The Other Side of Paradise

I just finished Staceyann Chin's memoir and it was amazing, as donyea would say that's the most beautifulest story I've ever read. After finishing it I want to give her a hug and not out of a sense of pity but I think I want the hug more for me. She makes me feel like everything is going to be alright, like I can do this crazy thing called life. I don't even know what to say, I don't know how to accurately capture the way I'm feeling. While I was reading much of her story I just couldn't believe that one person could go through so much and still be so amazing. When I saw her at the reading she oozed poise, confidence sexiness and so much more. I sat there in awe of her as a human being and a black lesbian and a survivor. She's just so fucking amazing (which I realize I've said 10 times before). While I've never been abandoned by both parents her story speaks to me. I don't even think it's her story as much as it's her voice. Reading her words and thoughts I got it, I understood her, I saw me.

Her book only goes up to her leaving Jamaica, and I wanna say that I understood or sympathized with her feelings about leaving home and taking control over her life but I more than I understood I felt her words as much as I felt my own when I finally left home. I don't know how to talk about it anymore than I already have but I really want to hug her, for me to know that she's real and she really made it.

So run don't walk and get the book, it's amazing!