Around the Way Girl: A Memoir Paperback – July 4, 2017

Beautifully written book with many life lessons to learn. Full of love and life and always showing there is a way to live your dream if you believe in yourself and never take no for an answer. Incredible story thank you for sharing your life with us.

I just finished reading AROUND THE WAY GIRL a couple of days ago.I first saw actress Taraji P. Henson years ago in a romantic comedy called "Something New." It was a small funny role as one of the best friends to the main character (played by Sanaa Lathan). Then, earlier this year I saw her as "Proud Mary"--a hit woman. Right before I saw the film, I thought, This is interesting. Can she play this role convincingly? The answer is that she can, brilliantly (with a top-notch cast, though I didn't like the ending).Then I went to see "Acrimony" about a woman's rage at her so-called cheating husband--a love triangle. My guess is that these films do not resonate with some critics, but they do with the audience. The first time I saw "Acrimony", I overheard a woman in the theatre say of Tyler Perry--the screenwriter and director--"This was his best film yet."The woman had seen all of Mr. Perry's films. I had not. (In fact, I disapprove of/do not like the famed Madea character.) The second time I saw the film, I critically evaluated the screenplay and the performances. Were the characters believable? Absolutely. Did the plot twists make sense? Absolutely. Did they create a cohesive whole? Absolutely. Was the dialogue realistic? Totally. Were the performances believable? Totally. During the second half of the film, I was literally on the edge of my seat, every minute a thrill. (Spoiler alert: at one point, I yelled at the screen, "But you dumped him!"--which is something I NEVER do.)I was not a Tyler Perry fan before. But I am now. In "Acrimony", Ms. Henson infused Melinda with such specific detail and nuance, I thought, Wow, Best Actress Oscar. (In fact, all the actors involved delivered admirable performances. Ms. Henson's two co-stars, Lyriq Bent and Crystle Stewart, deserve Oscars as well.)So once I saw Ms. Henson play these two characters, I was interested in how her life had informed those portrayals. That is why I bought the book.As I read, I began to see and understand the intertwining of the actress' life, the roles she chooses, and her acting process. By the end of this memoir, I recalled a comment she made in an interview: I can play from Shakespeare to modern and everything in between. That's a paraphrase and I was skeptical, but I'm now convinced. I'm looking forward to her next film.

I’ve always loved Taraji Henson. All of her movies or any shows I made sure I watched if she was in to because it’s something about her aura that just draws me to her. This book, really sealed the deal for me.Her ability to be raw & authentic on screen has ALWAYS stood out to me and this book emphasizes all that. Her story is beautiful and it was so many parts in this book that made me cry because i could relate to so much in my own way. I loved reading this book and I recommend for everyone to read it if you’re looking to really understand Taraji on a much more deeper level. She is so such a beautiful soul and even in writing this I want to cry because this book touched so many parts of me on a deep level it’s crazy.Thank you so much for this memoir Taraji. As a young single mother of two girls who just turned 30 this year you really helped my to appreciate all the trials and tribulations that’s comes with being a single mom and figuring out how to balance that plus your own personal life. I’m still learning and I don’t have all the answers but this book has touched my soul and provided so much insight on various things.

Such an interesting read by a strong, independent, resilient woman. Always fascinating to learn about someone’s rise to the top when that person is born into less than ideal societal circumstances; However, when that person is a Black woman, her story transcends “interesting” and, instead, is better described as “epic” or “phenomenal”. Ms. Henson takes us there and reminds us that, often, it only takes one person to believe in us. Very impressed with Ms. Henson’s ability to appreciate the positives in people and any situation. Above all, the author is living proof that we need more opportunities for women of her caliber to shine.

As promised.

Taraji has written and most fascinating and heartwarming story of her life. I have always enjoyed her work but will now have a new respect and admiration of her as a thoughtful. sensitive human being. I love her honesty coupled with feistiness as she interacts with not only those in the industry but with family and friends. There is not a trace of phony devious attempts to further her own agenda while she remains true to herself. I enjoyed reading about her thoughts and feelings regarding her various roles. As she said she becomes the character and it is quite evident. I had such a warmly excited and positive feeling about Taraji P. Henson that I began exploring all things Taraji. I have actually ordered her movies so that I will own them and watch whenever the mood strikes me. I also was motivated to find out the source of where her name came from. Taraji means hope and Penda (her middle name) means love. I may have switched them but if you do a diligent web search you can check for yourself. My movies are due to arrive tomorrow and I will jump write in watching. As an aside, I like the way she revealed her commitment to a healthy diet and regular exercise which should be a motivating goal for us all, particularly Black women who want to live a long time and be healthy doing it.