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bloodravenlib's review
2.0
I read this in graduate school for a class in African American literature. It was not one of my favorites. That I gave it two stars just means it was something I barely liked. To be honest, her folklore work is more interesting to read. The novel is considered a classic, so if you want to say you have read some classic works, this is one of them.
doug_whatzup's review
5.0
Some years ago, when I had a real job and more disposable income than sense and time, I subscribed to the Library of America service which sent me a thick, clothbound anthology of American writing each and every month. I had promised myself that these books would not just become decorations on a shelf but would actually be read, and I tried to keep that vow. I really did.
That didn’t happen, of course, and as a consequence the two unopened volumes of Zora Neale Hurston sat prettily on my bookshelf for who knows how many years. I’d never heard of her before the first volume arrived, and I’ve really never been drawn to what I guess you would term “black literature,” so she just sat there taking up space.
I don’t know what it was that finally compelled me to take the first volume down and begin reading. I suppose it had something to do with the current conversation about anti-racism, a notion that strikes me as kind of odd. I mean, having seen it up close and personal while attending a prep school in the South, I deplore racism, but apparently that's no longer enough. I also get the concept of white privilege, although I think privilege is more of a socio-economic thing than a race thing.
But race seems to be the prism through which so many view every aspect of human life these days, and I was starting to feel ashamed at having neglected these fairly expensive volumes of Zora for so long. Consequently, at long last I took down and opened up Volume 1, “Novels and Stories.”
Once in awhile life surprises the hell out of you, I guess, because I wasn’t expecting to stumble across maybe one of the greatest American writers who ever lived. I mean, I fucking love this woman’s writing. The only person I can think of who might top her is Mark Twain; she’s that insightful, that masterful with dialog and imagery, so full of surprises and delights.
Of the four novels, “There Eyes Were Watching God,” is the one most would be familiar with. The others - “Jonah Gourd Vine,” “Moses, Man of the Mountain” and “Seraph on the Suwanee” – are each revelatory in their own way. The short stories at the end, some of which were never published during Hurston’s lifetime, are absolute gems. (To be honest, I couldn’t get through “Story in Harlem Slang” which is literally a story told in Harlem slang; it’s less a story than an experiment in expository dialect.)
I'm fighting the impulse to expound on how reading Hurston has influenced my thoughts on race and race relations, but I think I'll resist that temptation until after I've read Volume 2, "Folklore, Memoirs, & Other Writings." For now, I'll only say this: Hurston should be required reading in every high school in America, right alongside Twain.
That didn’t happen, of course, and as a consequence the two unopened volumes of Zora Neale Hurston sat prettily on my bookshelf for who knows how many years. I’d never heard of her before the first volume arrived, and I’ve really never been drawn to what I guess you would term “black literature,” so she just sat there taking up space.
I don’t know what it was that finally compelled me to take the first volume down and begin reading. I suppose it had something to do with the current conversation about anti-racism, a notion that strikes me as kind of odd. I mean, having seen it up close and personal while attending a prep school in the South, I deplore racism, but apparently that's no longer enough. I also get the concept of white privilege, although I think privilege is more of a socio-economic thing than a race thing.
But race seems to be the prism through which so many view every aspect of human life these days, and I was starting to feel ashamed at having neglected these fairly expensive volumes of Zora for so long. Consequently, at long last I took down and opened up Volume 1, “Novels and Stories.”
Once in awhile life surprises the hell out of you, I guess, because I wasn’t expecting to stumble across maybe one of the greatest American writers who ever lived. I mean, I fucking love this woman’s writing. The only person I can think of who might top her is Mark Twain; she’s that insightful, that masterful with dialog and imagery, so full of surprises and delights.
Of the four novels, “There Eyes Were Watching God,” is the one most would be familiar with. The others - “Jonah Gourd Vine,” “Moses, Man of the Mountain” and “Seraph on the Suwanee” – are each revelatory in their own way. The short stories at the end, some of which were never published during Hurston’s lifetime, are absolute gems. (To be honest, I couldn’t get through “Story in Harlem Slang” which is literally a story told in Harlem slang; it’s less a story than an experiment in expository dialect.)
I'm fighting the impulse to expound on how reading Hurston has influenced my thoughts on race and race relations, but I think I'll resist that temptation until after I've read Volume 2, "Folklore, Memoirs, & Other Writings." For now, I'll only say this: Hurston should be required reading in every high school in America, right alongside Twain.
skitch41's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.5
Zora Neale Hurston was an African-American novelist and anthropologist who rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance and wrote the classic novel Their Eyes Were Watching God. Sadly, much of Ms. Hurston’s fictional work were not popular with the public at large until well after her death in 1960. This volume from the Library of Americagathers four of her fictional novels and a few of her short stories, including Their Eyes Were Watching God and Moses, Man of the Mountain. Through this collection, one can read the full breadth of Ms. Hurston’s fictional talent and all the good and bad elements of it.
For my full review, check out my book blog post here.
For my full review, check out my book blog post here.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
Minor: Racism
thesubmariner's review
5.0
Zora Neale Hurston autobiography Dust Tracks on a Road its like most autobiographies from the writers point of view and often unreliable when it comes to timeline and someone random facts. I find this to be very common so I don't look at autobiographies as some book of facts. People change and they also misremember things that happen to them without of intend of doing so. With that out of the way I really enjoyed this book. Most interesting part for were the 12 visions she had that all come to past. Chapters on race are a must read. There we see clear influence of Franz Boas and proof that Hurston was ahead of her time. At one point she states the she regrets all of her books and wishes that she wrote Their eyes where watching God in Haiti. There are mentions of Cudjoe Lewis and Haiti/New Orleans Voodoo were in the later she saw a black cat boiled alive. Also talk of straggle while releasing books as a black woman. As many other autobiographies there are likes/dislikes through out and memorable quotes some of which I will share when I reread this book because I thinks its worth it. While I searched for this book I found quotes that say that this autobiographies hurt Hurstons reputation and I must say that it did the opposite for me. I found even more respect and admiration for her. If you read Their eyes where watching God and want to pick this book up I have to say its a hard recommendation just due to the fact that this is a more personal and direct approach with some filter. Style of writing is ever present and sure there some inside about a man who inspired her for the character of Tea Cake. In short like every autobiography if you like that persons work than this is for you.
jimg's review
5.0
The 3 novels were the part of this book that I preferred. Of those, Their Eyes Were Watching God was off the charts terrific; certainly one of the best novels that I've ever read.
That it was written by a black woman born in Alabama in 1891 makes it that much more extraordinary given the horrible social conditions she would have faced then and there as an Afro-American female.
That it was written by a black woman born in Alabama in 1891 makes it that much more extraordinary given the horrible social conditions she would have faced then and there as an Afro-American female.
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