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A review by megelizabeth
Passing by Nella Larsen
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
"As far as I can see, you’ll just have to endure some things and give up others. As we’ve said before, everything must be paid for."
This is an incredibly dark, bleak book that wasn't at all what I was expecting it to be and which I found to be an equally fascinating and highly uncomfortable read.
Irene and Clare are both very intriguing, layered characters and, through them, the story really gets to the heart of complex, toxic, and ultimately tragic female friendships. It's really a story much more about such friendships, about the fragility of marriage and relationships, and about societal and gendered expectations (and the mental distress these can cause), than it is about race and 'passing' (though there are still of course important conversations on these topics).
At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the very abrupt ending, but I was certainly floored, and ultimately I do think it's actually a really great ending and definitely one that I won't forget. The story as a whole in fact will definitely stick with me; it covers so much ground in so few pages and is just brutal and brilliant, and unfortunately remains so relevant.
This is an incredibly dark, bleak book that wasn't at all what I was expecting it to be and which I found to be an equally fascinating and highly uncomfortable read.
Irene and Clare are both very intriguing, layered characters and, through them, the story really gets to the heart of complex, toxic, and ultimately tragic female friendships. It's really a story much more about such friendships, about the fragility of marriage and relationships, and about societal and gendered expectations (and the mental distress these can cause), than it is about race and 'passing' (though there are still of course important conversations on these topics).
At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the very abrupt ending, but I was certainly floored, and ultimately I do think it's actually a really great ending and definitely one that I won't forget. The story as a whole in fact will definitely stick with me; it covers so much ground in so few pages and is just brutal and brilliant, and unfortunately remains so relevant.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Murder
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, and Death of parent