A review by dogsbooksandpizza
Quicksand by Nella Larsen

challenging emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

This was a tougher read than Passing because it feels both so much more personal to Larsen (closer to her actual life) as well as larger in scope regarding the struggles of a person with mixed-race heritage. I found the second half of the book to be especially challenging, as Helga careens from one desire to the next in a well-intended but self-destructive manner. Since Larsen never had children herself, I assume the ending was paradoxically one of the more autobiographical aspects, as I assume this is how she felt about the prospect of having her own children. I appreciated the book even more after a spirited conversation with one of my students (Emily L.) about it, and she pointed out some elements I hadn’t considered. We discussed the elements of the novel that mirrored “quicksand,” as well as some connections and contrasts to Passing.