I knew this book would be meaningful because I follow Glory Edim and love her posts. Her life story contrasted with the books that were significant to her at the time was very touching. I highlighted so many lines in this ARC that were very meaningful to me. As a literature teacher, the section that she writes about her professor and how his critique of Maya Angelou’s I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings affected her will stay with me and help to influence the way I deliver my lessons. If you love books and love words, please read this book. I plan to buy a copy for myself and highlight the same sections I noted in this ARC provided to me by NetGalley and Penguin Random House.

In "Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me," Glory Edim offers an intimate and heartfelt exploration of how literature has shaped her life. Growing up in Virginia with Nigerian immigrant parents, Edim found respite in books among the turbulence of her family life. When her father moved back to Nigeria during her childhood, marking the beginning of a series of traumatic events, the local library became a sanctuary for Edim and her brother, Maurice, who she writes about incredibly tenderly. Through books, Glory discovered a community and a wealth of knowledge during a time she craved connection most.

This memoir is a powerful reflection on the writers who influenced Glory deeply, from Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou to Toni Morrison and Audre Lorde. These authors, encountered at various pivotal moments in her life, taught her to value her own voice, trust her emotions, and forge meaningful connections with other Black women.

As a long-time fan and participant in the Well-Read Black Girl book club, I found "Gather Me" to be a powerful and relatable testament to the transformative power of literature. This book is all about the power of bibliotherapy to help validate our experiences, orient us to reality, and support us in dreaming up better possibilities for the future and for our children.

Edim’s vulnerability and honesty in recounting her life’s journey—caring for her mother with mental illness, protecting her brother during a frightening encounter with law enforcement, navigating the complexities of her relationship with her son's father—resonate deeply. Her life story illustrates how books not only helped her acknowledge her pain but also provided a blueprint for building a safer, more fulfilling inner world. This memoir is a testament to bibliotherapy’s potential to heal, guide, and inspire. Edim’s story, enriched by the literary greats who have shaped her, offers a compelling message of resilience and hope for lovers of Black literature. Thank you to the publisher and author for the opportunity to read!

Gather Me by Glory Edim was made for readers. I loved how the author included books in each chapter that shaped her life at that moment. I added so many books to my TBR as I made my way through this one. Glory's life was not easy and the two of us were raised very differently. What I loved about this memoir is that it showed me a different life in a way I could deeply understand. Her love for reading carried her through so much adversity. I love that Black women will have another fantastic story that they can see themselves in. I just absolutely loved reading about Glory finding her purpose in the very thing that saved her. Her tenacity and spirit shined. The letter to her son at the end had me in tears. It made me want to have a child so I could also pass along my stories and the stories that made me who I am. The memoir was well paced and I felt like I knew who Glory was at a base level by the end. I think anyone who has let books carry them through this life will love this memoir.

‘Gather Me’ by: Glory Edim is a memoir in which Glory grew up with the love of books. The books that she enjoys help her throughout her life. Those books also helped her start a foundation. As I read this book, I discovered there’s so many things the Glory have to go through the good and bad. She has books that saved her from the outside world. Books that can be like a friend or a shoulder to cry on.

Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book and do a review.

A moving testament to the human spirit, showcasing how family, community, and wisdom can guide us through life's challenges and help us find our true selves.