Reviews

Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks

jellygradients's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i find the use of poetry in this so beautiful... so riveting. to say it simply, this book is like a collage of memories that evoke a range of emotions. kind of like a slice of life but from the perspective of the not-so privileged, a simple life. we get to see how maud martha grows up, and her various daily life challenges and joys, intricately and delicately described. a lovely book in general <3

anne_floor's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.25

arivnnv's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

dagdraumar's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad

4.0

siria's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.25

A novella composed of short, lyrical vignettes, Maud Martha follows the eponymous protagonist over some 20 years, from childhood through to marriage and motherhood from the '20s through to the end of WW2. Maud is bright and sentimental and imaginative, stuck in an unsatisfying marriage and a run-down apartment in a racist city, but perpetually full of day dreams and hope for the future. Gwendolyn Brooks' prose makes the everyday beautiful and conjures up vividly what life must have been like in a mid-century, predominantly Black and working-class community in Chicago. Definitely recommended. 

shhtaeisreading's review against another edition

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reflective relaxing fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

red_ochre's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

kaiolenatac's review against another edition

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

5.0

absolutely brilliant. gorgeous, poetic vignettes of life. I fell in love with maud Martha and her dreams and cast, would read over and over. 

aasnur's review against another edition

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fast-paced

4.0

thestoryofaz's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

"But dandelions were what she chiefly saw. Yellow jewels for every day, studding the patched green dress of her backyard. She liked their demure prettiness second to their everydayness; for in that latter quality she thought she saw a picture of herself, and it was comforting to find that what was common could also be a flower."

A gorgeous, lyrical piece by chiefly poet Gwendolyn Brooks that pulls the strings of your heart just right. I am more than enthusiastic about checking the rest of her work.