Reviews

Quicksand and Passing by Nella Larsen, Deborah E. McDowell

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ottelien's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

foggy_rosamund's review against another edition

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3.0

Nella Larsen did not produce much fiction: these two novellas and some short stories comprise all of her published work. I felt that the novellas Quicksand and Passing were the work of a writer who had not quite reached the height of her powers. That being said, they're both very strong, Passing in particular. Quicksand meanders a little too much, without getting to the heart of its central character, but Passing is a deft, insightful piece of work, with a twist I wasn't expecting. Both novels, set and written in the late 1920s, deal with being mixed race, and of Black people "passing" as white. They explore a sense of rootlessness or detachment experienced by their main characters because they are mixed race. They give an insight into Black culture at the time, and especially into the experiences of middle-class women. Definitely worth checking out.

curoniel's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad 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

4.0

rosiepankhurst's review against another edition

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4.0

Quicksand - 3.5⭐️
Passing - 4⭐️

sunny12's review against another edition

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reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

seeceeread's review against another edition

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3.0

[Quicksand only; I had already read Passing]

💭 "She desired ardently to combat this wearing down of her satisfaction with her life, with herself. But she didn't know how."

The title is a shiny party bauble for discussion: Which setting or circumstance is 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 draining for Helga Crane? Larsen sinks her character into social service, poverty, wage labor, international spectacle, jealousy, and finally matrimony and motherhood. At every turn, she is initially eager to leverage change in circumstances, optimistic this will lead to a change in her emotions. But Helga cannot escape herself, ever a half step apart. Cannot crawl from her unsettled worldview, a refractory lens that magnifies annoyance and burns through power dynamics she's expected to pretend are invisible. Larsen tries to convert Helga, then tosses religion away with scornful reproach, as well. The book ends with a grim scene: a depleted mother wearily preparing for a fifth pregnancy.

Larsen also stirs up juicy intrigue around the ignominy of marriage. It's "a grievous necessity [...] Even foolish, despised women must have food and clothing." But hollow: "As if anybody couldn't get married. Anybody. That is, if mere marriage is all one wants." And a trap: "We's all gwine a be ti'ed till kingdom come."