her life. Edim writes eloquently and beautifully, and I love how her favorite books, fictional characters, and authors were woven gracefully into the narrative. As a reader I was impressed at the level of personal growth and circumspection as Edim recounts painful and complicated issues from her past (which is a huge part of what a good memoir is for me). This is definitely one of my favorite memoirs of 2024.
Further reading:
The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper, MD
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Missed Translations: Meeting the Immigrant Parents Who Raised Me by Sopan Deb
The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony by Annabelle Tometich
My statistics:
Book 270 for 2024
Book 1873 cumulatively
Further reading:
The Beauty in Breaking by Michele Harper, MD
Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Missed Translations: Meeting the Immigrant Parents Who Raised Me by Sopan Deb
The Mango Tree: A Memoir of Fruit, Florida, and Felony by Annabelle Tometich
My statistics:
Book 270 for 2024
Book 1873 cumulatively
November 5, 2024
This narrative centers on the author's life as a little girl born to Nigerian immigrants. It covers her experiences growing up in America during the 1980s and 1990s, when she faced racism, strived to keep her mother and brothers safe, connected with her community, and got through her love of literature. It is a personal account that reflects on both the joyful and challenging times with her family while also addressing the struggles of being a Black woman in America with Nigerian ancestry.
The book explores how literature served as a refuge and guiding force throughout her life, especially during her childhood when her mother battled depression. The author highlights the writers who shaped her development, influencing her approach to relationships, love, and activism. She invites readers into her world, offering a glimpse into the life that preceded her birth and emphasizing the profound impact that books had on her life. Ultimately, this book serves as a source of encouragement for intelligent Black girls who navigate sometimes harsh realities through the power of words.
One passage I loved was when the author wrote, "When the silence in the house seemed to press down on us in a way that made us gasp for breath, I would pick up Maurice and put him on the beanbag, then climb in next to him, dragging the big yellow book of Bible stories along with me. For a moment, we'd just sit side by side, my brother's little shoulder pressed up against mine, feeling the way the beanbag settled to the contours of our bodies and swelled up around us, soft and supportive. Ready, I'd ask Maurice, and he'd nod in return, his big brown eyes locked onto mine. This is a book of true stories I recited, doing my best imitation of my mother's soft, patient voice. It was my turn to teach someone to read."
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
The book explores how literature served as a refuge and guiding force throughout her life, especially during her childhood when her mother battled depression. The author highlights the writers who shaped her development, influencing her approach to relationships, love, and activism. She invites readers into her world, offering a glimpse into the life that preceded her birth and emphasizing the profound impact that books had on her life. Ultimately, this book serves as a source of encouragement for intelligent Black girls who navigate sometimes harsh realities through the power of words.
One passage I loved was when the author wrote, "When the silence in the house seemed to press down on us in a way that made us gasp for breath, I would pick up Maurice and put him on the beanbag, then climb in next to him, dragging the big yellow book of Bible stories along with me. For a moment, we'd just sit side by side, my brother's little shoulder pressed up against mine, feeling the way the beanbag settled to the contours of our bodies and swelled up around us, soft and supportive. Ready, I'd ask Maurice, and he'd nod in return, his big brown eyes locked onto mine. This is a book of true stories I recited, doing my best imitation of my mother's soft, patient voice. It was my turn to teach someone to read."
To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbymedia.com/blogs/transcri...
August 18, 2024
I for one can say I enjoyed this book. I read her first book ‘Well Read Black Girl’ where it was like an anthology of different black women writers who made her fall in love with reading as well as those who inspired me to write.
This book really spoke to me. I was able to put myself in Glory’s shoes, especially when she talked about how different books she reads were perfectly fitting to what was currently happening in her life. We underestimate the power that books hold and I’m glad that this was written. Books are for those who need to escape reality, find a safe space, and collect the words that scrambles in our minds.
This book really spoke to me. I was able to put myself in Glory’s shoes, especially when she talked about how different books she reads were perfectly fitting to what was currently happening in her life. We underestimate the power that books hold and I’m glad that this was written. Books are for those who need to escape reality, find a safe space, and collect the words that scrambles in our minds.
