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lorhart's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book! I read it for my English class, which definitely aided my enjoyment because we had to dissect and discuss the ideas that Harper presents (I think anytime you can discuss a book with someone, in a critical manner or otherwise, it multiplies your enjoyment 100%). But everything we talked about was rooted in the ideas and conversations that Harper introduced, so it's definitely worth the read.
The story is mostly told through dialogue between characters, and the writing is pretty much what I'd expect from a 19th-century novel. There is a fair amount of strong dialect, which I think added to the story, but it will be difficult to pick up for people who have never encountered it before. The best advice I can give is to take your time and read it aloud. The words are spelled phonetically according to their accent, so hearing it will make more sense than seeing it.
There's a fair amount of wish-fulfillment in the plot, but honestly, it works. It's a sentimental romance, so it's meant to be all gushy and stuff, but Harper does a serious critique of the genre and uses it to capture her audience (19th-century women) and confront them with ideas of Christianity, marriage, and racism that they may not ordinarily question. What's more, I think that the African-American portion of her audience deserves to have that kind of representation and hope. Reading is a form of escapism, even if the author is trying to show you harsh realities and promote critical thought; I certainly believe they can exist side-by-side. After all, "Shadows Uplifted" is in the title. Maybe it means that this book, with all its hope and promise and encouragement, is trying to uplift the heavy, foreboding shadows of the future for people who were and would continue to be discriminated against by a government that's supposed to protect them. I know there are many interpretations of the title, but I think that could be one of them.
The characters. Oh boy. They were awesome! So dynamic. Every character had multiple sides and contradictions, and most importantly, reasons for why they make their choices. Harper gave many conflicting viewpoints of a variety of issues, and the characters who delivered them were always called into question. And what a leading lady Iola Leroy turned out to be! A lot of media nowadays tend to rely on tropes for minority characters, particularly "strong independent woman who don't need no man," "fat, loud, unappealing caregiver" (also known as "mammy"), and "evil vixen who will always be passed up in the end" for black women. Iola Leroy both embodied and subverted these tropes, but most importantly, was a real person with real problems. She had been through a lot that made her strong, but it also deeply affected her and her view of the world. She didn't need a man to complete her, but she fell in love with one who helped her achieve her goals. She was caring, but that drove her to help her community and find her family. She was desired by most men in the novel, but part of that was showing the sexual vulnerability of enslaved women, and the other part was just a straight up romance you'd find in any book. And all that aside, she was so much more than these tropes, subverted or not. I don't know if Harper intended on doing that, but people should definitely look to Iola Leroy as an example of a dynamic character.
That being said, there were some things that Harper didn't call into question, like the superiority of America and Christianity over everything else, but overall, it was a really good read. There's so much more that can be said and discussed, so if you've read this book too (regardless of whether you enjoyed it), or maybe would like to read it, I'm always open to a good conversation.
The story is mostly told through dialogue between characters, and the writing is pretty much what I'd expect from a 19th-century novel. There is a fair amount of strong dialect, which I think added to the story, but it will be difficult to pick up for people who have never encountered it before. The best advice I can give is to take your time and read it aloud. The words are spelled phonetically according to their accent, so hearing it will make more sense than seeing it.
There's a fair amount of wish-fulfillment in the plot, but honestly, it works. It's a sentimental romance, so it's meant to be all gushy and stuff, but Harper does a serious critique of the genre and uses it to capture her audience (19th-century women) and confront them with ideas of Christianity, marriage, and racism that they may not ordinarily question. What's more, I think that the African-American portion of her audience deserves to have that kind of representation and hope. Reading is a form of escapism, even if the author is trying to show you harsh realities and promote critical thought; I certainly believe they can exist side-by-side. After all, "Shadows Uplifted" is in the title. Maybe it means that this book, with all its hope and promise and encouragement, is trying to uplift the heavy, foreboding shadows of the future for people who were and would continue to be discriminated against by a government that's supposed to protect them. I know there are many interpretations of the title, but I think that could be one of them.
