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A review by cielosiluminado
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
emotional
reflective
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
4.0
this was probably one of the few classics i actually enjoyed to read when i was in high school. then i remembered writing a paper on it when i took women’s literature in college and got such high marks in it, i was so proud. it’s been over 5 years since i last read this and i decided to pick it up again for my monthly classic of 2024.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Gun violence, and Misogyny
Minor: Alcoholism, Rape, and Slavery