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565 reviews for:
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf
Ntozake Shange
4.29 AVERAGE
565 reviews for:
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf
Ntozake Shange
4.29 AVERAGE
The only reason that I did not give it five stars is because parts of the book are very hard to read due to the subject matter. I saw For Colored Girls the movie before I read the book/play (this being my first reading) and the movie has stuck with me due to the beautiful performances and the wonderfully expressive poems. I really enjoyed this book and it dealt with themes I can relate to as a black non-man. Let it be known that this book has a CW for SA, violence, slut-shaming, use of slurs, homophobia, a scene about abortion, and black trauma (with some triumph at the end). It is heavy content but ultimately a must-read. Tehn out of Tehn would reccommend.
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault
I've been wanting to read this book for years - but now that I finally have, it is not quite what I expected it to be. It's a collection of poems, which meant she was able to cover a variety of topics, but it also meant that I didn't feel particularly connected to any of the characters and their stories. My favorite poems were "one thing i dont need is any more apologies" and "latent rapists" - besides those, this didn't do much for me. I also could not STAND the grammar issues. I know the use of the vernacular is a stylistic choice, but it became such a distraction for me and didn't feel like it elevated the style of the poems. Not my favorite work.
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Trigger warning: domestic violence
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Violence
Minor: Addiction, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Abortion
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
wow, just wow
quotes I kept:
"The freedom to move in space, to demand of my own sweat a perfection that could continually be approached, though never known, waz poem to me, my body & mind ellipsing, probably for the first
time in my life." p. xi
"without any assistance or guidance from you
i have loved you assiduously for 8 months 2 wks & a day
i have been stood up four times
i've left 7 packages on yr doorstep
forty poems 2 plants & 3 handmade notecards i left
town so i cd send to you have been no help to me
on my job
you call at 3:00 in the mornin on weekdays
so i cd drive 27½ miles cross the bay before i go to work
charmin charmin
but you are of no assistance
i want you to know
this waz an experiment
to see how selfish i cd be
if i wd really carry on to snare a possible lover
if i waz capable of debasin my self for the love of another
if i cd stand not being wanted
when i wanted to be wanted
& i cannot
so with no further assistance & no guidance from you
i am endin this affair" [13/14]
"we cd even have em over for dinner
get raped in our own houses
by invitation
a friend" [21]
"& she wanted to be unforgettable
she wanted to be a memory
a wound to every man
arragant enough to want her" [32]
"to experience her body & spirit
tearin/ so easily blendin with theirs/
& they were so happy
& lay on her lime sheets full & wet
from her tongue she kissed
them reverently even ankles
edges of beards . . ." [33]
"then the rose
she left by his pillow
she found on her friends desk
& there waz nothing to say
she said
i wanna tell you
he's been after me
all the time
says he's free & can explain
what's happenin wit you
is nothin to me
& i dont wanna hurt you
but you know i need someone now
& you know
how wonderful he is" [41]
"you just walked back to where you hurt/ & i didnt
have nothin/ so i went to where somebody had somethin for me/
but he waznt you" [43]
"i used to joke abt when i waz messin round/ but a real dead
lovin is here for you now/ cuz i dont know anymore/ how
to avoid my own face wet wit my tears/ cuz i had convinced
myself colored girls had no right to sorrow/ & i lived
& loved that way & kept sorrow on the curb/ allegedly
for you/ but i know i did it for myself/
i cdnt stand it
i cdnt stand bein sorry & colored at the same time
it's so redundant in the modern world" [43]
"into oblivion isnt far enuf
to get outta this/ i am ready to die like a lily in the
desert/ & i cdnt let you in on it cuz i didnt know" [44]
"will you take it from me this one time/
please this is for you/ arsenio's tres cleared the way
& makes me pure again/ please please/ this is for you
i want you to love me/ let me love you/ i dont wanna
dance wit ghosts/ snuggle lovers i made up in my drunkenness/
lemme love you just like i am" [44]
holdin onto ourselves/ lets think our
way outta feelin/ lets abstract ourselves some families
& maybe maybe tonite/ i'll find a way to make myself
come witout you/ no fingers or other objects just thot
which isnt spiritual evolution cuz its empty & godliness
is plenty is ripe & fertile/ thinkin wont do me a bit of
good tonite/ i need to be loved/ & havent the audacity
to say
where are you/ & dont know who to say it to [45]
"i survive on intimacy & tomorrow/ that's all i've got" [45]
"my spirit is too ancient to understand the separation of
soul & gender/ my love is too delicate to have thrown
back on my face" [45]
"i want my own things/ how i lived them/
& give me my memories/ how i waz when i waz there/
you cant have them or do nothin wit them/" [50]
"stealin my shit from me/ dont make it yrs/ makes it stolen/" [50]
"one thing i dont need
is any more apologies
i got sorry greetin me at my front door
you can keep yrs
i dont know what to do wit em
they dont open doors
or bring the sun back
they dont make me happy
or get a mornin paper
