“Bernardine Evaristo’s life story is a manifesto for courage, integrity, optimism, resourcefulness and tenacity. It’s a manifesto for anyone who has ever stood on the margins, and anyone who wants to make their mark on history. It’s a manifesto for being unstoppable.” (link)
One of the things I love about Evaristo’s writing is her wit. She’s dry, and funny, teasing out witty observations of the humans in and around her stories.The opening paragraph in Manifesto talks about her winning the joint Booker prize in 2019, describing it as overnight success which was 40 years in the making. Arch, but warm, she manages to include all while pointing out with laser like precision, the exclusions that she and others have and do experience.
From growing up in a chaotic but loving, slightly ramshackle family home and describing the other places she’s lived, a riveting tale is told of her life and how she got to where she is now. Her family tales are funny, and touching, and reminded me of Georgia Pritchett, perhaps because they’re from just about the same location and era of the UK. Layering back and over and through, she talks about the difficult relationship she had with her unforgiving and stern father and more creative mother, and how that relationship changed with time and age, and ultimately how she misses them. Something I think a lot of people will be able to connect with.
The main theme for me from this is that this overnight success was hard work. The Manifesto is to keep going, to believe in yourself and, if I can continue to paraphrase, accept that you may make mistakes, but they will lead you to the right path. Elizabeth Day’s podcast, “How to Fail”, is a great study in how our mistakes can teach us how to succeed, or even show us the way we should be going – even if we don’t know it for a while!
She somehow manages to describe what it was like to grow up as the only Black family in the area, where neighbours whispered as you walked past, smashed your windows or even confided in you that they hoped you didn’t live near ‘that’ family, not realising that you were one of them, with an open style which makes it easy to empathise. This is in spite of me not being Black, growing up in London at that time or possessing that drive, that talent, to do what she has achieved. I think that reading wider, about the world outside your own in terms of thought or experience or culture or anything else, can only ever be a good thing. Expanding your horizons from your own sofa – the quickest form of travel.
Learning more about Evaristo’s professional life and career is fascinating. Realising early on that there wasn’t room for her at the traditional paths, she forged her own, building a community of like minded people along the way. A few of the anecdotes I recognised from facets of her characters in “Girl, Woman, Other” , such as the abusive, coercive relationship with the older woman – not lifted wholesale, of course, but deepening my appreciation of the book as a whole.
I recommend this to anyone who likes memoir, who wants to be inspired and to read a bit more about this amazing woman.
Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for the DRC – this is now out to buy.

An absorbing memoir and self-analysis from the Booker Prize winner. The author references numerous aspects of her life and works, exploring upbringing, racism, cultural identity, class and gender all encompassed by her positive approach and outlook.
I loved Girl, Woman, Other but was unaware of the range of her backlist, an oversight that I intend to rectify having been introduced to it in Manifesto.

Manifesto: On Never Giving Up by Bernadine Evaristo

“There is a manifesto in each one of us, emerging over the course of our lives, changing & reconfiguring through our experiences. This is mine.”

The Booker prize winning author has written her first non-fiction and it is a Manifesto for making a career in the arts. Before you get to the two page manifesto Evaristo actually treats us to a memoir of her extraordinary life and the numerous challenges she faced to become one of Britain's best known literary authors and the first black British person and the first black woman to win the Booker Prize. She is also a Professor, an editor and a founder of many literary prizes for under-represented communities in writing and poetry.

Evaristo had an impoverished childhood in the 1960s and 1970s as one of eight children born to a white mother with English, Irish and German-Jewish ancestry and a father who had migrated to the UK from Nigeria and whose own father had migrated from Brazil to Nigeria. Evaristo starts her chapters with numbers translated in each of the languages her ancestors spoke. As someone of mixed heritage Evaristo experienced much racism at school, in the community and from her extended white family. It is heartbreaking to read that her white Nana didn’t have any photographs of her black grandchildren on display in her house.

