Scan barcode
belovedsnail's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
This is folklore, not fiction.
dangerousnerd's review
funny
informative
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
druidinary's review against another edition
lighthearted
3.0
Starts out great, but then I got a bit sick of all the retellings of the same stories over and over. Still, I admire what Hurston accomplished.
emmaraeempowered's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this! I loved how it felt like listening to some elders tell me stories. Some of them I didn't understand or get what the meaning of the story was, but still enjoyed them. Some had me laughing out loud!
It's always a joy to read some of Zora Neale Hurston's works. It makes me feel closer to the family members I never met. I had this on my shelf for so long that I'm glad I finally picked it up!
It's always a joy to read some of Zora Neale Hurston's works. It makes me feel closer to the family members I never met. I had this on my shelf for so long that I'm glad I finally picked it up!
mkdjoum's review against another edition
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
deehawkins74's review
3.0
This was an ok read. I actually listened to the audiobook. It was my first by Zora Neeale Hurston. Usually when I read a book I find something out about life, myself, etc. With this book I discovered that I'm not really into folk tales. They are funny, but not attention grabbing. Some of the tales were very far fetched thus making them even more hilarious. I recall a place called Ditty Wa Ditty, the mention of a woman giving birth to a 400 pound baby, and countless others. I want to read actual books by her since she has such a great reputation as a writer.
mjbirdy's review
2.0
This book is a collection of folktales intended to celebrate the African American oral tradition, community and faith.
I suspect that the book is much better and easier to consume when actually reading it, as opposed to listening to the audiobook.
The folk tales are grouped together by the overarching themes of religion, greed, slavery, race etc and are rarely distinguishable from one another because the factual information is the same. This made it so that you couldn’t really listen to the book for more than a few minutes at a time, because I’m 5 minutes you’ve heard the same tale told 5/6 times.
Hurston just documents these tales and provides no analysis or commentary on the meanings of them or the cultural environment that birthed them.
I think the repetition of the stories didn’t allow for those that were funny to feel funny (think when you watch a funny meme on Instagram but you can’t touch your phone when it’s done so it plays again and again, and each time it less abs less funny). Similarly, I didn’t feel sad or honestly anything. I just wanted to get through it and that’s the worst feeling when you’re reading anything
I suspect that the book is much better and easier to consume when actually reading it, as opposed to listening to the audiobook.
The folk tales are grouped together by the overarching themes of religion, greed, slavery, race etc and are rarely distinguishable from one another because the factual information is the same. This made it so that you couldn’t really listen to the book for more than a few minutes at a time, because I’m 5 minutes you’ve heard the same tale told 5/6 times.
Hurston just documents these tales and provides no analysis or commentary on the meanings of them or the cultural environment that birthed them.
I think the repetition of the stories didn’t allow for those that were funny to feel funny (think when you watch a funny meme on Instagram but you can’t touch your phone when it’s done so it plays again and again, and each time it less abs less funny). Similarly, I didn’t feel sad or honestly anything. I just wanted to get through it and that’s the worst feeling when you’re reading anything
katy82's review against another edition
4.0
I love that the editors published Hurston's book "as is". I love that the names of those who told the stories were encluded on the page. This is holding history that is all too often ignored.
lulureads365's review
5.0
Zora Neale Huston doesn’t get enough credit for introducing southern African American culture to the rest of the world. I’ll forever sing her praises! This was an enjoyable collection.
jtaylor97's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0