didnt nobody usin my tears to wash cars
cuz a sorry" [52]
"i am simply tired
of collectin
i didnt know
i was so important to you'
i'm gonna haveta throw some away
i cant get to the clothes in my closet
for alla the sorries" [53]
"i'm gonna do exactly what i want to
& i wont be sorry for none of it
letta sorry soothe yr soul/ i'm gonna soothe mine" [53]
"i loved you on purpose
i was open on purpose
i still crave vulnerability & close talk
& i'm not even sorry bout you bein sorry
you can carry all the guilt & grime ya wanna
just dont give it to me
i cant use another sorry
next time
you should admit
you're mean/ low-down/ triflin/ & no count straight out
steada bein sorry alla the time
enjoy bein yrself" [54]
"i know bout/ layin on bodies/ layin outta man
bringin him alla my fleshy self & some of my pleasure
bein taken full eager wet like i get sometimes
i waz missin somethin" [62]
quotes I kept:
"The freedom to move in space, to demand of my own sweat a perfection that could continually be approached, though never known, waz poem to me, my body & mind ellipsing, probably for the first
time in my life." p. xi
"without any assistance or guidance from you
i have loved you assiduously for 8 months 2 wks & a day
i have been stood up four times
i've left 7 packages on yr doorstep
forty poems 2 plants & 3 handmade notecards i left
town so i cd send to you have been no help to me
on my job
you call at 3:00 in the mornin on weekdays
so i cd drive 27½ miles cross the bay before i go to work
charmin charmin
but you are of no assistance
i want you to know
this waz an experiment
to see how selfish i cd be
if i wd really carry on to snare a possible lover
if i waz capable of debasin my self for the love of another
if i cd stand not being wanted
when i wanted to be wanted
& i cannot
so with no further assistance & no guidance from you
i am endin this affair" [13/14]
"we cd even have em over for dinner
get raped in our own houses
by invitation
a friend" [21]
"& she wanted to be unforgettable
she wanted to be a memory
a wound to every man
arragant enough to want her" [32]
"to experience her body & spirit
tearin/ so easily blendin with theirs/
& they were so happy
& lay on her lime sheets full & wet
from her tongue she kissed
them reverently even ankles
edges of beards . . ." [33]
"then the rose
she left by his pillow
she found on her friends desk
& there waz nothing to say
she said
i wanna tell you
he's been after me
all the time
says he's free & can explain
what's happenin wit you
is nothin to me
& i dont wanna hurt you
but you know i need someone now
& you know
how wonderful he is" [41]
"you just walked back to where you hurt/ & i didnt
have nothin/ so i went to where somebody had somethin for me/
but he waznt you" [43]
"i used to joke abt when i waz messin round/ but a real dead
lovin is here for you now/ cuz i dont know anymore/ how
to avoid my own face wet wit my tears/ cuz i had convinced
myself colored girls had no right to sorrow/ & i lived
& loved that way & kept sorrow on the curb/ allegedly
for you/ but i know i did it for myself/
i cdnt stand it
i cdnt stand bein sorry & colored at the same time
it's so redundant in the modern world" [43]
"into oblivion isnt far enuf
to get outta this/ i am ready to die like a lily in the
desert/ & i cdnt let you in on it cuz i didnt know" [44]
"will you take it from me this one time/
please this is for you/ arsenio's tres cleared the way
& makes me pure again/ please please/ this is for you
i want you to love me/ let me love you/ i dont wanna
dance wit ghosts/ snuggle lovers i made up in my drunkenness/
lemme love you just like i am" [44]
holdin onto ourselves/ lets think our
way outta feelin/ lets abstract ourselves some families
& maybe maybe tonite/ i'll find a way to make myself
come witout you/ no fingers or other objects just thot
which isnt spiritual evolution cuz its empty & godliness
is plenty is ripe & fertile/ thinkin wont do me a bit of
good tonite/ i need to be loved/ & havent the audacity
to say
where are you/ & dont know who to say it to [45]
"i survive on intimacy & tomorrow/ that's all i've got" [45]
"my spirit is too ancient to understand the separation of
soul & gender/ my love is too delicate to have thrown
back on my face" [45]
"i want my own things/ how i lived them/
& give me my memories/ how i waz when i waz there/
you cant have them or do nothin wit them/" [50]
"stealin my shit from me/ dont make it yrs/ makes it stolen/" [50]
"one thing i dont need
is any more apologies
i got sorry greetin me at my front door
you can keep yrs
i dont know what to do wit em
they dont open doors
or bring the sun back
they dont make me happy
or get a mornin paper
didnt nobody usin my tears to wash cars
cuz a sorry" [52]
"i am simply tired
of collectin
i didnt know
i was so important to you'
i'm gonna haveta throw some away
i cant get to the clothes in my closet
for alla the sorries" [53]
"i'm gonna do exactly what i want to
& i wont be sorry for none of it
letta sorry soothe yr soul/ i'm gonna soothe mine" [53]
"i loved you on purpose
i was open on purpose
i still crave vulnerability & close talk
& i'm not even sorry bout you bein sorry
you can carry all the guilt & grime ya wanna
just dont give it to me
i cant use another sorry
next time
you should admit
you're mean/ low-down/ triflin/ & no count straight out
steada bein sorry alla the time
enjoy bein yrself" [54]
"i know bout/ layin on bodies/ layin outta man
bringin him alla my fleshy self & some of my pleasure
bein taken full eager wet like i get sometimes
i waz missin somethin" [62]
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-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:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated