A review by rberdan
Passing by Nella Larsen

emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

I read this in my queer lit course in undergrad about 20 years ago. I am speaking as a white woman, and I'm aware that this book may be read differently by those with other identities. I am also aware that it is not the job of Black women to educate me, but this book did. It grounded me in the concept of white privilege in a way that has stuck with me all these years. It is one of many texts that helped me to understand that no community is a monolith, and to see what it means when we say that race is socially constructed. 

That was the impact, but what of the content? The relationship between Clare and Irene was richly layered as it examined many tensions... a sexual tension, tensions related to their different life paths, complexities around their respective identities and class location/mobility... I recall the dialogue being excellent, and the story beats highlighting a range of secrets from identity to attraction. It felt deeply intimate throughout, and was heartbreaking in multiple ways. It's one of a small handful of books that has really stuck with me after the fact. 
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