Shame on Me (memoir)
 | |
| Author | Tessa McWatt |
|---|---|
| Country | Canada |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Memoir |
| Publisher | Random House of Canada |
Publication date | March 24, 2020 |
| Media type | |
Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging is a collection of autobiographical essays by Guyana-born Canadian writer Tessa McWatt,[1] published on March 24, 2020, by Random House Canada.
Reception[edit]
Shame on Me received a starred review from Quill & Quire, which said: "Tessa McWatt’s original and moving memoir, interrogates ideas of race, belonging, shame, purpose, destiny, desire, and identity. Through an examination of her physical body, she holds up a mirror to the ways culture and society read race and the bodies of others – their skin, hair, bones, and more. She does this with remarkable research and precision – an anatomical and literary close-reading of her own history and heritage."[2] Among other positive reviews were those appearing in Caribbean Collective Magazine ("a vivid picture of how oppressive regimes from colonial times follow us to the modern day"),[3] Medium ("McWatt seamlessly connects the past and present...a beautifully woven account"),[4] CBC Books ("a personal and powerful exploration of history and identity"),[5] and in The Guardian, where Barbara Taylor described Shame on Me as an "eloquent and moving book".[6] CBC named it one of the top nonfiction books of 2020.[7] The book also received the following accolades:
- Governor General's Literary Award for Nonfiction finalist (2020)[8]
- OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature shortlist (2021)[9]
References[edit]
- ^ "Tessa McWatt, Bionic Woman". Wordfest. Calgary, Canada. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
- ^ Mason Pierre, Terese (2020-05-25). "Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging". Quill and Quire. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ Alya (October 2020). "For Multiracial Girls: My Review of Tessa McWatt's 'Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging'". Caribbean Collective Magazine. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ Fitzhugh, Becky (2021-02-10). "Review of Shame on Me- An Anatomy of Race and Belonging, Tessa McWatt". Medium. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Shame on Me". CBC Books. July 30, 2020. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
- ^ Taylor, Barbara (2019-12-23). "Shame on Me by Tessa McWatt review – on race and belonging". The Guardian. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "The best Canadian nonfiction of 2020". CBC Books. 2020-12-18. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Francesca Ekwuyasi, Billy-Ray Belcourt & Anne Carson among 2020 Governor General's Literary Awards finalists". CBC Books. 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Announcing the 2020 OCM Bocas Prize Shortlist • Bocas Lit Fest". Bocas Lit Fest. 2020-04-02. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
External links[edit]
- "40 works of Canadian nonfiction to watch for in spring 2020", CBC Books, March 5, 2020.
- "The CBC Books 2020 summer reading list", CBC Books, June 30, 2020.
- "Tessa McWatt explores race through the lens of her own multi-ethnic identity in her latest book", CBC Radio, May 8, 2020.
- Ryan B. Patrick, "How life in a Trumpian, post-Brexit world prompted Tessa McWatt to explore race and identity in her new memoir", CBC Books, June 3, 2020.
- "25 books by Black Canadian authors to read in 2021", CBC Books, February 18, 2021.
- "20 books by Black Canadian authors to read in honour of Emancipation Day 2021", CBC Books, July 30, 2021.