The characters. Oh boy. They were awesome! So dynamic. Every character had multiple sides and contradictions, and most importantly, reasons for why they make their choices. Harper gave many conflicting viewpoints of a variety of issues, and the characters who delivered them were always called into question. And what a leading lady Iola Leroy turned out to be! A lot of media nowadays tend to rely on tropes for minority characters, particularly "strong independent woman who don't need no man," "fat, loud, unappealing caregiver" (also known as "mammy"), and "evil vixen who will always be passed up in the end" for black women. Iola Leroy both embodied and subverted these tropes, but most importantly, was a real person with real problems. She had been through a lot that made her strong, but it also deeply affected her and her view of the world. She didn't need a man to complete her, but she fell in love with one who helped her achieve her goals. She was caring, but that drove her to help her community and find her family. She was desired by most men in the novel, but part of that was showing the sexual vulnerability of enslaved women, and the other part was just a straight up romance you'd find in any book. And all that aside, she was so much more than these tropes, subverted or not. I don't know if Harper intended on doing that, but people should definitely look to Iola Leroy as an example of a dynamic character.
That being said, there were some things that Harper didn't call into question, like the superiority of America and Christianity over everything else, but overall, it was a really good read. There's so much more that can be said and discussed, so if you've read this book too (regardless of whether you enjoyed it), or maybe would like to read it, I'm always open to a good conversation.
homosexual's review against another edition
3.0
My Booktube
Link to the Reading Black Classics Vlog
TW/CW: slavery, antisemitism (there is one line that MIGHT be considered this, but I’m putting it anyways just in case) , n word usage
3/5. This is a book where I think I’ll either love it or hate it more on a re-read. The bouncing timeline that happens early on made me feel disoriented, and even then I was more invested in Iola as a character. While she does regain some level of focus towards the end, we spend too long (imo), away from her POV.
The second half was more engaging than the first half. But I will also say that since this novel is VERY dialogue heavy that it was hard to feel a sense of place. However that could be intentional and a technique the author was using.
This book does get very… preachy with its temperance themes. Sometimes it really does feel like the characters have turned to the camera and are critiquing you. So much so that it got to the point where I was taken out of the story.
I did like this book, but I feel like it is more so a product of its time than others. Would still recommend though.
Link to the Reading Black Classics Vlog
TW/CW: slavery, antisemitism (there is one line that MIGHT be considered this, but I’m putting it anyways just in case) , n word usage
3/5. This is a book where I think I’ll either love it or hate it more on a re-read. The bouncing timeline that happens early on made me feel disoriented, and even then I was more invested in Iola as a character. While she does regain some level of focus towards the end, we spend too long (imo), away from her POV.
The second half was more engaging than the first half. But I will also say that since this novel is VERY dialogue heavy that it was hard to feel a sense of place. However that could be intentional and a technique the author was using.
This book does get very… preachy with its temperance themes. Sometimes it really does feel like the characters have turned to the camera and are critiquing you. So much so that it got to the point where I was taken out of the story.
I did like this book, but I feel like it is more so a product of its time than others. Would still recommend though.
f18's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Child death, Slavery, Terminal illness, and War
Minor: Alcoholism, Blood, Hate crime, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and Religious bigotry
colorismaconfundityofcrows's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sarajane96's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.0
mrscrowley's review against another edition
5.0
A classic of U.S. American Literature. A novel of its own time which is deeply generous with lessons and perspectives for our current histories. Beautifully written and specifically principled, I am sad to have not have known this novel existed, until now. The characters and experiences brought forth by Watkins Harper are unforgettable.
celiaapril2014's review against another edition
Spoilers. I really liked this book. I'm glad there was a happy ending for all the characters and that they have reunited their family. It was extremely sad what happened to Iola once her father died, but thankfully she was able to be reunited with her mother and brother and now she has a grandmother and an uncle.
blankgarden's review against another edition
3.0
My review: https://theblankgarden.com/2020/11/17/review-iola-leroy-or-shadows-uplifted-by-frances-ellen-watkins-harper/
eggly_glenn's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5