Reviews tagging 'Racial slurs'

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

155 reviews

kyndallb's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, and Racial slurs

sorenh's review

emotional sad medium-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

3.5

A moving story of love and loss, set in the post-slavery South. The reader follows Janey as she lives a full life and learns about herself and to follow her own heart. Suitable for high school age and above. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Gore and Violence

meghancolbert's review against another edition

5.0

The prose and imagery are absolutely stunning. The ending was tragic and not at all what I expected. This story will sit with me for the rest of my life.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism

Additional content warning: rabies

readingrainbowconnection's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

The line, "She stood there until something fell off the shelf inside her", stayed with me the entire book. I think every woman has her own version of that very feeling. Some of the best storytelling I've ever encountered. Can't believe I didn't read it until now but I understand why it's on every must-read Black history and American literature list.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Body shaming

fischmama4's review

adventurous challenging hopeful reflective sad 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

3.75

Classic American literature, very important piece of African-American writing. I found it difficult to read at first as Hurston writes it in the southern Negro dialect, something we aren't used to hearing or reading in 2025. Once I was able to get the rhythm in my head (I am from the south so I just had to channel the accent in my brain!) It got quicker and easier to read. The story is a good one, there's plenty of adventure! You become attached to Janie and want to see her happy. Shocking turn the last 60 or so pages, but leaves off feeling resolved. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, and Murder

fairyollie's review

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

from her very conception, Janie has no agency. every decision was made for her: where to live, who to marry, what to do, who to talk to, and how. seeking true love, Janie finds herself and her own agency.

it took me a bit to get used to the dialect, which was written so realistically and honestly. a clear classic, and it is a shame that it is not taught in academia. a bigger shame is that it has been forgotten.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Grief

Moderate: Abandonment and Alcohol

Minor: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Animal death

ekgranstro's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Classism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Death of parent, and Alcohol

mchampl01's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful 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

4.0

Written incredibly well, Hurston is brilliant at painting a picture with words. I particularly enjoyed the visualization of the vultures. The way she writes paints detailed pictures, especially with connotation to guide the reader's feelings.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Body shaming, Terminal illness, and Alcohol

themdash's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

kilonshele's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Racial slurs

Minor: Death