Reviews

I didn’t like Jonah’s Vine Gourd. It jumped around between people, time, and scenes too much and the country dialect threw me too. I was tempted to not finish several times. Book had a lot of violence, sinning and smart allic comments that seemed juvenile. The scene where Ned and Amy fought in the kitchen was crazy. And the statement that black people need to learn to love their children now because they weren’t allowed to before was so powerful. I wanted to love this book but did not.

passionyoungwrites's review against another edition

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adventurous funny tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

For Blacks, the color of your skin always was the deciding factor in the many of things that you could or couldn’t be in life.
.
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John Buddy, or two-eyed-John as his mother called him, was considered a “Yellar nigger”. Fighting verbal and physical abuse from his stepfather at a young age in his own home, John sets out to make a life of his own. But often found himself fleeing when situations didn’t work out as he’d expected.

This story shows how John overcomes struggles while juggling his many women and being a father. Eventually becoming financially stable as a preacher and mayor in Eatonville - an all Black town. And then that all changed.
It couples the outside relationships and even shows how voodoo played a part in one he had with Hattie. 🫣 But he didn’t stop with her either.

⚡️

Hurston shows each of her characters in their own light. Allowing readers to witness the struggles, choices, and inner flaws they all possessed.

The dialect was something I had to get use to.

As Hurston’s first book, and based on the story of her parents - this tale is one that is unforgettable. One where you wonder how the story would have ended if only John could have been a one woman man. But repeating choices came when you didn’t learn the lesson.

Honestly, the ending fell flat and I skipped the few pages of the sermon 🫠 But overall, this was an enjoyable read.

jennifercrowe's review

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challenging slow-paced

3.75

omolola's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

bukolayemi's review against another edition

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challenging reflective 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

Jonah’s Gourd Vine highlights the struggles of a Man of God who is first and foremost a man.

As a young man, John was determined to better himself and had eyes for only one girl, Lucy Potts.

Lucy loved him in every way starting with words exchanged in hidden notes, she gave herself wholly to him from a very young age.

Their love was sweet and perfect, and despite temptations from outside, they got married and started building a Christian home with John as the Reverend of a fast growing congregation.

But John loved too many women for his own good, he never stopped loving Lucy but his infidelity brought many troubles his way.

I really enjoyed this story, struggled with the dialect at first but got used to it with time. I had to take my time reading it.

I love the cover design illustrated by Jeff Manning.

acecatlady's review

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adventurous challenging emotional funny informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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