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Around the Way Girl cover art

Around the Way Girl

Written by: Taraji P. Henson
Narrated by: Taraji P. Henson
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Publisher's Summary

2017 Audie Award Finalist for Autobiography/Memoir

Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Taraji P. Henson reads her inspiring and funny book about family, friends, the hustle required to make it from DC to Hollywood, and the joy of living in your own truth.

With a sensibility that recalls her beloved screen characters, including Yvette, Queenie, Shug, and the iconic Cookie from Empire, yet is all Taraji, the screen actress writes of her families - the one she was born into and the one she created. She shares stories of her father, a Vietnam vet who was bowed but never broken by life's challenges, and of her mother, who survived violence both in the home and on DC's volatile streets. Here, too, she opens up about her experiences as a single mother, a journey some saw as a burden but she saw as a gift.

Around the Way Girl is also a classic actor's memoir in which Taraji reflects on the world-class instruction she received at Howard University and the pitfalls that come with being a black actress. With laugh-out-loud humor and candor, she shares the challenges and disappointments of the actor's journey and shows us that behind the red carpet moments, she is ever authentic. She is at heart just a girl in pursuit of her dreams.

©2016 On Top of the World, Inc. All rights reserved. (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

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The real Taraji just stood up!

I'm already an admirer of Taraji and her work but hearing her tell her story let's you get to know and love her on a deeper and more intimate level that is not based solely on just seeing her in a few movies. It was great to hear her talk about embracing her place in life after 40. I can totally relate.

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1 person found this helpful

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Taraji is a bright light and a beautiful soul!

Taraji is a bright light and a beautiful soul.
A magnificent story teller. You can't help but root for her. One of the best memoirs I have listened to on Audible this year!

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art of life acting

I love how she mentioned emotional character how getting into the character is like getting into life.. hi Jess is that in intensive Actors retreat I couldn’t believe how much is spoke to my heart and my soul emotional exercises basically brought out something that I had buried deep inside and just realized that I was just coping with.. The only emotional connection I had with black men.. The unattachment and images A black manthat my mother had put upon me mentally towards my dad and my brothers.. I never expected something like that to come out at an intensive Actors retreat.. And the one black man that I met that brought and helped me to realize all this and also the healing that transpired

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One of the best autobiographies out there

I really loved her performance and acting as she played different characters in her story. She has so many insights and wise words. It was funny, real, raw and authentic. She shared her lessons without telling me what to do. Loved it!

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Yessss Sista!

You wrote the Hell outta that! This is a must listen made me feel so proud of you

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Around the Way Girl

Loved every minute of this book... I felt every word that Taraji spoke.... I felt the love that she had for her father more than any other member that she spoke about.

I love the life lessons that she learnt and has been using to make her a better Taraji.

Job well done Ms. Henson.

Two thumbs up, five stars across the board! #BlackGirlMagicAtItsFinest

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inspiring and genuine

I laughed out loud, I felt her pain and was right along for the entire journey. So many truths are spoken, especially when talking about being a single parent. Thank you TPH for your truth.

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