Reviews with content warning for Misogyny - Passing

Reviews tagging 'Misogyny'

Passing by Nella Larsen

11 reviews

gracej66's review

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I enjoyed how detailed the descriptions of Clare Kendry were. Larsen really went into a lot of detail showing her odd mannerisms, expressions, etc. She also spent a lot of time describing the protagonist Irene Redfield’s conflicted thoughts and struggles. The plot, while relatively simple and short, was engaging and kept me turning pages. The immediate tension created by Clare’s husband not knowing of her Black ancestry got me hooked from the beginning. It was a pleasure to read Larsen’s indirect style of storytelling. She didn’t spell everything out on the page. Rather, she took her time hinting at what was going on and gradually clarified what had happened, such as in the last scene of the book or when Irene has a tragic realization about those around her. This book was intriguing, exciting, and artfully constructed. I hope to read another book by Larsen!

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rieviolet's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective 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

4.0

This novella packs a lot into a little more than one hundred pages.

In the foreground there's race and the concept of passing, with all of its moral implications. I think the theme is explored really well, and through the different characters we can observe all of its nuances.

The author is also good at delving deep into the main character's psychology. The relationship between Irene and Clare is fraught with conflicting emotions, and it is build upon in a very clever way until the shocking breaking point.

I really appreciated the themes and the prose, but I wasn't completely swept away by the story, hence the 4-star rating.

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toffishay's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I am surprised that I waited so long to read this book; I really enjoyed it! This book explores themes of race, identity, and what we own others who we are in community with through the story of a Black woman "passing", moving through society as a white woman. Really though, the plot is about the relationship between Clare and Irene, what these two woman want out of their lives...and what they are willing to do to get it. If you like Sula by Toni Morrison (which I love) you'll like this book :)

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thesupermassive's review against another edition

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informative fast-paced

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

3.75

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mikaelaandherbooks's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

3.5

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garynoplastie's review against another edition

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tense medium-paced

3.5

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jessiebertram's review against another edition

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reflective

3.5

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kazzhiggs's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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laurareads87's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Set in the 1920s, Passing is a Harlem Renaissance novel following two women, one of whom is passing as white in her everyday life having married a racist white man who doesn't know the full details of her ancestry. The novel is a short but powerful examination of the complexities of identity, community, gender, and race. I am grateful my book club chose it, as there is much to discuss -- the novel is ambiguous in many respects, complex, and nuanced. I appreciated Brit Bennett's introduction, but suggest that any reader unfamiliar with the plot and seeking to avoid spoilers leave reading it until after they've finished the novel.

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lkbooks's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

5.0

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