A review by strrygo
Yonnondio: From the Thirties by Tillie Olsen

emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

i should've known what i was getting into, and i almost had an idea of what to expect, but it was somehow so much more heart-wrenching n dizzying than i could've ever prepared for (in the best way possible). reading this after olsen's "i want you women up north to know" there r so many of her poetic tendencies that make their way into the book nd lend it a beauty—despite? because of? the suffering at its heart. it was just going to be impossible for me to make it out without leaving a bit of myself with the characters...from chapter five on i was just in awe  at how much pain we are capable of inflicting upon one another(i knew we were, really, but seeing it happening again and again wearing down on the character's makes it more visceral), how easily scorn builds when life isn't worth living but you have to anyway, so so good i can't explain how much anna and mazie affected me. almost glad the book wasn't completed because i don't think i could take seeing them endure any more, but i wish i could see them not having to endure (on the page).
it's me vs proletarian literature and between this n the bits of rukeyser's book of the dead i read... i'm losing
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