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peachani's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
For some reason, this reminded me of A Doll's House, but I don't know exactly why, as it's been ages since I read it.
I don't know what to think about Helga/Nella. What a complicated character (as most people are, I suppose). 1) I initially thought this was going to be the story of a biracial woman falling in love with Blackness. Unfortunately, that's not what happens. 2) The one consistent thing about Helga is that whatever she wants and gets, she will reject almost immediately. Given that the foreword says this is thinly veiled autobiography, I felt bad for Larsen.
I don't know what to think about Helga/Nella. What a complicated character (as most people are, I suppose). 1) I initially thought this was going to be the story of a biracial woman falling in love with Blackness. Unfortunately, that's not what happens. 2) The one consistent thing about Helga is that whatever she wants and gets, she will reject almost immediately. Given that the foreword says this is thinly veiled autobiography, I felt bad for Larsen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry
Moderate: Classism and Racism
Minor: Abandonment
keirahelena_'s review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Racism
balfies's review
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
4.75
Helga Crane had a white mother and a black father. She cannot self actualise as an outspoken voice in educated southern black society, nor among the race radicals in Harlem, nor as an ornament in Denmark, nor as a preacher's wife completely surrendered to religion. Belonging and a stable sense of self are unreachable.
First read this during a unit on the Harlem Renaissance I did while I was on exchange in the States. Honestly, one of the finest pieces of American writing on race I've ever read. Nella Larsen is up there with Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, this was so richly detailed and full of vivid imagery, I made notes on just about every page.
First read this during a unit on the Harlem Renaissance I did while I was on exchange in the States. Honestly, one of the finest pieces of American writing on race I've ever read. Nella Larsen is up there with Alice Walker and Toni Morrison, this was so richly detailed and full of vivid imagery, I made notes on just about every page.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Racism, and Racial slurs
catherinedsharp's review against another edition
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
DISCLAIMER - I read this text as a set text for university meaning I did not pick this up for myself. It does not fit my usual reading selection so my review may be rather biased.
Despite being pretty short and relatively basic, I did not enjoy this text. I found it quite hard to get through and neither plot or characters gripped me. Within a handful of pages I found that I could understand the moral of the story and from there, the plot was quite repetitive. Put this together with a rather unhappy/unsatisfying ending (which is the point of the book but still), I found it a difficult book to engage with.
Even so, I did like the writing style; there was lots of description and the writing was accessible. I just didn't really get gripped by the book as much as I thought that I would.
Despite being pretty short and relatively basic, I did not enjoy this text. I found it quite hard to get through and neither plot or characters gripped me. Within a handful of pages I found that I could understand the moral of the story and from there, the plot was quite repetitive. Put this together with a rather unhappy/unsatisfying ending (which is the point of the book but still), I found it a difficult book to engage with.
Even so, I did like the writing style; there was lots of description and the writing was accessible. I just didn't really get gripped by the book as much as I thought that I would.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Classism, and Racism
autumnhawkins09's review against another edition
informative
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Racism, and Drug use
eve81's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, and Classism
sofipitch's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I really liked this book until the last few chapters. Helga's struggle with racial imposter syndrome really resonated with me. I wondered if there are parts that are outdated now but honestly I don't think so, I think less ppl think the way the characters do but there are still a fair amount of ppl that don't think races should mix, they just know better than to say it out loud (most of the time). The last few chapters or character arc felt really suddenly, like it came from no where, and just underdeveloped. Since this book is very autobiographical it feels like the last part wasn't, and that's why it was underdeveloped, like it's Larsen imagining an alternative future she could have ended up with (and maybe did later, she kind of disappeared after two books which I wish she hadn't, she's very talented.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Pregnancy, and Racial slurs
laurenleigh's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Helga Crane seems to always be searching. Always trying to move forward towards that elusive goal of “happiness” or even just “contentment.” But as a Black women in the 1920’s, Helga finds it difficult to carve out a space that is really her own. I’m not sure why Larsen named this short novel (novella?) Quicksand, but I can see Helga sinking throughout the work. Sometimes when she remains still, in one place, she finds some peace, but the more she fights, the more she falls. In a lot of ways, she ends up no different than she started. Helga’s lack of community is especially impacted by her mixed race. White folks want nothing to do with her, at least in America. In Denmark, they find her to be a token of wonder, like a circus act. But Helga also feels left out of Black spaces in America, because she doesn’t have “people,” not knowing any of the Black half of her genes. The only part of the piece I found confusing was the pacing. Helga would think, “maybe I should visit Copenhagen,” and then bam, next chapter she’s instantly traveling. It was a bit jarring and took me out of the story. But at the same time, the quick pace helps really get straight to Larsen’s point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Minor: Death of parent
alexiconic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
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