November 1, 2024
“What happens to you when you're on the losing end of a genocide? What happens when you watch hundreds of thousands of children slowly die, and the people who killed them are allowed to win? Who do you become when you watch the people you love systematically become erased from this earth? When first their bodies, then their souls, and then their names fade away, forgotten?”
November 19, 2024
In "Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me," Glory Edim offers an intimate and heartfelt exploration of how literature has shaped her life. Growing up in Virginia with Nigerian immigrant parents, Edim found respite in books among the turbulence of her family life. When her father moved back to Nigeria during her childhood, marking the beginning of a series of traumatic events, the local library became a sanctuary for Edim and her brother, Maurice, who she writes about incredibly tenderly. Through books, Glory discovered a community and a wealth of knowledge during a time she craved connection most.
This memoir is a powerful reflection on the writers who influenced Glory deeply, from Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou to Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde. These authors, encountered at various pivotal moments in her life, taught her to value her own voice, trust her emotions, and forge meaningful connections with other Black women.
As a long-time fan and participant in the Well-Read Black Girl book club, I found "Gather Me" to be a powerful and relatable testament to the transformative power of literature. This book is all about the power of bibliotherapy to help validate our experiences, orient us to reality, and support us in dreaming up better possibilities for the future and for our children.
Edim’s vulnerability and honesty in recounting her life’s journey—caring for her mother with mental illness, protecting her brother during a frightening encounter with law enforcement, navigating the complexities of her relationship with her son's father—resonate deeply. Her life story illustrates how books not only helped her acknowledge her pain but also provided a blueprint for building a safer, more fulfilling inner world. This memoir is a testament to bibliotherapy’s potential to heal, guide, and inspire. Edim’s story, enriched by the literary greats who have shaped her, offers a compelling message of resilience and hope for lovers of Black literature. Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read!
This memoir is a powerful reflection on the writers who influenced Glory deeply, from Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou to Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde. These authors, encountered at various pivotal moments in her life, taught her to value her own voice, trust her emotions, and forge meaningful connections with other Black women.
As a long-time fan and participant in the Well-Read Black Girl book club, I found "Gather Me" to be a powerful and relatable testament to the transformative power of literature. This book is all about the power of bibliotherapy to help validate our experiences, orient us to reality, and support us in dreaming up better possibilities for the future and for our children.
Edim’s vulnerability and honesty in recounting her life’s journey—caring for her mother with mental illness, protecting her brother during a frightening encounter with law enforcement, navigating the complexities of her relationship with her son's father—resonate deeply. Her life story illustrates how books not only helped her acknowledge her pain but also provided a blueprint for building a safer, more fulfilling inner world. This memoir is a testament to bibliotherapy’s potential to heal, guide, and inspire. Edim’s story, enriched by the literary greats who have shaped her, offers a compelling message of resilience and hope for lovers of Black literature. Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2024
Books: they have comforted Glory Edim throughout her life. Readers can relate to the power and inspiration of her words.
This is a personal account of the good times and challenges with her beloved mother, brothers, friends and adoring young son, Zikomo. It makes me want to give her a hug for all that she has endured.
Glory starts when she was eight years old living in a cramped two-bedroom apartment in the DC area. It was Glory who had to hold on tight with her responsibilities of school along with taking care of her brothers. Later in college, she also looked after her single mother who was diagnosed at that time with depression. A lot of people would have stopped in their tracks but she found strength with her good will and kind heart.
The book is well written with the struggles of being a Black woman in America with ancestors from Nigeria. She was given a T-shirt that said: Well-Read Black Girl Book Club. She wore it everywhere in NYC. She said it opened friendships with lots of interesting people. There was so much enthusiasm, she started a literary festival.
Her words will resonate with a lot of readers that love memoirs and especially those who are reaching out for self-help to overcome struggles. It will no doubt give them the endurance that they need to make it through tough times. It ends with a heartfelt letter to her young son.
My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced book with an expected release date of October 29, 2024.
This is a personal account of the good times and challenges with her beloved mother, brothers, friends and adoring young son, Zikomo. It makes me want to give her a hug for all that she has endured.
Glory starts when she was eight years old living in a cramped two-bedroom apartment in the DC area. It was Glory who had to hold on tight with her responsibilities of school along with taking care of her brothers. Later in college, she also looked after her single mother who was diagnosed at that time with depression. A lot of people would have stopped in their tracks but she found strength with her good will and kind heart.
