A Parallel Life
- 400 pages
- 14 hours of reading
Award-winning playwright, author and critic Bonnie Greer's touching, funny and thought-provoking memoir is a voyage into the making of a woman.
Bonnie Greer is an American-British playwright, novelist, and critic. Her work often explores themes of identity, race, and cultural intersection. Greer brings a unique perspective to her writing, shaped by her lived experiences and a profound understanding of human complexity. Her prose is insightful and provokes contemplation.



Award-winning playwright, author and critic Bonnie Greer's touching, funny and thought-provoking memoir is a voyage into the making of a woman.
The book explores the complexities of Langston Hughes, a figure known for his progressive stance on civil rights yet involved in contentious political situations, such as testifying before the House Committee on Un-American Activities. Bonnie Greer delves into these contradictions, presenting a nuanced portrait of Hughes as a man navigating a tumultuous era. By examining the paradoxes in Hughes' life and the societal issues of his time, the narrative invites reflection on the enduring contradictions that persist today.
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, the author seeks to demonstrate that Barack Obama's Presidency is what she calls a 'South Side Presidency'. She offers a mixture of anecdotes about her own growing up in one of America's formidable Black communities, mixed in with observations on the origins and progress of the music of the South Side.