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jainttt's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
rudy2's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
_ela_r's review against another edition
dark
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? Yes
4.5
acnm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
remjunior's review against another edition
4.0
This would be a 5 star review, but the writing seemed so choppy and odd at times that it was hard to read at some points. The story is short and simple in its telling, but complex in the themes and philosophical issues it deals with concerning race. This is a "must read" for anyone interested in the Harlem Renaissance.
baileydouglass's review against another edition
5.0
WOW.
This book will stay with me. I had an idea of what the premise was, but wasn’t prepared for it to pack such a punch in terms of the relationships, obsession, and interior turmoil of the narrator.
The end comes a bit out of nowhere and is somewhat ambiguous but is somehow perfect in the context of the story, although very grim.
Probably the best read of the year for me to this point.
This book will stay with me. I had an idea of what the premise was, but wasn’t prepared for it to pack such a punch in terms of the relationships, obsession, and interior turmoil of the narrator.
The end comes a bit out of nowhere and is somewhat ambiguous but is somehow perfect in the context of the story, although very grim.
Probably the best read of the year for me to this point.
alisarae's review against another edition
I have a jumble of thoughts about this novella.
1. As Sarah Hannah Gomez noted, this would work quite well (better?) as a play. It is staged and written so well for that.
2. I originally thought this book was about gay people "passing", but then I actually read a bit and learned is about black people "passing." But you can still read it framed as a double meaning, and oh my does that complicate the plot. I want to read Deborah McDowell's writing on the lesbian subtext here. The notes in the Modern Library edition of this book say that the deliberate repeated use of "queer" (as adjective and verb) meaning "weird, suspicious, or spoiled" is very curious considering that queer was already a popular slang for gay. There are situations where someone was acting "queer" because of secrets regarding "passing" (race) but are equally meaningful if read as "passing" (sexuality). Verrryyyy interesting.
3. The final note in the Modern Library has finally given me a good definition of "literary." I use this term all the time but have had a great deal of trouble trying to uphold its meaning in arguments with my husband. "'Writerly' -- an open-ended text that requires the reader to collaborate in producing its meaning." By critic Roland Barthes.
1. As Sarah Hannah Gomez noted, this would work quite well (better?) as a play. It is staged and written so well for that.
2. I originally thought this book was about gay people "passing", but then I actually read a bit and learned is about black people "passing." But you can still read it framed as a double meaning, and oh my does that complicate the plot. I want to read Deborah McDowell's writing on the lesbian subtext here. The notes in the Modern Library edition of this book say that the deliberate repeated use of "queer" (as adjective and verb) meaning "weird, suspicious, or spoiled" is very curious considering that queer was already a popular slang for gay. There are situations where someone was acting "queer" because of secrets regarding "passing" (race) but are equally meaningful if read as "passing" (sexuality). Verrryyyy interesting.
3. The final note in the Modern Library has finally given me a good definition of "literary." I use this term all the time but have had a great deal of trouble trying to uphold its meaning in arguments with my husband. "'Writerly' -- an open-ended text that requires the reader to collaborate in producing its meaning." By critic Roland Barthes.
aellwy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-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
5.0
maddireadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
kat1776's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75