Reviews

Brown Girl, Brownstones by Paule Marshall

avalin1's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

4.25

ssinforshort's review against another edition

reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

This was a well written coming- of-age about a young girl, Selina, living in Brooklyn with her Barbadian parents. Both of her parents are striving for their version of the American dream. While Selina is trying to find out who she is in the midst of their differences, and her changing community.

The first half of the book was tense, and had me on the edge of my bed (since that is where I mostly read this). I tabbed so many pages throughout the book that had great quotes and imagery.

Though the second half was slower, and I wished that it picked up more, my biggest issue was the homophobia. Selina says homophobic things about a boy in her community that she believes is gay.

In the end, I think this novel illustrates that the American dream is a machine that you become a part of, or you get crushed by. And if you want neither of those options, you have to make your own way.

ralowe's review

5.0

had to ditch all my structuralist gripes with this one as marshall's storytelling hangs together so loose and free, and fraught with complexity that defies any easy cosmology. the *medicine for melancholy* part brought on some relief as i spose my mind hungers for patrilineal reason, thank you. if *the chosen place, the timeless people* grips with urgency this novel shrugs luxurious in nonplusment. my first day at the american studies association meeting my confirmed doppelganger nijah cunningham introduced this text to a paper he gave about the obscene affects of disembodiment and loss that accrue to the intrigue and edifice of barclays center in brooklyn and a ghostly installation that involves bill t. jones' movement minus blackness. during q-&-a i spastically requested what page cunningham's epigraph "only the dead know brooklyn," but i have the jank edition. i want to say something about bad parenting and jay z, but i'm not.

usernamemustbeunique's review

4.0

This is one of the best coming of age novels I have read, and it’s one of my favorite genres. Although the book isn’t exactly enthralling, it’s very well-written and complex. Definitely worth giving it a go if you like this genre.

gmp's review

emotional reflective

3.75

willwork4airfare's review

5.0

This book reminded me a lot of "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" which is also one of my favorites. This silent, powerful feeling inside Selina and in Mick Kelly is so important. This is a beautiful novel.

kathystl's review against another edition

5.0

Beautifully written and a remarkably rich coming-of-age story.

detectivelily's review

4.0

this is good

jenmcmaynes's review

5.0

This book was described to me as a Barbados-American “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” And while I can certainly see the similarities, it is so much more raw and visceral and real than Smith’s classic coming of age story. It is the story of Selina Boyce and her struggles to find herself as a black American in post-WW II America. Her recently immigrated Barbados family and community both holds her up and pushes her down in this quest. The conflicts between her parents over land and property vs dreams were agonizing to read; Marshall is an amazing writer. As were the conflicts between her West Indian community and American blacks. An excellent, though not uplifting, book and highly recommended.

butterfly2507's review

1.0

I can't empathize with any of these people. The main character is annoying, the father lazy, the neighbours know no personal space.