Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man by James Weldon Johnson

5 reviews

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative reflective tense 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? Yes

4.0

This was slightly different than what is was expecting but not all bad. This was actually way easier to read than I thought it would be, and I see a lot of James Weldon Johnson actual music background incorporated in this story.

There were parts of this story that I thought got a little off track, just a few pacing issues. But overall I do believe that this novel is a necessary read for those wanting to read black American classics. However when is comes to the “passing” literature I do believe that other authors have maybe written the narrative better.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

solnit_and_sebastian's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional informative reflective 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

5.0

Johnson's shrewd decision to publish his novel as an autobiography, rather than a work of informed fiction, likely lent credence to the account of one biracial man's self-concept and lessons learned as he became educated, traveled within the U.S.A. and across Europe, saw his profits fluctuate, and arrived at a personal identity. Johnson's novel addresses what he often refers to as "the race question" in America from the lens of an early twentieth century writer, and his insinuations are distressingly relevant today.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

beastzaies's review against another edition

Go to review page

informative reflective slow-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

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

laindarko2's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes

3.5

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

laurenleigh's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

4.0

Read this for the Popsugar 2021 reading challenge for the “published anonymously” prompt. Stylistically, there’s a lot of interest here. Though “autobiography” is in the title, this is a novel. I read that Johnson took much inspiration from his real life, but added some embellishments. It does make me wonder where those additives are, because most of the story felt quite real and believable to me. The narrator never gives us his name, nor does he give anyone else a true name. The closest we get to a name is “Red” or “Shiny.” I suppose this adds to what makes this feel less novelistic, like he was trying to conceal true identities. What I liked most about this text was Johnson’s insightful descriptions of emotions or events that many of us could find relatable. I loved the part where he anxiously awaits his friend’s answer during a spelling bee. To somewhat quote, he said “many times in my life I’ve anxiously awaited to see how the wheel of fortune would land, but never so much as in that moment!” Growing up biracial but white passing, and growing up with some money from his white father, the narrator is afforded more comfort than many other Black people during the post-Civil War Reconstruction era America. As a young adult, he gets to tour Europe with “his millionaire,” a wealthy benefactor who hires him to play piano. I was quite fascinated by the narrator’s descriptions and comparisons of Paris, London, and Berlin. Just another example of the narrator’s keen insight into humanity. Definitely want to give a content warning here for a scene with some pretty horrific racial violence, which becomes a pretty major turning point in the narrator’s life.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings