68 pages • 2 hours read
Makes Me Wanna Holler
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Book Brief
448
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Portsmouth, Virginia • 1960s-1980s
1994
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Makes Me Wanna Holler by Nathan McCall details his life growing up in a working-class Black neighborhood in Portsmouth, Virginia during the 1960s and 1970s, his descent into crime due to systemic racism and lack of opportunity, his incarceration, and eventual self-improvement through education and resolve, leading to a career in journalism despite enduring persistent racial challenges. The book discusses topics such as crime, incarceration, and racial discrimination.
Gritty
Challenging
Emotional
Dark
Informative
Reviews & Readership
6,619 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Nathan McCall's Makes Me Wanna Holler receives praise for its raw and powerful storytelling, reflecting on the systemic challenges and personal growth of an African American man. Critics commend its authentic voice and social relevance but note the graphic content and harsh realities depicted may be unsettling for some readers.
Who Should Read Makes Me Wanna Holler?
Readers who would enjoy Nathan McCall’s Makes Me Wanna Holler are likely drawn to deeply personal and socially reflective memoirs. Fans of Richard Wright’s Black Boy or Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me would appreciate McCall’s raw narrative on race, redemption, and resilience in America.
6,619 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
448
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
Portsmouth, Virginia • 1960s-1980s
1994
Adult
18+ years
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