Reviews - For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf

565 reviews for:

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf

Ntozake Shange

4.29 AVERAGE

inkerly's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Warning: This poetry book has possibly every content warning you can imagine. Read at your own discretion , and bring handkerchiefs

This is a choreopoem that shines light into the black women experience of the mid 20th century. Theres something for all black daughters, mothers, and grandmothers to resonate with and reflect on, and it’s such a aweing but sad composition of stories that leaves me feeling sad inside. I saw the Tyler Perry rendition of the book before reading this so I have a much more vivid and jarring memory of the events in the poems , but I think the Ebonics writing style , “rainbow” metaphor for the women, and tragic stories were beautifull constructed and together make a classic literary timepiece . My only reasoning for this being 4 stars is the it does get hard to read and I’m sure there are a million hidden meanings behind each line that I couldn’t decipher because of the artistic vision this poem chose to take.

Content Warnings

chandler1127's review against another edition

5.0

I had to read this book for a class, but it was so good!
NOT^ the best poems in my opinion:
- no assistance
- no more love poems (#1-4)
- sorry
- a layin on of hands

hamster02's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

jotheblackbookworm's review against another edition

2.5

dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

emilylou004's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

missmim's review against another edition

3.0

Though I am not a fan of the creative spelling, this play/poem holds a special place in my heart.

ashiie's review

4.0

emotional sad tense

A beautiful collection of poems, a choreopoem, that cover strong topics such as abuse, sexism, etc. Many of the poems describe overcoming those experiences and finding healing within and in sisterhood. A great look through the lens of the author’s experiences and those of many others on what it is to be a black woman in the 20th century. If given the chance to see this performed I would take it!