The memoir explores the intersections of race, class and gender that were the forces that Evaristo constantly had to battle to follow her creative dreams. Her first passion was acting but she understood at a young age that because racism ran so deep in the arts she would rarely be employed as an actress and so enrolled on a community theatre course because it was the only route realistically open to her. By the end of her college course she and two friends had founded a community theatre company for black women. Evaristo made a space for herself and for other black women and continues to do the same in the book and poetry world. Establishing your own networks as a countermeasure to “powerful and impenetrable networks” is an important part of her manifesto.

Her writing career was also built on sheer hard work and self belief to get her through the many closed doors that she encountered. Pretty much all of Evaristo’s novels have been totally rewritten at least once, take many years to write and her first two books received no advance. She gives helpful practical advice on working with editors and the writing process. (As well as advice on how to deal with insecure housing, unequal power dynamics and romantic relationships). Oh yes and not forgetting that whilst Evaristo forged her writing career she also completed a PhD and became an academic.

Although this memoir/manifesto focuses on working in the Arts and about her writing process it is, not surprisingly, so well written that it is compelling and inspirational even if this isn’t your environment or these aren’t your challenges. I loved her honesty about her relationships with friends, family and romantic partners. Evaristo’s sheer force of will, energy, determination and generosity are just so inspiring and motivating it just jumps off the page and is infectious. I think anyone could find this manifesto helpful in some way.

I read an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for the review copy of this book.

Having loved “Girl, Woman, Other”, I really looked forward to reading this and learning more about the author behind such a brilliant book.

The book details her background from childhood to present day; beginning with Bernardine‘s upbringing in South London, where she was raised in a busy dual heritage household, and goes in to other areas of her life - including her career, living in London, relationships and more.

It’s an interesting, inspiring insight into the life, influences and works of a brilliant author - fascinating, at times wryly funny.

I sat down to read the first chapter of Manifesto, a memoir and, yes, manifesto about Bernardine Evaristo’s beliefs and attitude to life and literally couldn’t stop reading it. This was a one-sitting book for me – that should tell you how interesting and captivating it is!

I was, in fact, one of the readers whose attention was drawn to Bernardine Evaristo after her Booker Prize win for Girl, Woman, Other. I knew of her as she is a local author to me (she is from the same part of London I live in now, which made this memoir even more interesting to me) but I didn’t know her story. And what a story!

In Manifesto, Bernardine takes us back to her beginnings, from her childhood in South-East London, where she grew up as one of eight children to a white mother and black father.

She recounts how racism was a continuous thing in her life, which is a lot for anyone, but especially a child to deal with:

You feel hated, even though you have done nothing to deserve it, and so you think there is something wrong with you, rather than something wrong with them.

Bernardine has had such a fascinating life – she tells us about her days being an actress and co-founding the Theatre of Black Women to how her writing is heavily inspired by poetry; she has a true love of the arts.

Manifesto explores many themes across Bernardine’s life in such an eloquent and engaging way. From her thoughts on feminism and the issues with representation in the majoritively white publishing industry, to more personal stories about her relationships with men and women, including what she learnt about herself from a controlling relationship, through to how her nomadic and sporadic lifestyle living all over London has shaped her. There were so many things to think about, I loved the blending of facts and thoughts, it made it a really rich read.

Manifesto is both a warming and moving memoir and a brilliant rally-cry of positive thinking, perseverance and following your dreams. I loved discovering more about Bernardine and am taking her kindness + you-can-do-it + always-be-yourself approach into my everyday.

Bernie is a national treasure. A straight talking insightful critique of her own life and an uplifting message of encouragement to anyone looking for encouragement to pursue their dreams.

Manifesto
by Bernardine Evaristo


The publisher gave me this book in exchange for an honest review I encountered Evaristo with her novel Mr Loverman. I fell for her work when she published Girl, woman, other. This book has cemented her place as one of my favourite writers. In this book, the author looks over her life and traces her path to the figure she is today. In addition, Evaristo argues for art as community and the need for that community to be as diverse as possible.