The book is well written with the struggles of being a Black woman in America with ancestors from Nigeria. She was given a T-shirt that said: Well-Read Black Girl Book Club. She wore it everywhere in NYC. She said it opened friendships with lots of interesting people. There was so much enthusiasm, she started a literary festival.
Her words will resonate with a lot of readers that love memoirs and especially those who are reaching out for self-help to overcome struggles. It will no doubt give them the endurance that they need to make it through tough times. It ends with a heartfelt letter to her young son.
My thanks to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced book with an expected release date of October 29, 2024.
August 11, 2024
In this reflective and vulnerable memoir, Glory Edim looks back on her life and the way books have had a lasting impact on her life, from her childhood to present. Edim takes readers back to the lives of her parents, where her Nigerian mother fell in love with an Nigeran-American man and agreed to leave her home seemingly at whim to build a new life in a completely different continent, and the ways in which their separation reverberated in her own upbringing. It was especially at this time that she turned to books, especially those written by female and black authors, for solace and guidance.
It's within the memories of these pages that Glory seems to remember her own life, from the moments she stood up to her high school English teacher for his criticism of Maya Angelou's failed use of grammar to the beginnings of the Well Read Black Girl Book Club with their initial reading and discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates "Between the World and Me". She reveals her struggles as an adolescent and adult, moving from a student at Howard University to an independent adult; her complicated relationship with her biological father; watching her mother struggle with severe depression; and her own difficulties with romantic relationships, including her own entry into motherhood after the birth of her son Zikomo.
There are mentions and passages from a number of incredible authors interspersed in this memoir (Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, Coleson Whitehad, Jacqueline Woodson, etc. ) that any book-lover will delight in, and I walked away with a number of new books to add to my TBR. The writing is complex and thoughtful, and Edim's prose is strong and concise. Well worth a read and very much recommended with "Gather Me" is published in October 2024!
Thank you Ballantine Books for the advance copy of this novel!
It's within the memories of these pages that Glory seems to remember her own life, from the moments she stood up to her high school English teacher for his criticism of Maya Angelou's failed use of grammar to the beginnings of the Well Read Black Girl Book Club with their initial reading and discussion of Ta-Nehisi Coates "Between the World and Me". She reveals her struggles as an adolescent and adult, moving from a student at Howard University to an independent adult; her complicated relationship with her biological father; watching her mother struggle with severe depression; and her own difficulties with romantic relationships, including her own entry into motherhood after the birth of her son Zikomo.
There are mentions and passages from a number of incredible authors interspersed in this memoir (Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, Coleson Whitehad, Jacqueline Woodson, etc. ) that any book-lover will delight in, and I walked away with a number of new books to add to my TBR. The writing is complex and thoughtful, and Edim's prose is strong and concise. Well worth a read and very much recommended with "Gather Me" is published in October 2024!
Thank you Ballantine Books for the advance copy of this novel!
November 10, 2024
What could be better than a memoir and a story about the healing power of books? Edim opens up about the trauma of being abandoned by her father as a child. His leaving the family to return to Nigeria not only devastated her but her mother as well. As her mother escaped into silence, her escape became the world of books. I absolutely loved her discovery of Black authors whose words would forever impact her life. Edim takes the reader from childhood through college, and into adulthood. I loved reading about books and authors and how they inspired her. Her love of books and her search for community led her to form the Well-Read Black Girl. I could totally relate to books that usher you through life and the importance of seeing yourself and life reflected in stories. This book touched me to my core. 4.5 stars
September 12, 2024
This was one of my Netgalley reads. It was a tad bit slow. I was trying to follow up until the last page.
June 3, 2024
‘Gather Me’ by: Glory Edim is a memoir in which Glory grew up with the love of books. The books that she enjoys help her throughout her life. Those books also helped her start a foundation. As I read this book, I discovered there’s so many things the Glory have to go through the good and bad. She has books that saved her from the outside world. Books that can be like a friend or a shoulder to cry on.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book and do a review.
Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book and do a review.
