Reviews with content warning for Toxic friendship - Passing

Reviews tagging 'Toxic friendship'

Passing by Nella Larsen

36 reviews

toffishay's review against another edition

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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marissasa's review against another edition

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challenging dark reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This novella was interesting and gripping, and definitely caught me off guard on a couple occasions. I went in not knowing anything except the very basic premise that the story was about a woman, Clare, who chooses to pass as white as an adult. I was surprised to find it's more about her childhood friend Irene, who is equally fair but actively claims her Black heritage, and their reunion. Clare brings intrigue, doubt, and unrest into Irene's life but Irene is captivated by Clare's beauty, danger, and recklessness like a moth to a flame. Despite being short, the story really does pack a punch with its tension, stark contrast between the two main women, and themes of race, motherhood, loyalty, control, and security.

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mraddd's review

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tense medium-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

4.5

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trish_reading12's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-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

4.25

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readingthroughinfinity's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad 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

I wanted to read this before I watched the film and before I read The Vanishing Half, as I'd read that Brit Bennett was inspired by Passing. This is a really thought-provoking novel that examines racial passing, female friendships, motherhood, jealousy, and the Black community in 1920s Harlem.

The novel is set from the perspective of Irene Redfield, whose old friend Clare Kendry reappears in her life suddenly after many year apart. Irene is surprised to find out Clare is passing for white and her husband John doesn't know she's Black. Where Irene treats race as a marker of identity and a key factor in deciding which social circles you can move in, Clare brushes it off like something that doesn't affect her. She wants to spend time at Black social gatherings in Harlem not to be with other Black people like her, but for the excitement of the events.

Irene feels, at times, confined by her race, whereas Clare doesn't seem to be bothered by it and is unconcerned that her husband might find out that she's not white. She seems to breeze through life not worrying about the consequences of her actions and even doesn't seem bothered by the idea that, should her husband discover her race, she might lose her child.

Clare's easygoing nature and charisma ignite feelings of jealousy in Irene and this all comes to a head in the novel's dramatic and staggering conclusion. I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend Tessa Thompson's narration of the audiobook.

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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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challenging emotional 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

This is INTENSE. I want to read more by this author. I wish this would have been much longer because the tension was so good. Ms. Larson also has a real gift with phrasing.

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