I'm Down

A Memoir

By: Mishna Wolff

Narrated by: Mishna Wolff

Mishna Wolff grew up in a poor black neighborhood with her single father, a white man who truly believed he was black. "He strutted around with a short perm, a Cosby-esque sweater, gold chains and a Kangol - telling jokes like Redd Fox, and giving advice like Jesse Jackson. You couldn't tell my father he was white. Believe me, I tried," writes Wolff. And so from early childhood on, her father began his crusade to make his white daughter "down".

Unfortunately, Mishna didn't quite fit in with the neighborhood kids: she couldn't dance, she couldn't sing, she couldn't double dutch, and she was the worst player on her all-black basketball team. She was shy, uncool, and painfully white. And yet when she was suddenly sent to a rich white school, she found she was too "black" to fit in with her white classmates.

I'm Down is a hip, hysterical, and at the same time beautiful memoir that will have you howling with laughter, recommending it to friends and questioning what it means to be black and white in America.

©2009 Mishna Wolff (P)2009 Tantor

Critic reviews

" Down certainly has serious thoughts on its mind...but the tone manages to be light and triumphant because of the hilarious child-goggles Wolff wears while spinning her tales." ( Entertainment Weekly)

great listen...

i found the character development was slow but overall, the book was very honest and humorous. The author has a great way of being candid throughout the book. She narrated it as well which I found refreshing...each character's personality and depiction was exactly as she wanted it.

I want a sequel!

This was so hilarious and full of life that I miss this whole family now. I want to go hang out with her Dad and watch how a family like hers operates. I laughed out loud in the car many times and would get home and tell my husband the shenanigans like I had hung out with her all day. She had a wonderful perspective on her crazy life, she made it through with humor and pure bravery. I am hoping to see her next book soon!

I Really Am Down With This Book!

No words, but I'll try. I laughed, cried, and was simply amazed at the story telling ability of Mishna Wolff. I was reminded of my childhood in so many ways. I never wanted the book to end, and even looked for a sequel, but no luck. Mishna managed to turn what could have been a dreary story of growing up in a racially confused home into a wonderfully bright memoir. Her white dad, who is believes on some level he is black, is such an interesting character. I forgot the name of the woman he married, but she was so well drawn out, that I feel like I know her. Mishna, herself, is quite a strong personality and manages in some miraculous way to get her needs met. I was also raised in a mixed family, so I could relate in so many ways. I can't recommend this book enough!!

Hilarious and Touching

SO funny. Mishna Wolff has an awesome ability to bring the listener along while visiting memories far in her past to experience them together from a place of simultaneous childhood wonder and adult empathy. What a gift.

At times funny / at times sad

Would you consider the audio edition of I'm Down to be better than the print version?

Not having read the print version, I can't say.

What other book might you compare I'm Down to and why?

Maybe the Glass Castle?

Which scene was your favorite?

The book is composed of lots of short scenes. Any scene with her father in it was tense and interesting.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The whole book was moving. It is funny at times and at times gut wrenching. Some of the one liners are very amusing.

Any additional comments?

The power of this book is it's honesty.

Good

It was a very odd buyt great book and the ending was a mike drop it was awesome

Memoir was Okay

The reader's flow was mismatched. you couldn't speed the audio without having issues. The story felt like it was jumping at times and it was difficult to decipher the main character's age.

The Characterization

I LOVED the performance! Amazing job of creating all of the characters and imbuing them with the voice of the story. Wonderful story of life in-between. I could have done without all the F bombs and Mofos though!

Entertaining . . . and more

Engaging and funny! Then it took a few turns and became a poignant coming of age story. Overall, excellent and unique. I want to hear more from Wolff.

Wow

In light of the whole Rachel Dolezal debacle, someone suggested I listen to this book. I laughed a lot but for much of the book I was very, very angry. Some people should never ever EVER BE ALLOWED THE PRIVILEGE OF RAISING KIDS. I vacillated to wanting to pumps lap her birth patents and her stepmother. So very damaged and what she went through is heartbreaking. Glad she seemed to make it out and at least get a New York Times Best Seller out of it.