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thedeepmagic's review
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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
4.25
Certainly you'll have to remember that this book was written in the early twentieth century, with all its prejudices and racial attitudes intact . . . But that these same things come from a uniquely Black perspective, which is worth getting into. Lafala is the main character but every character you encounter is full of rich complexity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical content, Violence, Ableism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Classism and Suicidal thoughts
reading_racc00n's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
mouhy's review
5.0
Like the best novels of the Harlem Renaissance, especially those of Nella Larsen's, Claude McKay's work is so insightful and rich with subtext and stradles two continents. I'm so glad I stumbled on his books. This small novel of 170 something pages captures the complexities of what it means to be a Person of Color and an immigrant in Post-WWI Marseille. Loved reading the footnotes in this edition, they really helped shed light on terms I would surely have otherwise missed.
readingbrb's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Trafficking and Racial slurs
jazzyf77's review
3.0
Somewhat changed my perception of the 1920s era I thought it was really interesting looking into the cultures of port towns and seeing how people were able to travel large distances before the advent of planes. Was also super interesting to see how the main character was able to physicslly navigate these unacomadting areas as a disabled man.
Very boring at some parts
Very boring at some parts
kteddycurr's review
3.0
It has glimmers of greatness. I wanted it be longer and expand on what was there. And the person who added the footnotes was clearly out of touch with the audience of this book. Why did "guillotine" get a footnote that gives the description? Anyone who is mature enough to be reading that sentence it's used in, when a prostitute and a pimp and fighting about her nightly plans, hopefully doesn't need that extra help.