She traces her love of story, finding its origins within her childhood and her early life in the theatre. Evaristo explores the reasoning behind her earlier work and the process of writing these works. We see that this author has the patience to wait for that breakthrough work and the confidence to know that it will come.

This book celebrates community. The author tells us of the individuals who have affected her life, either; negatively or positively. She speaks of family members, lovers and friends who have shaped her life and career. She explains how community building has been at the centre of her work.

September was a dark month for me. This book was a shot of light in the darkness. Evaristo’s life has had times of lightness and darkness. She has learned through both shades of life. She uses her fascinating story to pass on these life lessons to the reader. She calls for an art world that is centred on a community full of diverse voices.


The work is filled with wisdom. Evaristo’s writing is gorgeous and keeps your attention from the first paragraph to the last. It is well worth a read

Girl Woman Other by this author is one of my students all time favourites and in Manifesto, the author does it again! What a powerful message!

A compelling memoir exploring race and identity, along with a great reminder that it's never "too late" to pursue your dreams - Evaristo is a fantastic author with a great story to tell, and I'm glad she's finally getting her due.

“I am first and foremost a writer, the written word is how I process everything—myself, life, society, history, politics. It’s not just a job or a passion, but it is at the very heart of how I exist in the world, and I am addicted to the adventure of storytelling as my most powerful means of communication.”


In Manifesto Bernardine Evaristo presents us with a retrospective of her life: from her childhood and family dynamics to discussing her love life and career. Her candid, often humorous, voice grabbed me from the get-go and I found myself speeding through Manifesto. Not only does Evaristo have a knack for bringing various episodes and periods from her past to life but she always pairs these with a piercing and thought-provoking social commentary.

“You feel hated, even though you have done nothing to deserve it, and so you think there is something wrong with you, rather than something wrong with them.”


Manifesto is divided into several sections, each one exploring a different aspect of Evaristo’s life. In the first one, ‘heritage, childhood, family, origins’, Evaristo recounts her experiences of growing up in England in the 60s with a white mother and a Nigerian father. She describes her early encounters with racism, from witnessing the discrimination aimed at her father to the racism she herself experienced at school and in her neighbourhood. Her mother’s side of the family was openly against Evaristo’s parents' union, some of them refusing to speak to any of them or treating them with open disdain. While Evaristo is critical of their behaviour she does take into account the social mores that people like her grandmother grew up with, and while she doesn’t condone or minimise their behaviour and actions she does acknowledge how hard it is to free oneself of such a deeply ingrained mindset.

“It was an early lesson for me as a child, witnessing how people who are victims of oppression can turn into oppressors themselves.”


In addition to discussing race and racism Evaristo looks at her relationship with her father, and once again demonstrates admirable self-awareness as she considers how when growing up she saw her father as a strict tyrant, whereas now she recognises that his parenting was simply reflective of a different culture. Additionally, she realises how alienating his life in England was (being more or less out-of-touch with his family, to being deemed a second-class citizen, an ‘undesirable’). Evaristo’s account of her father’s experiences in England highlights the racism and discrimination endured by the Windrush generation. I found her exploration of her relationship with her father to be deeply moving and this section, despite its subject matter, was easily my favourite in Manifesto.
In the following section, ‘houses, flats, rooms, homes’, Evaristo looks back to the various spaces she’s lived in since leaving her home. Many of the episodes she recounts are rather humorous, as they feature eccentric housemates & landlords as well as some bizarre living arrangements. This section reminded me of the tales my mother (who is a few years younger than evaristo) used to tell me about her odd living situations in London and Berlin when she was in her 20s. In describing the various rooms she’s lived in Evaristo considers the meaning of ‘home’.

“Writing became a room of my own; writing became my permanent home.”


