Reviews

This is beautifully written. It captivates you from the very first page. The characters are wonderful and you love them even as they make poor decisions. There are themes in this book that are still relevant today.

joann_l's review against another edition

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dark hopeful inspiring sad medium-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

5.0

blaxploitations's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional medium-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

4.5

steen's review against another edition

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4.0

This was a great lens into what the realities of being poor and Black in rural America were in the early 20th century. Reading in the context of Black Lives Matter in the 21st century, nearly 100 years after this novel was published, the realities are much the same: the amorality of whiteness is a plague on black lives.

There are several black identities presented in the novel through Harriet, Tempy & Aunt Hager that Sandy learns from. You can sympathize with all of the characters and how they perform blackness in a white dominated world. Even Tempy, who has internalized racism, prejudice and bigotry, into an anti-blackness figure.

The dialogue throughout the novel was vivid. I loved reading Aunt Hager’s dialogue; it felt almost like I could hear her.

The scenes and descriptions surrounding music, dancing, singing and oration and the importance of these practices in the culture and identity of blackness were so lyrical and lively. Hughes was truly a master!

tlaynejones's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

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