Reviews with content warning for Racism - Cane

This book was an assigned reading, and I'm quite glad of that. It's a powerful book that I wouldn't have known about had it not been assigned to me. It's a raw look at post-WWI and pre-WWII life for black people in Jim Crow America. Each poem or short story is a deeply rich snapshot. The prose is packed and requires multiple read throughs to unpack. This is an excellen text to use to get a feel for/scratch the surface of a large portion of American history that just isn't taught in schools but absolutely should be.

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lavenderdolmeh's review against another edition

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4.0

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elainarkk's review

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challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The final book read for my modernist class! And what a book to finish on. I really liked the format of Cane, as it includes several short stories/poems/experimental narratives within three sections. Jean Toomer considers the African American experience in the early 1900s with such astuteness. His vivid imagery, which re-paints black characters in literature with beauty, was enjoyable to read. This said, it is still an old book, with old language and dense concepts. While some of the pieces of the work were understandable and enjoyable, there were others that seemed misplaced among the aforementioned pieces. Still, I enjoyed reading it.

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Cane was first published in 1923 and is said to be a novel, although to me it felt more like a collection of poems, songs, short stories and novellas, one of which read very much like a play. All explore the realities of Black existence, in the North as well as the South, during the Jim Crow era. Race, spirituality and desire are themes which Cane explores in different ways through these works. The writing was gorgeous, the imagery lush - Cane was a master at bringing people and place vividly to life. Some pieces hit harder than others but overall this was a book I enjoyed.

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lkbooks's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

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brokenspine's review

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challenging dark reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? N/A
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Cane is hard to describe and/or summarize because it's an experimental work. Published in 1923 Cane consists of poems, short stories, vignettes, and one piece that is set up like a play.

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sraymartin's review against another edition

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emotional reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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