In ‘the women and men who came and went’ Evaristo gives us a glimpse into her romantic and sexual exploits. In detailing her various partners she speaks about her own sexuality and power dynamics within a relationship. Once again Evaristo demonstrates a great understanding of human behaviour and is unafraid of challenging her old views/ideas. While I loved how open Evaristo is in examining her sexuality and her past and present relationship, I was frustrated by her binary view of sexuality. On the one hand, she says that sexuality is a spectrum and yet she also compares her sexuality to a sandwich (my lesbian identity was the stuffing in a heterosexual sandwich) and speaks of having had a ‘lesbian period’. The thing is, saying that one had a ‘lesbian era’ carries certain implications ( that this period is over, that it was a phase). After a particularly toxic relationship with an older woman Evaristo only actively seeks relationships with men, ‘rediscovering’ them, so to speak. Which, fair enough...but that does negate her previous interest in women? Why only use labels such as straight and lesbian rather than queer, pan, bi (etc etc)? That Evaristo couples her lesbian era with her discovery of feminism and politics is even more...sus (as if it was simply an accessory in her counterculture outfit). FYI, I’m a lesbian and I’m not a fan of people saying that they have had lesbian periods or phases (or people assuming that my own sexuality is a phase and that i will inevitably 'revert' to heterosexuality). And given that Evaristo did initially speak of sexuality as a spectrum, well, it makes it even all the more disappointing that she would go on at length to talk about her queerness as an ‘era’. Still, even when discussing her sexuality Evaristo incorporates other issues & factors into the conversation (class, gender, race, politics, age) so that even this section (in spite of its somewhat dated view of sexuality) has an element of intersectionality.
In ‘drama, community, performance, politics’ writes about theatre. While her love for theatre is apparent she’s once again able to be critical, in this case, she highlights how racist and sexist this particular sphere of the art was and still is (from the roles made available to poc to the few opportunities that woc have in comparison to their white, and often male, peers). Evaristo goes on to discuss performativity and rejection. In the fifth chapter, ‘poetry, fiction, verse fiction, fusion fiction’, Evaristo continues to consider her ever-evolving relationship with her creativity, this time focusing on her writing. She gives us a glimpse into the early stages of her writing and provides us with some insight into her creative process. The way Evaristo talks about her work made me want to read it, a great sign I believe. While she now and again expresses some criticism towards her earlier ideas and stories, you can tell how proud she is of what these have achieved. While her experimental style is not something I usually would go for, the way she discusses her ‘fusion’ style is certainly inspiring and interesting. In ‘influences, sources, language, education’ Evaristo talks about the books and authors that influenced her as a writer. She speaks about the importance of representation, of finding one’s voice, and of resilience (in face of rejection etc.). In the final chapter, ‘the self, ambition, transformation, activism’ Evaristo discusses politics, the publishing industry and the academic world (both of which still are very white) and the various prizes and schemes she created or had a hand in creating that seek to elevate Black and Asian writers. There was one paragraph here that was a bit jarring as it starts with “The impact of Geroge Floyd’s murder in May 2020” and ends with “Many plans are afoot to open up. These are exciting times”.
We then have a concussion in which Evaristo gives us a quick recap of what we’ve so far read and briefly writes of the impact of having won the Booker Prize.
All in all, this was a solid piece of nonfiction. My favourite sections were the first one, which focuses on her childhood and family, and the second one. While I did appreciate the other chapters they at times had a textbook-like quality. I also got tired of frequent ‘back in those days’ refrain (we get it, “there was no internet” back then) and at times she explained things that didn’t really necessitate an explanation (again, just because some of your readers are younger than you does not mean that they are ignorant of what came before them). But apart from her occasionally patronising asides, I did find her voice equal parts compelling and incisive. Her wry wit added a layer of enjoyment to my reading experience. This is a work I would certainly recommend to my fellow book lovers, especially those who loved Evaristo’s fiction. I liked Manifesto so much that I have decided to give her Girl, Woman, Other another go (fingers crossed).

