Reviews

Passing by Nella Larsen

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jmodef's review against another edition

5.0

Engaging tale as old as time. Skin equity, has long been a status quo amongst many cultures. Larsen brings a different sociological relationship to the page. A story of two black Americans both with the genetics to "pass", and what they do with this Midas touch. All at once I felt empathy, scorn, and engaged in the relationship of these two women.

mrsdoubtflyer's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Absolutely devastating and deep. Beautifully written, searching, sad short but culturally and emotionally complex novel about two women, both passing in different ways in the 1920s. 120 pages and yet so much to consider about identity, race, racism, colorism, whiteness, truth, desire, relationships between women, and between women and men…

seaswift14's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

tuuliventoo's review against another edition

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dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

5.0

archrlynn's review against another edition

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dark mysterious fast-paced

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

3.25

dellaposta's review against another edition

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5.0

A perfect gem of a short novel. When you see how Larsen describes a hot Chicago summer day early in the book, you know that you are in the hands of a master prose stylist. She harnesses those skills to tell a seemingly simple story with unfathomable psychological complexities — about the relationship between two Black women who grew up together, one of whom now chooses to “pass” as White. The “passing” character, Clare Kendry, merits comparison to another character of 1920s literature: Jay Gatsby. Honestly, she is probably more interesting, and the same goes for the book as a whole.