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    Around the Way Girl: A Memoir
    Around the Way Girl: A Memoir
    Around the Way Girl: A Memoir
    Audiobook7 hours

    Around the Way Girl: A Memoir

    Written by Taraji P. Henson and Denene Millner

    Narrated by Taraji P. Henson

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    2017 Audie Award Finalist for Autobiography/Memoir

    From Taraji P. Henson, Academy Award nominee, Golden Globe winner, and star of the award-winning film Hidden Figures and the 2023 film The Color Purple, comes an inspiring and funny memoir—“a bona fide hit” (Essence)—about family, friends, the hustle required to make it in Hollywood, and the joy of living your own truth.

    With a sensibility that recalls her beloved screen characters, including Katherine, the NASA mathematician, Yvette, Queenie, Shug, and the iconic Cookie from Empire, Taraji P. Henson writes of her family, the one she was born into and the one she created. She shares stories of her father, a Vietnam vet who was bowed but never broken by life’s challenges, and of her mother who survived violence both at home and on DC’s volatile streets. Here, too, she opens up about her experiences as a single mother, a journey some saw as a burden but which she saw as a gift.

    Around the Way Girl is also a classic actor’s memoir in which Taraji reflects on the world-class instruction she received at Howard University and how she chipped away, with one small role after another, at Hollywood’s resistance to give women, particularly women of color, meaty significant roles. With laugh-out-loud humor and candor, she shares the challenges and disappointments of the actor’s journey and shows us that behind the red carpet moments, she is ever authentic. She is at heart just a girl in pursuit of her dreams in this “inspiring account of overcoming adversity and a quest for self-discovery, written with vitality and enthusiasm” (Shelf Awareness).
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateOct 11, 2016
    ISBN9781508229179
    Author

    Taraji P. Henson

    Born and raised in Washington, DC, Taraji P. Henson graduated from Howard University. She earned a Golden Globe for her role as Cookie in Empire, an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actress opposite Brad Pitt in David Fincher’s The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and was a 2011 Emmy nominee for Best Actress in a Movie or Miniseries for Lifetime’s Taken From Me. She also won the 2014 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Detective Joss Carter in CBS’s Person of Interest. Henson made her singing debut in Hustle & Flow and performed the Academy Award-winning song “It’s Hard Out Here For a Pimp” on the Oscar telecast. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her son and has a strong dedication to helping disabled and less fortunate children. Follow her on Twitter @TheRealTaraji.

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    Reviews for Around the Way Girl

    4.5/5

    530 ratings49 reviews

    What our readers think

    Readers find this title to be an amazing and inspiring memoir. Taraji P. Henson opens up about her past experiences with honesty and relatability. Her storytelling is captivating and her delivery is excellent. The book provides insight into her life, struggles, heartaches, and successes. It is a must-read for fans of Taraji and anyone in the entertainment industry. The personal narration by the author adds an extra level of intimacy to the book. Overall, readers highly recommend this book for its realness, rawness, and unapologetic truth.

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      I loved the fact that the author herself was the one narrating the book, it made it 10x more personal, loved the book it’s amazing

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Great memoir! Love hearing Taraji's personality as she read it.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This book was raw and powerful. It gave me inspiration and motivation to continue on with my goals. It showcased the struggles and triumphant of a strong black women. With many stereotypes this was the breath of fresh air to allow one to know they are more than a stereotype. The stories the author told were real and while Listening I felt as if she was telling it to me personally. Always a fan of her work, this only increased what I felt. I recommend this book for all women and men because her story is inspiring to realize just how great you are through anything.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Loved, loved, loved Taraji’s memoir! Listening to her tell her story was AMAZING!
    • 2/5
      In this book Taraji tried to integrate her childhood with her experiences in her adulthood to showcase the impact her family and friends or childhood had on her. The book is centered around the bias towards her as an actress, how she was boxed and stereotyped for specific roles by Hollywood until she she got her big break in Best Men. The arrangement of the book could be improved.

    • 5/5
      This book was Amazing to read I laughed and cried!
    • 5/5
      Seeing how individual characters in our lives make us who we’re. I loved her personality
    • 5/5
      Loved it! I fell in love with Evette and this book made everything come full circle! It’s some movies I haven’t seen mentioned! So I’m going to check them out!
    • 5/5
      ??? was an amazing book written by an amazing woman. Let’s me know no matter the obstacles you can become the person you know you have the potential to become but you got to have the faith and determination!!!
    • 5/5
      Taraji's story and delivery of this memoir both were amazing!
    • 5/5
      Love her storytelling! Has sparked the desire to watch her past films
    • 5/5
      This was a remarkable and animated collection of stories from her past. So inspiring to be humble, work hard, accept your blessings, follow and nurture one’s god given talent.
    • 5/5
      Seeing how she pulled herself up from nothing was awesome motivation! #powerofthehustle
    • 4/5
      Taraji’s voice impression of her dad. I liked that she gave an easy to visualize narrative.
    • 5/5
      Direct. Dynamic. Diplomatic. Dishy. Would Like To Meet Her Face 2 Face.
    • 5/5
      Taraji’s realness comes through with every word. She reveals what has made her one of the sought after actresses in Hollywood. She’s committed going over and above to give at the highest level. My admiration for her has grown ten-fold. Can’t wait to see her in the next movie - really see her!

      Thanks Taraji for sharing your heart and mind with us. Great read (or listen)!
    • 5/5
      She is raw, real and Beautiful! This was a great book.
    • 5/5
      This book was powerful, inspiring and encouraging especially for women of color!
    • 5/5
      I loved the way Taraji chose to tell her story---her way and with the candidness that we all love her for. ?
    • 5/5
      Taraji is a beautiful person, inside and out. Thank you for sharing your life, struggles, heartaches, and successes with us! We love and support you. Keep bringing your God given talent to our screens, we appreciate you and enjoy watching you! God Bless!!!
    • 5/5
      This book was Magnificent !!! A must read !! !
    • 5/5
      Oh Taraji! She's just as good a writer/story-teller as she is an actress. This book is by far the best autobiography I have read and that's based on the content as well as the writing style. Really loved it.
    • 5/5
      Captivating story, brought to life in a way no other than Taraji could!
    • 5/5
      This book was so real, raw and unapologetic. It was the truth and inspiring. I cried, I laughed, and was empowered to live my truth. Definitely one of my favorite books.
    • 5/5
      Excellent what a great read I will refer this book to family and friends
    • 5/5
      This was definitely an insight into our African American community. Exhibiting the strength and preservance that we must have while navigating in this would. IT was enriching to get a glimpse into Henson's world from childhood throughout her adult life and career. Often times there is the stigma that African Americans are born into poverty however, Taraji illustrated the progression of the Black community in whole during those times. How family units and that despite being raised in a single-family home we too can rise. Her relationship with her parents had personal connection with me (and so many I presume) and has lifted my lids for new found perspective.
      Exceptional - Thank you ...

      I want MORE!
    • 5/5
      Taraji P Henson is an amazing person! That’s a simple description but sometimes some people have so much beauty that you don’t need to complicate it! Loved it!!!!!
    • 5/5
      loved it! She is so inspirational ❤️ she give me what i need to continue on my journey and follow my dream
    • 5/5
      This is a great story about Taraji climbing her way up to success. It is an example of the hard work it takes and the faith one must have to achieve one's dreams.
    • 5/5
      Absolutely amazing story and an amazing woman.
      I loved it