Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - La calle

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Reviews tagging 'Infidelity'

La calle by Ann Petry

14 reviews

rieviolet's review against another edition

5.0

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The Street has been on my TBR for a very long time, I picked it up without much thought for a reading challenge and I was completely blown away.

It's a very bleak and heartbreaking story but it's such a powerful and hard-hitting depiction of the structural racism that underpinned and sealed the life of black people in 1940s Harlem. I would also argue that it is an universal narrative and can easily and effectively translate to those struggling with systemic oppression even in a different time and place.

Ann Petry masterfully employs multiple POVs and captures the depth of feelings and thoughts of the characters; each one is portrayed in all their complexities, never falling into a simplistic "black or white" dicotomy.
I found the writing style really impressive, it's very engaging and immersive. Also, I think the author excels in the use of imagery and can paint the surroundings so vividly that the street itself becomes a character.

I strongly recommend giving this remarkable classic a chance!

Content Warnings

amalas_bookstop's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Woah this story felt too real! I had to put it down for a while before I could finish it. Lutie’s circumstances are absolutely heartbreaking and all encompassing. I could physically feel the heartbreak and loneliness.

Ann Petry was able to tackle racism, classism, colorism, socialism, etc. She navigated flawlessly and her writing left no crumbs. This book is a perfect example of allowing the reader to discuss and think about these topics without having the narrator spoon feed the topic to us. This book is a must read. I will definitely read more from her.

Content Warnings

charris0903's review against another edition

4.25

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

clarkg's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

If you are looking for a story about overcoming adversity a la "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", this is not it. Told primarily from the perspective of Lutie Johnson, a single mother trying to improve her circumstances in 1940s Harlem, "The Street" explores how the ceaseless structural barriers presented to low-income Black Americans shape their decisions, relationships, and imaginations. Ann Petry is undoubtedly one of the great New England writers and her sharp, insightful, and masterfully descriptive prose are central to this book's stellar execution.

Content Warnings

katharina90's review against another edition

4.0

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Really well written. Keeps you reading even though the pace is slow and the plot extremely depressing.

There's nothing happy or hopeful about this story, and the layers of oppression and injustice remain virtually unchanged almost a century later.

Content Warnings