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serenedancer's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Well written interesting story. There were parts that I didn't quite love (like the common references to domestic violence without it being seen as wrong) but I felt like it was included as it would have been historically. I liked the way it was written.
It is definitely slower moving but it still works well.
Also, if you're having issues with the way it's written, I found that the audiobook helped there. It helped me if I hear it read out.
It is definitely slower moving but it still works well.
Also, if you're having issues with the way it's written, I found that the audiobook helped there. It helped me if I hear it read out.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Rape
Minor: Racism
carsten_moment's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Their Eyes Were Watching God follows the life of Janie from childhood to her forties through three marriages. As Janie grows up, she learns about who she is and what her reality is like. With an interesting structure and down-to-Earth characters, this novel is replete with more philosophy than expected.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Rape
phantomgecko's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book is beautifully written. My first thought was, 'this prose is kinda purple.' But actually it is gorgeous and not over the top.
This type of story doesn't appeal to me straight up, but the writing and the characters pulled me in. I didn't cry, but it was a near thing.
This type of story doesn't appeal to me straight up, but the writing and the characters pulled me in. I didn't cry, but it was a near thing.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, and Slavery
gardens_and_dragons's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
3.5
I think this is a hard book to rate for me. It’s very well written, I liked the prose and themes a lot! I loved how feminist it was for being published in 1937. A great story about a Black woman's struggle for independence. It’s an important book as a touchstone in African American history. I don’t think that slow family dramas in lit are for me, tho, so it wasn’t exactly for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Gun violence and Physical abuse
Minor: Rape and Slavery
edenmb21's review against another edition
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? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Grief
anxiousbeauty96's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
This is a great book. This novel follows the story of Janie and her 3 marriages. All of Janie’s husbands are misogynistic but Tea Cake seem to be the one who truly loves her and loves him as well. Their story his heartwarming MOST of the time. Some of the things he did were questionable, but you can tell they loved each other. The ending made me cry.
I like that Hurston decided to to write the dialogue in Southern dialect but it did make it hard to read at first. Once I got the hang of it, it got easier. It’s a great read. I highly recommend.
I like that Hurston decided to to write the dialogue in Southern dialect but it did make it hard to read at first. Once I got the hang of it, it got easier. It’s a great read. I highly recommend.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Death, Misogyny, Gun violence, Slavery, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Terminal illness, and Racial slurs
akaspiderlily's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.75
A story where Janie’s own terms of love are set and fixed by her and her alone, and in that way it’s revolutionary. Beautifully written, and an ode to the cultural color of the south and its mighty strong women’s wills. It’s a coming of age story as riveting as anything modern. It warmed my heart to read it and know that there was someone as frilly-natured of a writer as me in the 1930s. You’ve got to live to have a life worth loving, and you’ve also got to love to have a life worth living.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting and Domestic abuse
Minor: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Homophobia, Murder, Racism, Rape, and Sexism
themichellegray's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
2024 Re-Read - 4 stars
A poetic book that celebrates language and the power of finding your voice while simultaneously offering a look at feminism in the 1930's. I originally read this in my high school english class and still find the written preservation of Black American's dialect at the turn of the twentieth century to be the most memorable part of the story.
While this book follows Janie throughout stages of womanhood and details her romantic relationships, I wouldn't classify this as a romance. Instead it is a slower paced journey of self-discovery while living in a highly misogynistic and racist world. While Tea Cake's character was flawed, he brought so much joy into an otherwise challenging novel and I couldn't help but admire him.
This is definitely a story that is meant to be deeply analyzed and discussed (which would make for a great book club pick). While I was able to grasp the overall symbolism and metaphors, the writing style often became dull which removed me from the narrative leaving me a little lost.
The content of this book can be difficult to consume but offers such a hopeful message that is sure to make you reflect on your own life, appreciate the progress that has been made since its publication, and help to understand how our language has evolved and intertwined over time.
Original Read (2007) - 5 stars
A poetic book that celebrates language and the power of finding your voice while simultaneously offering a look at feminism in the 1930's. I originally read this in my high school english class and still find the written preservation of Black American's dialect at the turn of the twentieth century to be the most memorable part of the story.
While this book follows Janie throughout stages of womanhood and details her romantic relationships, I wouldn't classify this as a romance. Instead it is a slower paced journey of self-discovery while living in a highly misogynistic and racist world. While Tea Cake's character was flawed, he brought so much joy into an otherwise challenging novel and I couldn't help but admire him.
This is definitely a story that is meant to be deeply analyzed and discussed (which would make for a great book club pick). While I was able to grasp the overall symbolism and metaphors, the writing style often became dull which removed me from the narrative leaving me a little lost.
The content of this book can be difficult to consume but offers such a hopeful message that is sure to make you reflect on your own life, appreciate the progress that has been made since its publication, and help to understand how our language has evolved and intertwined over time.
Original Read (2007) - 5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Racial slurs, Death, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, and Slavery
Minor: Rape, Alcohol, Abandonment, Animal death, and Sexual harassment
hongstoes's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
One of my favorite books of all time, seriously so beautiful.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Rape
halaagmod's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny, Death, and Classism
Minor: Rape, Slavery, and Animal death