Reviews tagging 'Death'

Passing by Nella Larsen

138 reviews

myclutteredbookshelf's review against another edition

4.0

Irene and Clare, my heart aches for both of you.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Infidelity and Toxic friendship

menastarr's review

reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Racism

Minor: Death

maxthefish's review

challenging dark reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Excellent read and was very helpful in helping me understand the struggles of the Black community at the time the book was written. My only complaint is that I feel like the story wasn't wrapped up as well as it could've been. I think a part 2 would do it well but as the author's deceased I don't think that's happening. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism

Moderate: Death

dexkit10's review against another edition

emotional tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Death and Toxic friendship

utopiaandmelancholy's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-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

4.0

A short exploration of identity and racism at a pivotal moment in the 20th century. The introduction in this edition provided some great background on Larsen's life, which also put this somewhat auto-biographical story into context.
The prose was very good, and Irene's inner monologue and anxieties provide the tension that keeps the book thrumming. Her complex feelings about Clare's choices were presented in the confusing way that she experiences them. The ending shocked me despite already knowing the events that would occur. 
A really thought-provoking book, discussing identity in a way I had not really considered previously.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs

Moderate: Death, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

justcallmeemily's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I have really mixed feelings about this book. And I can't really explain why. 😕

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, and Racism

Moderate: Infidelity

ankbert's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I didn't get very engaged in the story in the story but I still found it interesting and reflective.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism

Moderate: Death and Murder

booksillremember's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Masterful, loved the complex layering of emotions, themes and social identities. 

It's a gripping story with sapphic undertones, an unreliable narrator and an ambiguous ending. Would love to read the novel from Clare's point of view. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism

Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Murder

Minor: Hate crime and Infidelity

hjb_128's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide

Moderate: Infidelity

wytnie's review against another edition

4.5

I liked the book i was mainly interested in it because I'm black and wanted to see how this subject would be addressed in the past. I think the writing was interesting given how old it is but not bad. Thinking about reading "quicksand" that's also by Nella Larsen. Lastly, idk if its just me but sometimes it kind of felt like Clare and Irene liked each other because at times it gave "ex-girlfriends who still love each other" instead of old kinda sorta friends.

I will say, personally i am so happy that who died in the end did, i feel like it was the only way for things to get better for literally any of the other characters, I also think its kind of what she wanted in her own way.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, and Classism