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A review by justinlife
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I've had this book on my reading list for awhile and I'm glad I got to it. It's an incredible work that showcases how one can use dialect and dialogue convey to paint a picture of the world around them. Because a lot of it is written as it should be spoken, I strongly recommend picking up the audio to accompany it. Ruby Dee does a great job giving this novel a voice.
Hurston creates moments that are vivid and full of emotion and character. The story of Janey isn't just hers but of those around her. We see her grandmother's history. A woman born into slavery and wanting her granddaughter to have a life that makes her safe. We see first and second husband, both trying to accumulate wealth, but not seeing her. Rather, she is a part of their wealth. We see the town of Edenville and the characters and the people in it. All feel so life like because the conversation felt so natural. We get to participate in the gossip and watch as Janey's life moves and changes.
While this is a short novel, Hurston conveys so much- how the lack of education impacted former slaves, the mobility that education can provide, the way Black people survived and thrived during Jim Crow. We also see a story about a woman finding a path.
It's truly incredible. Loved this book.
Hurston creates moments that are vivid and full of emotion and character. The story of Janey isn't just hers but of those around her. We see her grandmother's history. A woman born into slavery and wanting her granddaughter to have a life that makes her safe. We see first and second husband, both trying to accumulate wealth, but not seeing her. Rather, she is a part of their wealth. We see the town of Edenville and the characters and the people in it. All feel so life like because the conversation felt so natural. We get to participate in the gossip and watch as Janey's life moves and changes.
While this is a short novel, Hurston conveys so much- how the lack of education impacted former slaves, the mobility that education can provide, the way Black people survived and thrived during Jim Crow. We also see a story about a woman finding a path.
It's truly incredible. Loved this book.