November 18, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I enjoyed this memoir and the accompanying books that shaped the authors life. The writing was good and it gave me a new perspective on the books that I have read. It will one that I will revisit as I read the books/authors noted that I have yet to read and look forward to more stories from this writer.
August 30, 2024
This memoir written by Glory Edim is a testament to her intelligence, incredible strength and character. The story begins when she is eight years old. Her parents migrated from their beloved Nigeria, she is a first generation American. Her dad tells her stories about Nigeria and holds tight to the love of their homeland. He shows Glory lots of love and laughter and Glory adores him. Her mother is fun loving but as hard times befall the family she begins to lose herself.
Her dad up and disappears one day, abandoning his children, he moves back to Nigeria without a word. For years she yearns for him. Her mother remarries an abusive man and gives birth to another son. Glory is tasked with taking care of both her brothers at a very young age while her mother works. She loves her brothers fiercely and does what she can to protect them and keep them fed, out of trouble and safe.
Her mother eventually becomes so depressed Glory must take care of her completely. During all her trials and difficulties Glory manages to find solace in books. Some educate her. Some she can relate to. Some soothe her like a balm spread over a wound. She shares this love of books with her brothers and they spend many hours in libraries. Libraries become their safe haven. She discovers many authors she loves, too many to name in this review. She also refers to many books some of which I have added to my TBR list.
Glory is brilliant, resourceful and caring. Her determination is a force to reckon with. She gets herself a terrific education and starts the Well Read Black Girl Book Club at 30 years old where she begins to make a difference in people’s lives. This book club opening many doors for her.
Readers must read this for themselves to appreciate the message and experience how books can change a life. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip I took with Glory and her brothers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books and Glory Edim for an advanced reader’s copy of this great book.
Her dad up and disappears one day, abandoning his children, he moves back to Nigeria without a word. For years she yearns for him. Her mother remarries an abusive man and gives birth to another son. Glory is tasked with taking care of both her brothers at a very young age while her mother works. She loves her brothers fiercely and does what she can to protect them and keep them fed, out of trouble and safe.
Her mother eventually becomes so depressed Glory must take care of her completely. During all her trials and difficulties Glory manages to find solace in books. Some educate her. Some she can relate to. Some soothe her like a balm spread over a wound. She shares this love of books with her brothers and they spend many hours in libraries. Libraries become their safe haven. She discovers many authors she loves, too many to name in this review. She also refers to many books some of which I have added to my TBR list.
Glory is brilliant, resourceful and caring. Her determination is a force to reckon with. She gets herself a terrific education and starts the Well Read Black Girl Book Club at 30 years old where she begins to make a difference in people’s lives. This book club opening many doors for her.
Readers must read this for themselves to appreciate the message and experience how books can change a life. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip I took with Glory and her brothers.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books and Glory Edim for an advanced reader’s copy of this great book.
May 29, 2024
Such an incredibly beautiful memoir and how literature helps to nurture and heal us if we allow ourselves to experience the power of language and literacy— how it is truly a balm.
November 4, 2024
GATHER ME offers a memoir interwoven with Glory Edim’s chosen life focus on the power of books, a discovery that has brought her public recognition and personal satisfaction.
The daughter of parents who fled Nigeria after the Biafran War, Edim became a caregiver to her brothers as a child in poverty-ridden circumstances. Her father went back to Africa where she lived briefly. Upon her return to the US, her mother found a new man known as “uncle” who treated her with scorn. Reading became her solace, with comfort in such works as ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY by Mildred D. Taylor. Its heroine, Cassie, is Black and performs chores similar to Edim’s. Much the same solace was evinced by Louisa May Alcott’s LITTLE WOMEN, which centers on Jo March, who, like Cassie, is “in peril and somehow made it out.”
Thus began the formation of a template that would shape Edim’s life from that phase to the present day. She read books to find identity, doing as much research as possible on their authors. Zora Neale Hurston became one of the examples that she would follow as a child. Maya Angelou was such a dynamic figure for Edim that at age 18, she spoke out daringly in disagreement with a teacher who had criticized Angelou’s “grammar.”
