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560 reviews for:
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf
Ntozake Shange
4.29 AVERAGE
560 reviews for:
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf
Ntozake Shange
4.29 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Pros about reading plays: I am exposed to theatre I might otherwise have never seen
Cons about reading plays: Lord JESUS I need someone to produce this right tf now it’s 50 years old and endlessly relatable
Cons about reading plays: Lord JESUS I need someone to produce this right tf now it’s 50 years old and endlessly relatable
This read was something new and completely unexpected for me. It's a captivating "new" genre created by the poet called a choreopoem, and it was absolutely stunning. Beautiful lyricism saturates the text as it weaves a narrative of Black womanhood. It's truly one of the most awe-filled poems I've read in a long time, in part because of how inventive the genre is. I don't have a ton to say about it because it was just so captivating. I only knocked it down a star because I feel like it's meant to be performed (which it is).
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This classic is a classic for a reason. I'd love to see it performed. I loved the Preface notes in the copy I read!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
a beautiful piece of literature exploring Black feminism, exploring personal forms of violence, of loss and of love. it’s about deconstructing language, about making up words that aren’t oppressive and writing without capitalization because who said it’s necessary, about understanding the connection between poetry and the movements of the body. outstanding work
dark
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Holy sh*t! This is powerful. I very much want to see it live.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment
I think I've realized I rly just don't love reading books of poetry.
First published in 1975, "For Colored Girls..." is a collection of twenty poems. Though intended to be set to dance and music, it is a powerful text.
Shange's seven women speak out in a rising chorus about the tides of their lives and womanhood. First times, insecurities, abandonment, love, rape, abortion, illness, abuse, and PTSD all feature, carefully organized for thematic continuity. With so much focus on the darker sides of women's relationships, it could have been depressing, but while it's certainly heavy-hitting, the ultimate sense is of uplifting solidarity in the face of the world.
Those who struggle with 'dialect' in writing may be put off by Shange's use of unorthodox grammar and spelling. The 2010 edition I read includes a preface by the author, photographs from various productions, and discussion questions at the back.
For grins, I checked out the 1982 PBS telefilm adaptation immediately after reading this. I thought it was well done, but significantly divergent. If I ever get the chance to see the full production of the choreopoem in person, I plan to take it.
Shange's seven women speak out in a rising chorus about the tides of their lives and womanhood. First times, insecurities, abandonment, love, rape, abortion, illness, abuse, and PTSD all feature, carefully organized for thematic continuity. With so much focus on the darker sides of women's relationships, it could have been depressing, but while it's certainly heavy-hitting, the ultimate sense is of uplifting solidarity in the face of the world.
& this is for colored girls who have considered
suicide / but are movin to the ends of their own
rainbows
Those who struggle with 'dialect' in writing may be put off by Shange's use of unorthodox grammar and spelling. The 2010 edition I read includes a preface by the author, photographs from various productions, and discussion questions at the back.
For grins, I checked out the 1982 PBS telefilm adaptation immediately after reading this. I thought it was well done, but significantly divergent. If I ever get the chance to see the full production of the choreopoem in person, I plan to take it.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced