Scan barcode
idleutopia_reads's review against another edition
5.0
“The way she explained it made him feel as though he were carrying The Race around with him all the time. It kept him confused, a little frightened, too. At that moment The Race sat astride his shoulders, a weight so great his back bent under it.”
I have seen the Narrows in history books, I have seen them spoken of in Stamped, Ghosts in the Schoolyard, 1919 and have seen the street talked about in the news, history books and known of the Narrows people think exist in Chicago. In 428 pages, Ann Petry potently displays social commentary against class and race set against the backdrop of the Narrows, a street in Monmouth, Connecticut where a cast of characters takes the stage to display the life of Link Williams and the events that lead to a tragedy in which “it were like a snowball and everybody gave it the last push.” The culmination of events that leads to the final climax in The Narrows give us “one-quarter of the explanation. The other three-quarters reaches back to that Dutch man of warre that landed in Jamestown in 1619.”
This was truly brilliant, there were so many details accompanying the settings, the houses, the characters but none of them were wasted. Petry pulled from each detail to tighten and make you confront what she’s trying to say here. It’s all connected and the story of the people that we have on display here matters, it all matters especially when we’re talking about class and race. The themes of race and class are inextricably bound, when you speak of one you speak of the other. When we try to act like it doesn’t then we run the risk of hurting people, because it is a privilege to run through life unafraid of consequences and assuming that race and class don’t matter.
The main story follows Link Williams and his love affair with Camilla Treadway Sheffield. She’s married, a millionaire, but she disguises all of this from Link when they first meet and as they carry on their love affair. This love affair will pull at the fabric of the Narrows and change the lives of its residents, “well, of course...if you’re a multon millionaire and white you don’t give a damn what the black peasants think.”
I can’t even begin to untangle everything that Petry does in this book. I had read the Street and it was brilliant but I feel with the Narrows she masterfully expands on the foundation she had built in her previous work. Through fiction she amplifies and brings characters to represent the injustices done against Black people, even in their own community, where acceptance in white spaces is conditional, and when the question of the Race has many sides, many ways of being taught and this can lead to confusion for a child. As if all of this wasn’t enough she also talks about women, about misogyny in Black communities, and the role of white women in a racist society. I strongly urge you to read it
I have seen the Narrows in history books, I have seen them spoken of in Stamped, Ghosts in the Schoolyard, 1919 and have seen the street talked about in the news, history books and known of the Narrows people think exist in Chicago. In 428 pages, Ann Petry potently displays social commentary against class and race set against the backdrop of the Narrows, a street in Monmouth, Connecticut where a cast of characters takes the stage to display the life of Link Williams and the events that lead to a tragedy in which “it were like a snowball and everybody gave it the last push.” The culmination of events that leads to the final climax in The Narrows give us “one-quarter of the explanation. The other three-quarters reaches back to that Dutch man of warre that landed in Jamestown in 1619.”
This was truly brilliant, there were so many details accompanying the settings, the houses, the characters but none of them were wasted. Petry pulled from each detail to tighten and make you confront what she’s trying to say here. It’s all connected and the story of the people that we have on display here matters, it all matters especially when we’re talking about class and race. The themes of race and class are inextricably bound, when you speak of one you speak of the other. When we try to act like it doesn’t then we run the risk of hurting people, because it is a privilege to run through life unafraid of consequences and assuming that race and class don’t matter.
The main story follows Link Williams and his love affair with Camilla Treadway Sheffield. She’s married, a millionaire, but she disguises all of this from Link when they first meet and as they carry on their love affair. This love affair will pull at the fabric of the Narrows and change the lives of its residents, “well, of course...if you’re a multon millionaire and white you don’t give a damn what the black peasants think.”
I can’t even begin to untangle everything that Petry does in this book. I had read the Street and it was brilliant but I feel with the Narrows she masterfully expands on the foundation she had built in her previous work. Through fiction she amplifies and brings characters to represent the injustices done against Black people, even in their own community, where acceptance in white spaces is conditional, and when the question of the Race has many sides, many ways of being taught and this can lead to confusion for a child. As if all of this wasn’t enough she also talks about women, about misogyny in Black communities, and the role of white women in a racist society. I strongly urge you to read it
_theliteraturevillian_'s review against another edition
3.0
Written eloquently. No complaints about the writing. However, had a slight issue with how the story was told. There was potential but at times the story went into drift mode. You know when you drift off in thought and snap back into reality. Don’t have an problem when an author does this, adds depth to the tale, there were just too many of these moments which resulted in the story being longer than it should. I do want to mention that if this novel we’re promoted similar to “The Women of Brewster Place” where there are multiple POVS, then I would understand the overextended info given to us to explain each character’s involvement and why they are the way they are. I would have gave this piece 4 stars, if that were the case. But because the story is not promoted as such, I had to consistently ask myself, “why do we care about this persons life in great detail?, when will the point come back to the original plot?.” Had 3 chapters left and just could not anymore so I skimmed to find out what happen. Now that I know what happen… again it took too long to get there..
