I've Been Meaning to Tell You: A Letter to My Daughter

I've Been Meaning to Tell You is a letter from author David Chariandy to his thirteen-year-old daughter. Written during a time of racial and political tension in North America, the book addresses questions of race, identity, and belonging. Through personal stories and reflections, Chariandy shares his experiences as the son of Black and South Asian immigrants in Canada. He recounts his parents' journey from Trinidad, their life in Scarborough, and his own path to becoming a writer. The narrative moves between past and present as Chariandy considers what knowledge and wisdom he wants to pass on to his child. He examines both intimate family moments and broader social realities that shape their lives. This meditation on parenthood and inheritance explores how one generation speaks to the next about difficult truths. The book wrestles with questions of how to maintain hope while acknowledging historical and ongoing injustice.

Readers appreciate how Chariandy addresses complex topics of race, identity, and history through intimate personal stories and reflections. Many note the book's poetic, careful language and its ability to balance heavy themes with moments of hope. Specific praise focuses on Chariandy's honesty about parenting challenges and his vulnerability in sharing family experiences. Several readers mention the book helped them reflect on their own relationships with children. Common criticisms include the book's brevity (128 pages) and some readers wanting more detailed exploration of certain topics. A few reviews note the narrative can feel fragmented at times. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (120+ ratings) Reader quote: "Like sitting down with a father who shares his deepest worries and hopes. Beautiful writing that never preaches but makes you think." - Goodreads reviewer Another reader notes: "Could have gone deeper into several important moments that felt rushed."

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🖋️ David Chariandy wrote this intimate letter to his 13-year-old daughter during a time of heightened racial tensions following the 2016 U.S. presidential election 📚 The book explores themes of identity, race, and belonging through the lens of Chariandy's experience as the son of Black and South Asian immigrants from Trinidad 🏆 Before writing this memoir, Chariandy had already established himself as an acclaimed novelist, winning the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize for his novel "Brother" 🌍 The memoir's title was inspired by James Baldwin's "My Dungeon Shook: Letter to My Nephew," which similarly addresses racism and hope for future generations 📝 The entire book is only 96 pages long but manages to weave together personal history, social commentary, and tender parental wisdom in its brief length