Reviews

Passing by Nella Larsen

tuuliventoo's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad 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? No

5.0

archrlynn's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

dellaposta's review against another edition

5.0

A perfect gem of a short novel. When you see how Larsen describes a hot Chicago summer day early in the book, you know that you are in the hands of a master prose stylist. She harnesses those skills to tell a seemingly simple story with unfathomable psychological complexities — about the relationship between two Black women who grew up together, one of whom now chooses to “pass” as White. The “passing” character, Clare Kendry, merits comparison to another character of 1920s literature: Jay Gatsby. Honestly, she is probably more interesting, and the same goes for the book as a whole.

nikanj's review against another edition

emotional reflective tense slow-paced

5.0

A perfect book in every way. “A meditation on race, class, colorism, sexuality, and everything in between”. A must-read!

lauren_downs_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious

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

4.0

dexkit10's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Infidelity

Moderate: Toxic friendship and Death

rebeccamadsn's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

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

4.0

archarlton's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

annieni's review against another edition

4.0

Read it for university, quite enjoyed it!

linak88's review against another edition

challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0