Reviews

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

susie_w's review against another edition

5.0

RTC

supastar_t's review against another edition

5.0

Excellent book. A must read to show the dynamics of black relationships in the deep South.

nzagalo's review against another edition

4.0

"De Olhos Pousados em Deus" é uma obra de 1937, e a principal ficção de Zora Neale Hurston, uma autora hoje reconhecida pelo seu legado humanista. Formou-se pelas Universidades de Howard, Barnard e Columbia, onde realizou estudos graduados e pós-graduados em Antropologia, ao lado de Margaret Mead. Hurston tornou-se numa força cultural pelo modo como usava a etnografia para compreender a comunidade afro-americana e depois trasladava esse conhecimento para a sua produção criativa e ativismo cultural, transformando-se no rosto de vários movimentos, nomeadamente o Harlem Renaissance.

Texto completo, com links: https://virtual-illusion.blogspot.com/2023/07/their-eyes-were-watching-god-1937.html

jazzyman99's review against another edition

2.0

Honestly I feel as though I got scammed by all the great reviews this book has received. The writing is lovely and poetic but every man sucked including the great love of her life. PASS BOOOOO HISS. I understand it’s the time period but not even that is going to make me shrug off a “loving” husband beating their wife to show other people who’s boss. Happy Janie still can think fondly of some of the folks I personally would love to see just about all of them be pushed off a cliff. If anything this book just reinforces that a black woman is the most disrespected person in America back then and still now.

loganberryzoo's review against another edition

3.0

I'm giving it a 3/5, but not gonna lie, I sparknoted most of this one ha ha. Other pressing assignments won in the battle to not fail college. Although I can say the dialect is very tricky to get used to if you haven't encountered it before. One to re-read when I actually have the time!

pangnaolin's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark 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

4.5

i connected with this book on such an interesting level. janie was so incredible to follow, and the way she danced into flowery language anytime she was alone earlier on in the book was beautiful, as was the fact that hurston decided to fade away that thoughtfulness as time went on and she was taught she couldn't be that. the images of the pear tree and God destroying & rebuilding the world each dusk & dawn really struck with me. i also just adored the way she created settings. the store was incredibly well done as a sort of cage for her, but i also loved her description of the muck & the everglades-- i could imagine it so perfectly, especially in terms of the energy she described

one of the most intense moments for me, though, was when

tea cake's friends all praised janie's compliance when he beat her-- the way they were so in awe and excitedly said things along the lines of "wow, i bet she didn't even fight back, huh?"

the feeling hit me so hard and i feel like it brought the whole book together, despite being a small moment

i don't have much else to say, but it was truly just a beautiful book. those were my favorite moments. i hope you enjoy it if you read it, too

booksandaudities's review against another edition

3.0

3.5⭐️’s

auberryshortcake13's review against another edition

5.0

I rarely write reviews, but feel compelled to note - I don't know how this book "reads" right off the page, but the audiobook by Ruby Dee was absolutely phenomenal to listen to. Really brought Hurston's voice(s) to life. Loved this book.

tesshuelskamp's review against another edition

4.0

very well written.

The story was good (follows Janie the story of Janie and how she met her 3 husbands as she retells it to her friend Phoebe).

I don't really feel like doing a full review.

rcallus210's review against another edition

5.0

A classic for a reason. Haven't read a book that has quite had a better understanding of love and liberation, it's just magnificent and heart-wrenching. Also a lot of important historical content!