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566 reviews for:
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf
Ntozake Shange
4.29 AVERAGE
566 reviews for:
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf
Ntozake Shange
4.29 AVERAGE
Poetic • Tragic • Glimpse
“Where there is a woman there is magic. If there is a moon falling from her mouth, she is a woman who knows her magic, who can share or not share her powers. A woman with a moon falling from her mouth, roses between her legs and tiaras of Spanish moss, this woman is a consort of the spirits.”
I picked up this book in response to the constant outcry on justice for Black women. Why do we not value our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, grandmothers, girlfriends, wives, and female neighbors of color in this society? Apparently that was also an issue in the 70s, so much so that it inspired a musical.
This was as haunting as it is beautiful. This publication was written to be performed on theatrical stage yet made its way to the big screen and my awareness. Which lead me to the book of prose that started it all.
This is written in the format of a screenplay complete with poems, monologues, and directional cues. It embodies almost every painful emotion and harmful infliction on a Black woman (or any woman).
It covers issues on
✨Sex,
✨Rape,
✨Abortion,
✨Molestation,
✨Domestic Violence,
✨Fertility,
✨Unfaithfulness,
✨ Toxic Relationships,
✨and loss of a child.
There is no way to remain dry eyed.Be prepared for some ugly crying raw emotions this book is sure to provoke.
My only complaint is there was never truly sunshine at the end of this 99% trauma 1% uplift piece of literature. I needed more exploration on the issues and reassurance to not pity my own disposition of being both Black and a woman. I suppose the moral is we are enough but I needed more .
I hope to see this on stage one day. Perhaps seeing it as it was meant to be enjoyed with sway my opinion and elevate its overall impact.
Recommendations: Everyone.
xoxo,
Kat
“Where there is a woman there is magic. If there is a moon falling from her mouth, she is a woman who knows her magic, who can share or not share her powers. A woman with a moon falling from her mouth, roses between her legs and tiaras of Spanish moss, this woman is a consort of the spirits.”
I picked up this book in response to the constant outcry on justice for Black women. Why do we not value our mothers, daughters, sisters, aunties, grandmothers, girlfriends, wives, and female neighbors of color in this society? Apparently that was also an issue in the 70s, so much so that it inspired a musical.
This was as haunting as it is beautiful. This publication was written to be performed on theatrical stage yet made its way to the big screen and my awareness. Which lead me to the book of prose that started it all.
This is written in the format of a screenplay complete with poems, monologues, and directional cues. It embodies almost every painful emotion and harmful infliction on a Black woman (or any woman).
It covers issues on
✨Sex,
✨Rape,
✨Abortion,
✨Molestation,
✨Domestic Violence,
✨Fertility,
✨Unfaithfulness,
✨ Toxic Relationships,
✨and loss of a child.
There is no way to remain dry eyed.Be prepared for some ugly crying raw emotions this book is sure to provoke.
My only complaint is there was never truly sunshine at the end of this 99% trauma 1% uplift piece of literature. I needed more exploration on the issues and reassurance to not pity my own disposition of being both Black and a woman. I suppose the moral is we are enough but I needed more .
I hope to see this on stage one day. Perhaps seeing it as it was meant to be enjoyed with sway my opinion and elevate its overall impact.
Recommendations: Everyone.
xoxo,
Kat
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf by Ntozake Shange is such an amazing work. It's a book of poetry that is written to be a staged performance complete with stage directions and lighting queues. This was a different format than the poetry I normally read, but I think the format only enhanced the work. The book discussed topics such as gendered violence, and how it affects women of color, and the whole thing was beautifully written. I found this book at Eliot Bay in Capitol Hill and bought it because it was on sale and I am so glad I did! I hope one day I can actually see it performed because I imagine that would only add to this book's strength.
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
i listened to the cast recording of this play and wow was it impactful
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I read this before the movie came out and I loved it!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I'm glad I listened to this. It would have been nice to have been able to ruminate over the words and language a little bit more, the way text would have allowed me to, but it was lovely to hear someone read the words and hear the cadence and rhythms as they were intended to be. It was lovely and heartbreaking.