The heart of an empath beats behind every page ... A useful overview ... [Potter's] upbringing in a Romani family during a time of upheaval...lends an important authenticity and lived experience to her writing ... [While the] core message remains tremendously valuable and worth emphasizing, it began to feel well-worn by the halfway mark ... Potter uses a broad brush to paint the entire diaspora in uniformly warm, approving sepia tones, rather than bringing out the messy humanity in their individual stories ... Flat, predictable ... Potter’s dedication to oral history is admirable ... I was disappointed by Potter’s decision not to widen her lens or diversify her approach to the topic ... I would recommend her perspective for its authenticity and compassion. I wonder, however, if The Roma could have fulfilled a more unique vision if it had engaged directly in conversation with other thinkers and historians on the topic.
Admirable ... Potter has achieved a difficult task ... An exhilarating history of resistance and survival of a people who have refused to be defined by their persecutors.
Adds a new perspective ... Without overlooking or playing down the Roma’s tragic history, [Potter] celebrates Romani arts and folklore ... Her book adroitly blends personal memoir and academic research to craft a deeply sympathetic picture of Romani life over the centuries.
The book is at its strongest when it compares the experiences of...various national groups, and, of course, it’s the specificities that hit home ... I would have liked more on why the endemic hatred and prejudice first took root, and went so deep. Beyond slightly vague talk of fear of the Other, and the information that a negative status clung to Roma from almost the minute they led their horses out of Asia, Potter doesn’t tackle the issue ... Potter’s prose...tends to be flat...and at times one senses the dead hand of the academic ... Not many pages really sing.
One of the book’s strengths is Potter’s skill for intertwining personal anecdotes with historical context, providing a rich tapestry of Romani culture and its struggles ... A powerful contribution ... A compelling blend of personal storytelling and historical insight, making it a valuable read for those interested in Romani studies and cultural identity ... The book’s clarity, style, and originality in presenting Romani perspectives make it a strong candidate for any library.
Well-deserved attention to a genuinely neglected minority ... Potter is perhaps too focused on recording unpleasant encounters, but she is not shy about pointing out Romani celebrities and cultural achievements.
