I had about an hour left on the audio book and I just had to give up. It was decent but the other two books in this series are so much better than thiI had about an hour left on the audio book and I just had to give up. It was decent but the other two books in this series are so much better than this one. I gave both of those books 5 stars....more
2020 PopSuagr Reading Challenge A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
I also read this for #10Books10Decades challenge for the 19702020 PopSuagr Reading Challenge A book with only words on the cover, no images or graphics
I also read this for #10Books10Decades challenge for the 1970's decade.
This was my first experience with Toni Morrison and I am impressed. This was so cleverly written and covers important themes and topics. I loved the insight into each of the character's lives and how each life is differently affected by racism, oppression, incest, rape, and internalized racism. I also loved how each story came together in the end.
My only gripe is that the synopsis makes it seems like we are getting a story about Pecola. It is really equally about many different characters with the thread tying them all together being racism and internalized racism as well as the other major themes. However, now that I know this I think I will have a different experience when I do a reread....more
I thought this was a really great story. The writing was beautiful. So many quotable moments. I just think it never went deep enough on the themes andI thought this was a really great story. The writing was beautiful. So many quotable moments. I just think it never went deep enough on the themes and I wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. But other than that I did really enjoy this book....more
#10Books10Decades Challenge This was my pick for the 1950's (I'm actually still working on my pick for the 1940's lol who said I had to go in order).
Th#10Books10Decades Challenge This was my pick for the 1950's (I'm actually still working on my pick for the 1940's lol who said I had to go in order).
This was really good. will write a longer review later (maybe)....more
#2 of the #10books10decades challenge (challenge started by GR 2020 Popsugar Challange Read a book by a WOC
#3 out of my goal of 5 classics for the year
#2 of the #10books10decades challenge (challenge started by GR reviewer I follow) This was for the 1930's decade.
I absolutely loved this. The writing style was amazing and the story was powerful.
I first read this in high school and definitely could not appreciate the story then. But now having lived and loved a little, I can appreciate the story with fresh eyes. It really resonates with me now.
It's so devastating to find out that this book wasn't that respected by Zora's black contemporaries, especially men and especially Richard Wright. Then to also find out Zora died poor never begin able to see that her work is now a part of the black literary canon ...more
2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge A book you picked because the title caught your attention A book about or involving social media A book by a trans or no2020 Popsugar Reading Challenge A book you picked because the title caught your attention A book about or involving social media A book by a trans or nonbinary author
2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins Passing was all about Envy
This is #1 in the #10books10decads challenge
I go2020 PopSugar Reading Challenge A book featuring one of the seven deadly sins Passing was all about Envy
This is #1 in the #10books10decads challenge
I got this idea from fellow GR reviewer, Reggie Bailey (who I believe came up with the challenge--Sorry, Reggie, I have no idea how to tag you!)
I started with the 1920's and decided to read Passing. I really enjoyed this! Irene's character was complex and flawed. To some she may be unlikable because she was angry, appeared disingenuous, capricious, jealous and hypocritical. It becomes apparent that under all of that is a deep seated self-loathing that Irene does not acknowledge and may not even be aware of. This affects her relationship with Clare Kendry immensely. Irene was messy and human and through her we got to explore so many interesting themes. Themes like racial identity vs self identity, duty to self vs duty to race, and racial passing and the toll it takes on those passing. It also challenges the racist pseudoscience prevalent at the time regarding the inherent characteristics of race. There was also definitely some repressed homoerotic desires going here (and I fucking lived for these moments)....more