Reviews

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson, Arna Bontemps

memoryoflife's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

leoreadssmut's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

Did anyone else get Bi vibes? 

bearrigan's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ipanzica's review against another edition

4.0

An extremely well-written book.

lindssong's review against another edition

3.0

The book itself was written wonderfully and the plot was very interesting. The only reason I gave it a 2 is cause the main character was so frustrating. I understand that this book was about self- identity, which Johnson portrays perfectly, but the main character was SO wishy washy. It felt like I spent all this time reading the book for nothing because the ending was so underwhelming and disappointing (the character wasted all this time contemplating and having a hard time with his identity JUST to pick the easier and safer route). Therefore, my rating is purely because of my frustrations towards a character. In literary merit, it was five stars. It was obviously a great book if it made me feel like punching a fictional character in the face.

booksoup's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes

4.0

linnaeauliassi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

bephhh's review against another edition

informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

3.75

timhering's review against another edition

fast-paced

4.0

jenmkin's review against another edition

4.0

The thematic thread of the significance of music that Johnson weaves throughout the story and is such a beautiful way to represent the narrator’s process of decision making.
Parts of the book are hard to read, because Johnson doesn’t shy away from the harsh treatment of Black people in the South, but rather forces his readers to experience these truths along with his narrator, a necessary confrontation of the facts that refuses to romanticize or overlook something horrible.