And it sets people up who read it expecting that for failure. They create imposter syndrome. She even has someone to talk natural hair care with. There are a lot of people who could have done it. I also wasn't the only Black person where I worked. I fortunately did not have it nearly as bad as Nella does. Most impressively it changes genre as the narrative progresses. A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist. A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace,The Other Black Girlwill keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist. Why did the author choose hair grease for the social lubricant? We got introduced to some new characters, and I was kind of confused and unsure where the story was going. I knew what was happening pretty early on, but there were some details that I definitely didnt guess. Some reviews have discussed the device that connects Nella and Hazel with their older counterparts Kendra and Diana, Kendra having been her best friend Diana's editor on a novel titled Burning Heart that catapulted those two women to fame but also created a deep schism between them. If youre attracted to someone on the yacht, the worst thing you can do is tell Gary. Marie Claire is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. A New York Times best seller, The Other Black Girl is being adapted into a limited series for Hulu. Let's talk about hair in the book because it played such a crucial role. My partner was like, What if it's the grease? And I was like, duh. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. That sets the bar high with the promise of a cultural landmark a novel that's timely, hilarious, witty, mildly terrifying, emotionally textured and conversant on the social and political issues. @tbretc, A post shared by Tina | TBR, etc. You have to be thoughtful about how you are speaking with people, how you see the office, because all of those things matter. I did love that the story took place in The Publishing Industry. And I realized I wasnt feeling the thriller aspect of the story. Why didnt I think of this myself? But that excitement soon gives way to fear. ', Harriss debut novel is unique and creative, it defies being categorized into just one genre. Once I actually finished reading the book, I felt so unsettled. I worked to make sure that we understood her insecurities and how Hazel stirs them up about not being Black enough and about Nellas desire to be the next big Black editor. You can order the book on Amazon here. Over the next seven days, amidst a steamy Brooklyn summer, Eva and Shane reconnectbut Evas wary of the man who broke her heart, and wants him out of the city so her life can return to normal. Before Shane disappears though, she needs a few questions answered. And it was exhausting. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories. I sat down with Harris via Zoom to talk about her inspiration for the novel, natural hair at work, the book's upcoming Hulu adaptation, and the truly shocking ending. One month later, Diana receives a frantic call from someone who wants to do something about Kendra Raes bad press. My dad worked at Golf Digest in the late 80s and early 90s, and he was discriminated against: He did not get promoted when he should have been, and he ended up filing a lawsuit. Kudos to the author for committing to a book that SHE wanted to write." Its a little horror, a little literary fiction, and really interesting. I would walk him through all the different pieces of the plot: There was something controlling the women, but robots felt too easy and obvious I was like, Ive seen The Stepford Wives, that has been done. And my fianc said, Well, what if its in the grease? I was so mad. She has been the only Black person at Wagner Books for the last two years. Shes driven and determined to make her mark in the publishing industry and tries not to let the microaggressions and outright racism of her colleagues at times weigh her down. Defeated and somewhat relieved, Nella finally consents to conversion. "Another Girl" - an indie thriller I worked on, releases in five days The author, Zakiya Dalila Harris, does a fantastic job of creating a narrative that tackles some serious shit that is NOT talked about enough: microaggressions, racial alienation, racism, white-washing, and tokenism, just to name a few. "Head officially still spinning from the summer blockbuster that isThe Other Black Girl! A whip-smart and dynamic thriller and sly social commentary that is perfect for anyone who has ever felt manipulated, threatened, or overlooked in the workplace, The Other Black Girl will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last twist. So much of this book isnt fiction; being a cis-white female afforded white-privilege, I dont presume to assume I even remotely know what it is like to live in the everyday reality of a person of color, but I believe this mirrors the unacceptable reality that people of color face every day in and out of the workplace. I know youre a cowriter on the show too. However, it soon becomes clear that Hazel is not focused on new friendships. When the company hires another black girl, Nella hopes theyll be each others allies. Money was very, very, very tight before the book, even with my partner sharing the rent. "Im going to try my best to review without spoiling anything here, so Ill avoid discussing the actual plot. Many Black women see hair grease as this benign thing. @turnpageswithmimi, A post shared by Mimi N. (@turnpageswithmimi) (opens in new tab). The Other Black Girlis both a sharp social commentary and a thriller. 