The Color of Water

The Color of Water is good memoir because of its careful construction, blatant honesty, and the author's journey of understanding who he truly is.

    "It took me 14 years to unearth her remarkable story"(pg. xix). James McBride, the author, claims this fact before the novel begins, showing how much craftsmanship went into his work. He spent years talking to his mother in intervals, entering her childhood and memories. Traveling back to Virginia, tracking down necessary people, and investigating records were all part of the process that allowed this book to become a well-constructed memoir. All of this research let The Color of Water be a full, complete memoir. There were no details left out or holes in the story. In addition to all of his research, James McBride created a powerful work of carpentry because he used two viewpoints. Amidst his mother's tale, we find James's own childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. This lets us hear, word for word, what Ruth's upbringing was like, allowing us to make connections and have background on her while reading James's story. This unique way of organizing is beneficial to the reader as there are two perspectives.

    There is no beating around the bush when James and Ruth describe their life. They tell everything exactly how it happened, what they felt, and why, even though it may cause a reader to look upon them with shame. For example, both are truthful when revealing that they were ashamed of their mothers at times. Individually, James describes his struggle with drugs, shoplifting, and dropping out of high school as they happened. Similarly, Ruth honestly describes how she was treated in her childhood by her parents, specifically her father. She tells us how she was abused by him, without going into exaggerated details. Ruth describes this not to make us feel pity for her, rather to tell James her past and move on. She is also equally honest saying that it wasn't all traumatizing memories, there were happy ones as well, such as Passover. James and Ruth are honest so that they can explain their story, forgive, and move on, instead of making the reader view them as victims. This sincerity allows us to fully grasp the story and appreciate the character's grapple even more.

    James comes to the conclusion of who he is and the secrets his heritage holds by the end of the novel, satisfying not only him but us readers as well. We have traveled through his and Ruth's life,experiencing their pain and joy, and are content that James has arrived at the truth of his identity. He has learned of his mother's jewish past, and how that has shaped him into the man he is today. His mother instilled jewish values, importance of education and religion, into her children's lives, and this prompted them to be triumphant. All of Ruth's kids graduated from college and most went on to graduate school. James has learned that despite the fact that him and his mother do not look alike, the most important thing is the love they have for each other, a pleasing resolution for us readers.

    The diligent structure, clear candidness, and arrival of James' unique background creates a successful memoir, The Color of Water.