One of Edim’s greatest achievements was scoring high on the SAT exams. She would attend college despite having to care constantly for her younger siblings and, later, for her mother, who sank into a deep depression. Edim’s female friends in college were a mainstay, and a boyfriend gifted her a T-shirt that altered the course of her life. She established a reader’s cohort, the Well-Read Black Girl Book Club, in which members communicate with one another about books that have special impact on their thinking, a connection that she consciously has been pursuing since childhood.
An award-winning author, Edim arrays her memories deftly from her life’s early deprivations and her eventual triumphs described with a book and an author poised silently in the background to spur her forward. Each chapter is dedicated to such literary lights as Alice Walker, Frederick Douglass, Toni Morrison and William Shakespeare. Edim concludes with a message, perhaps a dedication, to her son Zikomo, encouraging him to read, build his vocabulary and come to understand that words carry truth.
GATHER ME should be added to the library of anyone genuinely drawn to reading as a source of strength and support. It also would make fine fodder for classroom discussion and individual contemplation.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
The daughter of parents who fled Nigeria after the Biafran War, Edim became a caregiver to her brothers as a child in poverty-ridden circumstances. Her father went back to Africa where she lived briefly. Upon her return to the US, her mother found a new man known as “uncle” who treated her with scorn. Reading became her solace, with comfort in such works as ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY by Mildred D. Taylor. Its heroine, Cassie, is Black and performs chores similar to Edim’s. Much the same solace was evinced by Louisa May Alcott’s LITTLE WOMEN, which centers on Jo March, who, like Cassie, is “in peril and somehow made it out.”
Thus began the formation of a template that would shape Edim’s life from that phase to the present day. She read books to find identity, doing as much research as possible on their authors. Zora Neale Hurston became one of the examples that she would follow as a child. Maya Angelou was such a dynamic figure for Edim that at age 18, she spoke out daringly in disagreement with a teacher who had criticized Angelou’s “grammar.”
One of Edim’s greatest achievements was scoring high on the SAT exams. She would attend college despite having to care constantly for her younger siblings and, later, for her mother, who sank into a deep depression. Edim’s female friends in college were a mainstay, and a boyfriend gifted her a T-shirt that altered the course of her life. She established a reader’s cohort, the Well-Read Black Girl Book Club, in which members communicate with one another about books that have special impact on their thinking, a connection that she consciously has been pursuing since childhood.
An award-winning author, Edim arrays her memories deftly from her life’s early deprivations and her eventual triumphs described with a book and an author poised silently in the background to spur her forward. Each chapter is dedicated to such literary lights as Alice Walker, Frederick Douglass, Toni Morrison and William Shakespeare. Edim concludes with a message, perhaps a dedication, to her son Zikomo, encouraging him to read, build his vocabulary and come to understand that words carry truth.
GATHER ME should be added to the library of anyone genuinely drawn to reading as a source of strength and support. It also would make fine fodder for classroom discussion and individual contemplation.
Reviewed by Barbara Bamberger Scott
October 26, 2024
Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me by Glory Edim is an inspiring memoir reflecting on family, community and the power of books and the impact they can have in our lives. Edim grew up in Virginia to Nigerian immigrant parents and for the longest time her only friends, her only solace as in the books. From the books she read in school to the classics she discovered at her local libraries and while in college, she learned about the world around her, about history and about herself. Edim details how the profound writers from Toni Morrison to Maya Angelou, and many more, had impacted the times in her life when times were bleak and gave her hope for the future. Through her love of reading, she was able to form the Well Read Black Girl Book Club and reach millions of other readers.
Books have been a huge part of my life since I was a teen. Like Ms Edim, I found solace and encouragement in the perseverance and resilience of the characters who faced challenges with courage and determination. Glory Edim presents a memoir that books can help us see ourselves as well as others. Her life story is just as much of an inspiration as the books she read as a child. She endured her parents divorce, her father leaving the family behind in America and her mother’s illness to find a platform through books and bring awareness on a wider scale. The hardships she had to endure were heartbreaking and yet her determination to rise above them is heartwarming. Gather Me was an easy read as Ms Edim writes with as much beauty as the authors she admires. Overall, I enjoyed her story and I highly recommend Gather Me.
Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me
Will be available October 29, 2024 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook
Books have been a huge part of my life since I was a teen. Like Ms Edim, I found solace and encouragement in the perseverance and resilience of the characters who faced challenges with courage and determination. Glory Edim presents a memoir that books can help us see ourselves as well as others. Her life story is just as much of an inspiration as the books she read as a child. She endured her parents divorce, her father leaving the family behind in America and her mother’s illness to find a platform through books and bring awareness on a wider scale. The hardships she had to endure were heartbreaking and yet her determination to rise above them is heartwarming. Gather Me was an easy read as Ms Edim writes with as much beauty as the authors she admires. Overall, I enjoyed her story and I highly recommend Gather Me.
Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me
Will be available October 29, 2024 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook
August 25, 2024
Gather Me was such a warm hug and a confirmation that books are truly lifelines, a balm even. I became familiar with Glory via Well-Read Black Girl on Instagram and I've read her two previous books and was excited for the opportunity to read Gather Me. What I love and appreciate most about Glory's memoir, as well al all of her books, is that there is always a guide back to the authors and books that came before her and that have shaped her life experiences. I was so excited that each chapter started with books that shaped the moments of her life that would be discussed later in the chapter. As as fellow well-read black girl that's been reading for as long as I can remember, I saw so much of myself in the timeline of the books Glory had read throughout her life as I'd read most of the books sprinkled throughout the book.
The way that Glory weaved The Color Purple with her own life and her mother is quite magical and had me reflecting on my own life and the women in my family. I came away from Glory's memoir realizing that so many of us are the same in many ways and her memoir really speaks to how books both shape and sometimes help us understand our lives. Books make us feel seen and, while Glory obviously had different life experiences, I could definitely see elements of my life in her words. Gather Me is a guide book and at times a confirmation of what books mean to us. Even Gather Me has the possibility to guide readers in the same way that each book Glory references in Gather Me. It has the potential to be the same balm that other books were for Glory. A well-written book for Well-Read Black Girls everywhere!
The way that Glory weaved The Color Purple with her own life and her mother is quite magical and had me reflecting on my own life and the women in my family. I came away from Glory's memoir realizing that so many of us are the same in many ways and her memoir really speaks to how books both shape and sometimes help us understand our lives. Books make us feel seen and, while Glory obviously had different life experiences, I could definitely see elements of my life in her words. Gather Me is a guide book and at times a confirmation of what books mean to us. Even Gather Me has the possibility to guide readers in the same way that each book Glory references in Gather Me. It has the potential to be the same balm that other books were for Glory. A well-written book for Well-Read Black Girls everywhere!
August 25, 2024
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
I had never heard of Glory Edim, author of “Gather Me,” before I read this book. However, the subtitle “A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me” grabbed my attention. Like Ms. Edim, a number of books influenced my younger life - and still resinate with me today. I found this book to be a deeply thoughtful one, not always easy when looking back at one’s life and revisiting why certain books hit you like they did back then. When Ms. Edim stated that she dislikes (possibly hates) “Catcher in the Rye,” I might’ve cheered aloud [I cannot stand that book and was told by peers and professors that I obviously was a flawed individual]. When Ms. Edim mentions how her teenage self missed the pointed words of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” I had to smile - yep, many do, although Shakespeare points out that play is a tragedy. I really liked seeing the books that Ms. Edim explores - and she explores them in thoughtful ways. I may never like reading Toni Morrison, but I can appreciate what her books were about and how they affected readers. Ms. Edim writes well - and explains things very well - and this book is a thoughtful memoir - covering the good, bad, and in-between not only in her life, but with the books she read to help her wade through this thing called life.
I had never heard of Glory Edim, author of “Gather Me,” before I read this book. However, the subtitle “A Memoir in Praise of the Books that Saved Me” grabbed my attention. Like Ms. Edim, a number of books influenced my younger life - and still resinate with me today. I found this book to be a deeply thoughtful one, not always easy when looking back at one’s life and revisiting why certain books hit you like they did back then. When Ms. Edim stated that she dislikes (possibly hates) “Catcher in the Rye,” I might’ve cheered aloud [I cannot stand that book and was told by peers and professors that I obviously was a flawed individual]. When Ms. Edim mentions how her teenage self missed the pointed words of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” I had to smile - yep, many do, although Shakespeare points out that play is a tragedy. I really liked seeing the books that Ms. Edim explores - and she explores them in thoughtful ways. I may never like reading Toni Morrison, but I can appreciate what her books were about and how they affected readers. Ms. Edim writes well - and explains things very well - and this book is a thoughtful memoir - covering the good, bad, and in-between not only in her life, but with the books she read to help her wade through this thing called life.