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Manifesto is as you would expect from Evaristo incredibly well written. It is part memoir part essay on a range of subjects such as life, love, society and publishing. She talks about her childhood, the racism she experienced even from her own family and how it shaped and influenced her.

I particularly enjoyed the way she decribes how and when she wrote her poetry and novels. Her determination and belief in herself throughout her life is inspiring, she kept going changing the route but always keeping her ultimate goal in sight. The hard work involved in being a writer is vividly illustrated and her work ethic is to be admired and emulated. Throughout her career she was worked hard to shine a light and champion others.

Evaristo is charming and vey funny and unflinching in her honesty. I really enjoyed reading this uplifting account.

This is a fascinating read in which the author explores the impact of people, places, society and society 'norms' on her life, her writing and her identity.

It is written with honesty and humour. You gain a real insight into the initial creation of her work and its subsequent development. There is plenty of food for thought.

Manifesto is a feisty and fulfilling read.

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

🌻BOOK REVIEW🌻

Manifesto by Bernardine Evaristo ★★★★☆

. As stated in the blurb, Manifesto tells the story of Bernardine Evaristo from her early childhood plagued with racism, to her discovery of herself through theatre, her exploration of both her culture and sexuality and how all of this fed into her writing. It tells the story of each of her books coming to life and the relentless writing journey and determination involved in each one. It is filled with positivity, warmth and shines a light on all kinds of social issues seen in the world today: race, class, sexuality, ageing- and how Bernardine overcame her own challenges with these things to become the successful, powerful writer and person that she is today.

What did I love?
I really enjoyed the writing style of this book but then I didn’t expect anything less from Bernardine Evaristo, this book was so different from anything else that I have read by her and didn’t have the unique ‘prose’ of her other books but instead took on more of a traditional fiction style and I loved it. It flowed perfectly.
I loved the insight into Bernardine Evaristo’s life, in reading about her experiences I found the character’s from her other books and felt as though I had a look into her own inspiration.
I loved the honestly of this book- especially in the second half that focussed more on her experience whilst writing and her experience of the process and the way that she demonstrated that the writing process is not always something that is linear and even somebody who is as successful as she is experiences rejection and difficulty.
I thought this book sat perfectly in the middle ground between being a memoir but almost a diary. This made the writing feel more raw, as though you were a bystander in Evaristo’s mind as she reflected on her own life and experiences.
I loved Evaristo’s exportation of culture and the journey she went on in order to explore this in different ways for different parts of her life.

What didn’t I love?
Some of the book was a little slow paced although this may have been partly down to my interests. In the middle of the book the story is largely focussed on Evaristo’s experience in theatre and although I found it interesting to read of her determination and how this fed into the confidence she had in the rest of her life I didn’t love the theatre specific parts.
I would have loved a little more about her childhood and her family life. I found this part of the book the most captivating and would have happily read more about this and how the issues that she experienced whilst growing up also impacted the wider family.
Although I really loved the infectious positivity laced through the book and importance of this positivity in Evaristo’s success I would have liked to understand the other side a little bit better. At times it felt a little bit preachy as it didn’t explore the negative emotions or hardships as much as it could before explaining the benefits of her positive mindset.
I feel that some of the topics in the book that were maybe darker or political in nature could have been explored more. I find Evaristo incredibly insightful and would have loved to have learnt her perspective more intricately on some of the heavier topics covered.

Summary
Overall I really enjoyed this book. I loved the insight it gave into what had been the inspiration behind so many character’s that I have adored through Evaristo’s writing- I felt like I could find parts of her in the character’s that I have read and it only made me love them even more. Although at times the book felt a little bit slow (largely due to my own interests) my own interest in the author kept me engaged in the story. The writing style as always was beautiful and again helped with the flow of the story. The way in which the chapters were marked with numbers of the different languages matching Evaristo’s culture was a really nice quirk. The book was thought provoking and inspiring. I felt saddened by some of the experiences of Evaristo at the hands of racism, sexism and the other topics explored but in the next breathe awe inspired by her resilience and determination in overcoming this treatment. I would really recommend picking up this book particularly if you are familiar with any of Bernardine Evaristo’s work as it truly is a beautiful insight into her mind and her art.

A brilliant book that shows her brilliance, tells us how she got here, It is such a heartfelt book and I am glad I was able to read it.

I absolutely adored Girl, Woman, Other and so was delighted to be able to read Manifesto.
This is a beautifully written, heartfelt, searingly honest book that is simultaneously a memoir of Evaristo's early life and background, as well as a very inspiring "manifesto" of how we should all be aiming to live, embracing our individuality, creativity and respect for all beings regardless of race, gender, sexuality, age and class. I found it moving, thought provoking and ultimately uplifting. She is a brilliant writer and should be read by everyone.
With thanks to NetGalley, Penguin General UK and Bernardine Evaristo for my advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Manifesto by Bernardine Evaristo is a compelling account of the people, places and other forces that have shaped her both as a woman and as a writer. Written as a series of vignettes rather than a linear memoir, it draws the reader in with an almost conversational tone. No topic is off limits, and Evaristo is not afraid to admit to her flaws or failings, instead showing how they contributed to the growth of her skill. At the heart of this book, as is the case with her fiction, is her experiences as a Black woman in Britain, and how that has changed in the years since her childhood. The subtitle of the book is " on never giving up" and that is a message that Evaristo emphasises over and over again in this slim volume. Readers of her previous works will enjoy the insights she gives into where the ideas came from and how they developed over time, sometimes morphing into something completely different than she first imagined , and I was fascinated by her account of her childhood and early teenage years.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this review copy, and it left me feeling like I needed to seek out more of her back catalogue.
I read a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Much more of a memoir than the collection of essays I expected. Nevertheless it was interesting to read about Evaristo's background and as always, she writes with a beauty and clarity that few others can match. Well worth a read, just maybe not exactly what you think you're getting.

Manifesto by Bernardine is aptly named. Manifesto refers to a written statement that describes the plans, goals and opinions of a person or group. This book gives an insight into the person that she is and the factors that help shape her. Bernardine Evaristo's journey qualifies her to offer an informed opinion on the issue of race, class, feminism, sexuality and ageing. Echoes of her life can be gleaned in her masterpiece "Girl, Woman, Other. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Manifesto as much as I did her Novel. Her positivity, resilience and drive to effect change in the literary world are inspiring.

Manifesto is much more of an autobiography than the 'collection of essays' promised by the blurb, but it is nonetheless an engaging read, a life story told in the author's own voice. It's fascinating to see how one writer has helped to shape - and been shaped by - British literary culture, not just as a writer but as an activist, theatre-maker and arts organiser.

Evaristo believes in the power of positivity, and although no one can manifest themselves to success without the hard work and talent to back it up, it's inspiring to hear from a writer who has never given up.

I like most other people read and absolutely loved Girl, Woman, Other and I promptly worked my way through Bernardine's back catalogue delightfully intrigued and impressed by the authors talent at writing every book in a different style and of a different genre. When I saw the blurb for this i was intrigued as it promised an examination of creativity and the writing process.It actually reads as more of a memoir which I didn't mind in itself . However I couldn't help but feel that this slim tome really didn't deliver on either count and I was left wanting much more on both the authors life story and insights into her creative process.

It did help me get to know Evaristo more as she rarely appears to do interviews and I discovered aspects to her experiences and character hitherto unknown. The reader is given a lengthy insight into her origins and heritage through her ancestry and family anecdotes. Also this book looks at the authors experiences with racism and sexuality during her formative years in 70s Britain which is always of interest, I particularly enjoyed the sections on culture and theatre which was touched upon in her Booker prize winning book and would like this to be expanded upon on a future work or perhaps series of essays.