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A review by rynicolereads
Passing by Nella Larsen
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Passing is quite the story for being such a small book. The book follows two light-skinned Black women who were friends in childhood. After years pass without seeing each other, they are suddenly reacquainted in Chicago while passing for white women—something I was unfamiliar with before reading this novel. If you're nervous about reading classics, please give this one a try! Despite being published in 1929, it read like a contemporary novel. Larsen's writing is beautiful, and she didn't waste a single word. In summary: I loved it!
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Death, and Infidelity