I recently finished The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates. I was amazed by this book. I still am. Five stars all around. From me.

When I spoke with my elderly mother recently, telling her I thought she should read it, she relayed that she had seen a review of it recently – she couldn’t remember where, maybe The Atlantic? – and the reviewer gave the book a negative review. She thought the reviewer considered it too intellectual. Granted this is all hearsay – information offered word of mouth through someone experiencing memory issues. (Although, come to think of it, who isn’t? Maybe those who can afford brain boosters and people to remind them to take them?)

I didn’t bother to try and verify any of this. I don’t appreciate negative reviews. I don’t understand why somebody who doesn’t like something would continue with it. (Unless it has a surprise ending, that kind of ruins the story for you. Pet Cemetery by Stephen King was like this for me.)

Former librarian and reader’s advisory rock star, Nancy Pearl, had a suggestion for how long one should try to stick with a work, someone may be on the fence about. (About 50 pages, depending on one’s age.)

I try to use my voice to share what I enjoy or think is important. I definitely believe that there should be books with opinions that are different than mine. I also believe that I don’t need to call attention to something that I don’t particularly care for when there are so many things I do care for. (And sometimes I make exceptions.)

One of the most practical theories I came across in library school was S. R. Ranganathan’s 5 Laws of Library Science. (Check out the link for a deep explanation.) These are the laws:

1. Books are for use
2. Every reader his /her book
3. Every book its reader
4. Save the time of the reader
5. The library is a growing organism

It doesn’t surprise me that this book would get negative reviews. In fact, it would be amazing if it didn’t. Coates describes his personal journeys and education through learning about the world in school, writing and a career in journalism, and recent travels to Africa, Palestine, and Israel.

The Message is about politics, writing, racism, and apartheid. It’s about speaking out when encountering uncomfortable truths. It’s about which voices are heard and published. And it’s about learning and growing and hopefully, healing.

I highly recommend readers encounter this work on their own and not let negative reviews prevent them from trying to listen to this profound message of a learning process that began many years ago. It began in many different ways and it is Coates’ personal story.

I listened to this book on audio and hearing the work in the author’s voice made a difference to me. I could hear Coates’ Baltimore accent, which helped my understanding of the author and his experiences. (I listen to most longer books these days, since I rarely make time to sit down and read. I can read while I wash dishes or prep meals.)

And as someone who was diagnosed with ADHD late in life, the part where Coates described his learning struggles related to his unknown neurodivergent brain, moved me quite deeply.

I wonder if having ADHD makes this book more appealing or easier to understand.

Or maybe, as a culture keeper, it’s easier for me to understand and be moved by this book.

Or perhaps, all writing is political, and some reviewers are a complicit part of the media’s need to try and keep some messages unheard.

This reviewer appreciated hearing The Message. Maybe you will too.