September 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It is a love letter of sorts to books. Glory Edim writes about her life and how the books she read spoke to her and helped her through her life. She found her voice, her mirror, and her strength in these books. I am not a Black woman in American but I could feel how much these stories but Black women in America spoke to her and healed or even helped her understand herself. I love books, I find joy, advice, help, love, strength etc. in reading. And to have someone write a memoir about how books shaped them made my heart happy. I had not heard of Glory and her book club before reading this book, but I can tell you that I will be exploring books that she mentions in this book.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for the ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 29, 2024
Gather Me by Glory Edim
Born in America to Nigerian parents, Glory was always a book lover. Happy until chaos entered her life, books were Glory’s lifeboat. Books, libraries and librarians; these things saved her. Woe be to the society that bans books.
Many, many Black authors and their works are mentioned in this memoir. Glory’s favorites stand out and she says why. Nigerian children are expected to obey without question. Don’t talk, don’t ask, just do. Who is to guide you then in a Black or White society? Ah, yes. Books and the experiences of others.
Glory takes you from her childhood to adulthood, always learning always growing. You meet her family, roommates, friends and lovers. Books are always there. Some are the same ones read at different stages of her life. Always helpful, always present.
I recommend this four star memoir to all readers, but think it is especially geared toward young Black women and any lover of books.
Born in America to Nigerian parents, Glory was always a book lover. Happy until chaos entered her life, books were Glory’s lifeboat. Books, libraries and librarians; these things saved her. Woe be to the society that bans books.
Many, many Black authors and their works are mentioned in this memoir. Glory’s favorites stand out and she says why. Nigerian children are expected to obey without question. Don’t talk, don’t ask, just do. Who is to guide you then in a Black or White society? Ah, yes. Books and the experiences of others.
Glory takes you from her childhood to adulthood, always learning always growing. You meet her family, roommates, friends and lovers. Books are always there. Some are the same ones read at different stages of her life. Always helpful, always present.
I recommend this four star memoir to all readers, but think it is especially geared toward young Black women and any lover of books.
November 1, 2024
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Gather Me explores author Glory Edim's life through the lens of the books she encountered over the course of her life.
What an interesting and inspired format for a memoir! A memoir with a side of literary analysis, and a strong argument for the power of reading. This memoir is beautifully written, deeply introspective and artfully realized. I didn't know much about Edim before picking up this book -- I'd heard of Well-Read Black Girl, but didn't really know what it was since it became super popular around a time when I had no bandwidth for personal reading -- but getting to see a person's life through the lens of the books that meant the most to them is such a joyful gift. Books have always been an essential part of my identity, always had a major role in shaping my sense of self and the way I view the world, so it was a joy to sink into a memoir that centers on the ways in which our experience can inform and be informed by what we read.
Gather Me explores author Glory Edim's life through the lens of the books she encountered over the course of her life.
What an interesting and inspired format for a memoir! A memoir with a side of literary analysis, and a strong argument for the power of reading. This memoir is beautifully written, deeply introspective and artfully realized. I didn't know much about Edim before picking up this book -- I'd heard of Well-Read Black Girl, but didn't really know what it was since it became super popular around a time when I had no bandwidth for personal reading -- but getting to see a person's life through the lens of the books that meant the most to them is such a joyful gift. Books have always been an essential part of my identity, always had a major role in shaping my sense of self and the way I view the world, so it was a joy to sink into a memoir that centers on the ways in which our experience can inform and be informed by what we read.
October 22, 2024
Recognizing the books that shaped her, this memoir uses books as the guideposts for the telling of Ms. Edim's life. Some of the books I too have read and I felt a kinship with her as she described how they made her feel and what she took from them. Some of the books I haven't read and I was excited to hear how they impacted Ms. Edim. I look forward to reading many of those myself! The only struggle I had with this book was a bit of the jumping around. I recognize that it was because Ms. Edim was telling her story somewhat by topic instead of chronological, but this got a bit confusing at times. All in all, I enjoyed the insight into a completely different world and how her love of books helped sustain and nurture her!
