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cielosiluminado's review
- 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
prior to first reading this book years ago, i dreaded it because the title made me think it was going to be religious, which i avoid in books. once i read it, i quickly realized that it is not religious. it’s a fantastic, metaphorical tale of a black woman’s life in the early 1900s in southern usa and her search for independence.
truly, hurston’s writing is incredible. there is a reason why she is now regarded as one of the greats. in this book, the way she wrote janie (the main character) and her life’s journey throughout the story is detailed magnificently.
that being said, despite how much i loved it at first i have to admit, somehow i overlooked something in my first reads back then that i cannot even begin to justify now.
He slapped her around a bit to show he was boss.
janie having survived in two horrible, abusive marriages before she was even 30 made me root for her love life so much. she then gave it another shot with tea cake later on in her life, which was a gamble she bravely took. i was a fan of tea cake and the way he loved janie until chapter 17 where he hit her because of his own fears and jealousy and because it made him feel more secure as a man. i had to lower my rating because of it. like the justifications/explanations in the story were dumb as hell and everyone just moves on? big sigh.
at the end of the day, i just wanted janie to have her happily ever after everything she went through. and she did, by herself. she constantly defied expectations to gain her freedom and independence, remained fierce despite all the struggles she faced, and was unapologetically herself until the end. i admire her to this day.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, and Slavery
susanatherly's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexism, Slavery, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Body shaming, Violence, and Abandonment
Minor: War
alexisgarcia's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, Murder, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism
allisoncc's review against another edition
- 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? No
3.75
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Misogyny, Rape, Terminal illness, and Antisemitism