'Black Girl Missing' Ending Explained - Was Lauren Baker Found Alive? Nella is delighted to learn that the scent means Hazel-May McCall has been hired as a new editorial assistant. Here are some more recommendations along with links to book club questions. There were a lot of plot holes, one-dimensional characters, and many characters were introduced and didn't contribute at all to the plot. Then the unexpected happens as Hazel becomes elevated in the company and Nella is being pushed outbut by who?!! I didn't want it to just be [publishing magnate] Richard, an evil white man at the topwe've seen that before. Star Wars Jedi: Survivor ending & post-credits scene explained Theres a lot to unpack in this book. Im not reading to make sure everyones okay.. Did you always know that that was going to be how it happened? Wagner surprises Nella by hiring another Black woman named Hazel-May McCall. New York Magazine. Occasional chapters seem to rise out of nowhere, but they are actual plot thickeners, devices that will ultimately take 'The Other Black Girl' toward a kind of sad and wholly earned brilliance. The latest entry in MacLean's 'Hell's Belles' universe is a delightfully feminist twist on Regency-era romance romps. It made the ending easier to write: What ultimately transforms her wasnt a pill Nella had to take. On what Nella faces every day at Wagner books. Why did Nella eventually take the social lubricant? The Other Black Girl traces the experiences of five Black women at Wagner Books from 1983 to 2018 to address subjects including systemic and internalized racism, Black female experiences, workplace privilege, and the role of media in racial representations. The star figured prominently in the Dominion lawsuit. My purpose here and my worth here is in question now. Then you find out that hes a serial killer on the very last page. I think Harris really captured these interactions and they had me nodding my head in recognition. So that scene where Hazel is telling Nella, Don't you want to be free? That scene was me taking my own personality and my own perspective of what it was like to work on my book and feel like it mattered when, on the other side of it, people are dying. Yeah. I grew up with this idea of, You have to literally fight the system or get out in order to be heard. Thats people being people. So the advance was huge. Harris, who worked as an editorial assistant at Alfred A. Knopf publishing house in Manhattan, draws together elements of literary realism and science fiction horror to deliver a novel in which office politics breed paranoia and natural haircare products condition more than dreadlocks. Read an excerpt from the bookhere (opens in new tab). But when Nella begins receiving threatening notes at work, and cracks appear in what shed hoped would be an idyllic work-wife friendship, Nella begins to suspect a more sinister force is trying to derail her careerand unravel her life in ways she could never have imagined. 7th District AME Church: God First Holy Conference 2023 - Facebook Then after a bit, the book took a turn that I wasnt really expecting. Unapologetic. Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. At the beginning of Part 4 Diana recounts the chain of events leading from 1983 to 2018. I was revising that scene last summer, which was when I had edits back at my desk. She's expected to speak, but in a certain way, right? The revelation came from my partner, now my fianc. I agree and I like when Nella is trying to explain that its a feeling. The book draws on her own experiences in publishing. Unable to stand by and watch Nellas conversion, Shani defies the Resistance and contacts Nella directly; however, the Resistance intercepts Shani before they can meet. But I wanted to play around with a third option in the book, too: that Nella might fail but that her failure could be a kind of success, a way to finally be in control. All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. There will be spoilers so for more context about the book, check out my spoiler-free review first. The book started out as a thriller and veered into horror, a la Rosemary's Baby or The Stepford Wives. One example is the I dont see color comment. This novel is full of well-crafted surprises and sucker-punch moments, with pacing that accelerates like a contemporary fiction freight train. As much as the premise was promising, I found the novel underbaked and overall a missed opportunity." 'Other Black girls' are the ones that are in cahoots with white people. If you choose the first path, as a young Black woman, you may find yourself sublimating your true self not just style and taste, but the very ideas and principles at your core. Effectively marketed as Get Out meets The Devil Wears Prada, the story infuses bits of sci-fi and horror with razor-sharp commentary about trying to ascend the corporate ladder as a woman of color with a truly chilling ending. They all die, but he survives and gets through the entire night. @booksnbikram, A post shared by Tonja Wheatley (@booksnbikram) (opens in new tab), "In the cutthroat world of New York publishing, Nella is an editorial assistant sick of being the only Black girl in the office. A lot of it is exaggeration. (@smileitsjoy) (opens in new tab), "'The first sign was the smell of cocoa butter.'. Weve seen her get embarrassed at the office. Review: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris - Oprah Daily How does it feel being a name in the zeitgeist? 2023 Met Gala Carpet Is Approved by Your Dentist. I started writing The Other Black Girl in January 2019, when I was working at Knopf Doubleday. Someone mentioned to me recently, I thought this was going to be about two Black women being friends and having fun. Its like, Sorry, my bad. Are you prepared to sacrifice some parts of the story? " @calicoedit, A post shared by Ally | Fiction Editor (@calicoedit) (opens in new tab). New York, They both know what it's like to feel stigmas about their hair from other people. When did you suspect that something was off with Hazel? I wrote that scene of her in the cubicle at the very beginning of chapter one when I was sitting at my cubicle. Initially the women bond over their shared Black experience. The Other Black Girl is both a sharp social commentary and a thriller. I think you need to listen to the person who's being affected by it. Oh, congrats. Published in 2021, Zakiya Dalila Harriss The Other Black Girl is a psychological thriller set in Manhattans competitive, predominantly white publishing scene.