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atamano's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and War
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
There is Confusion is a classic, first published in 1924, that has recently been reprinted and discovered anew by many readers. It centres on Joanna Mitchell, her family, her boyfriend Peter Bye, and her sister’s friend Maggie Ellersley. The novel follows them from childhood until well into their adult lives.
The book looks at the intersection of race, gender and class in a way that was perhaps unusual for it’s time. Most of the characters are middle class, urban, educated and Black, with lives and aspirations that reflect their class background, something that wasn’t common in literature of that era. The book is also unusual for its portrayal of women. Joanna was determined to pursue her career (in the arts) at all costs, while Maggie, who came from a less well-off background, came to seek independence and self-reliance as her means to security. For most of the novel marriage, motherhood and family were not their main goals or focus.
There’s plenty more layers to this plot as well. It’s definitely a novel of manners ala Jane Austen. There’s also a look into World War I and PTSD, commentary on the legacy of slavery, a brief touch on the concept of passing, plenty of unique personal and interpersonal drama, including an ill-considered deceitful betrayal driven by snobbery, and much more.
While the writing style and some of the plot points reflects this book’s age, many of the themes and issues explored are still relevant today. All in all a very readable and accessible classic.
“Why, nothing in the world is so hard to face as this problem of being colored in America…Oh, it takes courage to fight against it, Peter, to stop it from choking us, submerging us.”
The book looks at the intersection of race, gender and class in a way that was perhaps unusual for it’s time. Most of the characters are middle class, urban, educated and Black, with lives and aspirations that reflect their class background, something that wasn’t common in literature of that era. The book is also unusual for its portrayal of women. Joanna was determined to pursue her career (in the arts) at all costs, while Maggie, who came from a less well-off background, came to seek independence and self-reliance as her means to security. For most of the novel marriage, motherhood and family were not their main goals or focus.
There’s plenty more layers to this plot as well. It’s definitely a novel of manners ala Jane Austen. There’s also a look into World War I and PTSD, commentary on the legacy of slavery, a brief touch on the concept of passing, plenty of unique personal and interpersonal drama, including an ill-considered deceitful betrayal driven by snobbery, and much more.
While the writing style and some of the plot points reflects this book’s age, many of the themes and issues explored are still relevant today. All in all a very readable and accessible classic.
“Why, nothing in the world is so hard to face as this problem of being colored in America…Oh, it takes courage to fight against it, Peter, to stop it from choking us, submerging us.”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism
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