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themichellegray's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
A poetic book that celebrates language and the power of finding your voice while simultaneously offering a look at feminism in the 1930's. I originally read this in my high school english class and still find the written preservation of Black American's dialect at the turn of the twentieth century to be the most memorable part of the story.
While this book follows Janie throughout stages of womanhood and details her romantic relationships, I wouldn't classify this as a romance. Instead it is a slower paced journey of self-discovery while living in a highly misogynistic and racist world. While Tea Cake's character was flawed, he brought so much joy into an otherwise challenging novel and I couldn't help but admire him.
This is definitely a story that is meant to be deeply analyzed and discussed (which would make for a great book club pick). While I was able to grasp the overall symbolism and metaphors, the writing style often became dull which removed me from the narrative leaving me a little lost.
The content of this book can be difficult to consume but offers such a hopeful message that is sure to make you reflect on your own life, appreciate the progress that has been made since its publication, and help to understand how our language has evolved and intertwined over time.
Original Read (2007) - 5 stars
Graphic: Sexism, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, and Slavery
Minor: Rape, Alcohol, Abandonment, Animal death, and Sexual harassment
halaagmod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Death, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Slavery, and Animal death
kelsea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Grief, Racial slurs, Gun violence, Terminal illness, and Racism
chelseea's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Racial slurs
Minor: Rape
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual content, Alcohol, Classism, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, Alcoholism, Violence, Murder, Sexism, Terminal illness, Gaslighting, Racism, and Toxic relationship
aliciawithoutkeys's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Violence
mattyvreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Zora Neale Hurston’s words are pure poetry. The story is a beautiful and complex character study, above all else. I would not change a thing. Who would?
Scholars agree that it is one of the finest books ever written, but since I am not a scholar, I’ll simply say that it is one of the best books I’ve ever read.
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Rape, Gun violence, Slavery, and Sexism
Moderate: Animal death, Terminal illness, and Mental illness
mcclintock1808's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Rape
_sia_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.0
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Murder, and Rape
filmnoirz's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Violence