Thanks to Random House for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to Random House for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
November 1, 2024
In this book, Edim delivers a powerful exploration of literature's transformative power, weaving together personal stories and incisive literary insights to craft a memoir that celebrates the books that have shaped her, while inviting readers to contemplate their own relationships with literature.
I wholeheartedly recommend “Gather Me” to book enthusiasts who recognize the transformative impact of literature. Edim's memoir serves as a poignant tribute to the authors and stories that have inspired her, offering profound reflections on the capacity of literature to influence our lives. Whether a longstanding devotee of the Well-Read Black Girl book club or newly introduced to Edim's work, is a universally relatable memoir.
I wholeheartedly recommend “Gather Me” to book enthusiasts who recognize the transformative impact of literature. Edim's memoir serves as a poignant tribute to the authors and stories that have inspired her, offering profound reflections on the capacity of literature to influence our lives. Whether a longstanding devotee of the Well-Read Black Girl book club or newly introduced to Edim's work, is a universally relatable memoir.
November 11, 2024
Edim’s earlier book, Well Read Black Girl, is based on the organization she founded by the same name. This is her personal story of growing up as a Black female, a Nigerian immigrant, and raising and educating her two younger brothers and herself, while coping with her single mother’s mental illness. Fortunately, she was eventually able to find the help she needed for her mother to recover, become once again independent, and live a fulfilling life. Family relationships were restored and healed. Throughout, Edim gives credit to how books have inspired and empowered her throughout her challenges. The first few chapters were a little slow for me, while she talked about and analyzed the meaning of some of her earlier reads. I think she talked about the same themes in her earlier book, but once she got more into her personal life, it was hard to put the book down.
November 19, 2024
I’ve been following Well Read Black Girl (WRBG) on Instagram and I love the diverse, multicultural books that they promote for their online book club. I commend Glory Edim for creating a space to spotlight Black women’s literature and sharing on such a huge platform. I was such a fan of her previous book that focused on a wonderful collection of essays by black women (actresses, authors, poets) expressing their love for literature and reading. When I heard she was releasing a memoir I was excited to delve into Edim’s own story of why she created WRBG and her own personal connection with reading.
Read the full book review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile....
Read the full book review on the blog at: https://www.lifeofafemalebibliophile....
July 29, 2024
I knew this book would be meaningful because I follow Glory Edim and love her posts. Her life story contrasted with the books that were significant to her at the time was very touching. I highlighted so many lines in this ARC that were very meaningful to me. As a literature teacher, the section that she writes about her professor and how his critique of Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings affected her will stay with me and help to influence the way I deliver my lessons. If you love books and love words, please read this book. I plan to buy a copy for myself and highlight the same sections I noted in this ARC provided to me by NetGalley and Penguin Random House.
August 27, 2024
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the copy of Gather Me by Glory Edim. I loved this love letter to books and to her family. Each chapter began with a list of books and authors that inspired her, and the chapters explained what the books and authors meant to her. She found so much comfort in the books she loved, and I hope it will inspire other readers to do the same. Edim has a writing style that really drew me into the book and her life. She has a great attitude about her life, and where other writers might bemoan life’s setbacks, Edim uses them to make her life better and to learn. You should read this beautiful book! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
October 29, 2024
I haven't yet read Glory Edim's other memoir Well-Read Black Girl, but I came across her story before.
Since I haven't read her other memoir, I can't speak to how they compare, but this was a very powerful love story both to Edim's love of reading and to her family. Her love for both was present in every chapter. Edim's way of writing draws you into her story, which was both authentic and poignant.
Recommended if you like stories about reading and how books can bring meaning and peace and joy and power through the various ups and downs of life.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Since I haven't read her other memoir, I can't speak to how they compare, but this was a very powerful love story both to Edim's love of reading and to her family. Her love for both was present in every chapter. Edim's way of writing draws you into her story, which was both authentic and poignant.
Recommended if you like stories about reading and how books can bring meaning and peace and joy and power through the various ups and downs of life.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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