debmed's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
curlsandliterture's review against another edition
3.0
Written eloquently. No complaints about the writing. However, had a slight issue with how the story was told. There was potential but at times the story went into drift mode. You know when you drift off in thought and snap back into reality. Don’t have an problem when an author does this, adds depth to the tale, there were just too many of these moments which resulted in the story being longer than it should. I do want to mention that if this novel we’re promoted similar to “The Women of Brewster Place” where there are multiple POVS, then I would understand the overextended info given to us to explain each character’s involvement and why they are the way they are. I would have gave this piece 4 stars, if that were the case. But because the story is not promoted as such, I had to consistently ask myself, “why do we care about this persons life in great detail?, when will the point come back to the original plot?.” Had 3 chapters left and just could not anymore so I skimmed to find out what happen. Now that I know what happen… again it took too long to get there..
roq's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
what_i_have_read's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
libbysbookshelf's review against another edition
THE NARROWS by ANN PETRY
Ok, there are a few things to say before we get to the review. Firstly, I wouldn’t have read this or even been aware of Petry had it not been for Instagram essential @reggiereads so a huge thanks to him. Secondly, last January I read The Street by the same author and absolutely loved it. I even ended up writing an essay on the various book covers throughout the decades (for my MA). Secondly, thanks to @what_i_have_read (one of my Bookstagram besties) for buddy reading this with me. Sorry for rushing ahead and finishing without you! I’ll be there when you’re ready to chat!
OK, to the plot. In a style that I’m recognising as Petry esque, we don’t just hear from one protagonist in this novel. In fact, the setting (The Narrows itself) is the main character and the people come and go. I suppose if I had to choose a main character it would be Link; a young Black lad with charm, looks and education. He has been adopted by Annie Crunch, but also kinda by the local bar owner and his greatest (unknown) chef. Then there is Mamie Prowther and her husband who works as a butler for a rich white family. Then there is Camilo; a young, beautiful white woman who finds herself in The Narrows one evening, running scared from the local loony (non-PC? Definitely. Forgivable because of what this book does for race? Definitely.). While running from said looney, the WHITE Camilo runs into the (strong and handsome) BLACK arms of Link. Did I mention this is set in the 1950s? In America? Yeah, so you can imagine how a relationship between a Black man and a white woman might end up. But hey, stop imagining it. Read this instead and witness some of the greatest writing ever. Read this and experience characterisation that is in league with Toni Morrison. Forget Steinbeck and McCarthy as America’s greats, instead, meet Petry. She will knock your socks of.
I said it after I read The Street and I’ll say it with even more gusto now: READ ANN PETRY!
#book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #annpetry #thenarrows #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer
Ok, there are a few things to say before we get to the review. Firstly, I wouldn’t have read this or even been aware of Petry had it not been for Instagram essential @reggiereads so a huge thanks to him. Secondly, last January I read The Street by the same author and absolutely loved it. I even ended up writing an essay on the various book covers throughout the decades (for my MA). Secondly, thanks to @what_i_have_read (one of my Bookstagram besties) for buddy reading this with me. Sorry for rushing ahead and finishing without you! I’ll be there when you’re ready to chat!
OK, to the plot. In a style that I’m recognising as Petry esque, we don’t just hear from one protagonist in this novel. In fact, the setting (The Narrows itself) is the main character and the people come and go. I suppose if I had to choose a main character it would be Link; a young Black lad with charm, looks and education. He has been adopted by Annie Crunch, but also kinda by the local bar owner and his greatest (unknown) chef. Then there is Mamie Prowther and her husband who works as a butler for a rich white family. Then there is Camilo; a young, beautiful white woman who finds herself in The Narrows one evening, running scared from the local loony (non-PC? Definitely. Forgivable because of what this book does for race? Definitely.). While running from said looney, the WHITE Camilo runs into the (strong and handsome) BLACK arms of Link. Did I mention this is set in the 1950s? In America? Yeah, so you can imagine how a relationship between a Black man and a white woman might end up. But hey, stop imagining it. Read this instead and witness some of the greatest writing ever. Read this and experience characterisation that is in league with Toni Morrison. Forget Steinbeck and McCarthy as America’s greats, instead, meet Petry. She will knock your socks of.
I said it after I read The Street and I’ll say it with even more gusto now: READ ANN PETRY!
#book #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookreviewfeatures #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookreader #bookreviewer #bookreviews #bookrecs #booklover #annpetry #thenarrows #bookstagramuk #bookstagrammer
literary_lain's review against another edition
4.0
This novel took me for a ride. Ann Petry was a literary beast!!!
locdbooktician's review against another edition
informative
sad
slow-paced
5.0
Another well written and thought provoking novel from Ann Petry. Wow what a wonderful contributor to the world of literature.