A review by megannewsome
Seraph on the Suwanee by Zora Neale Hurston

emotional reflective 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? Yes

5.0

If you're like me and not usually drawn to "love stories," especially ones with antiquated gender roles and such, please trust in Hurston's skill with a pen. The first ~30 pages had me pretty skeptical as I was so bored with Arvay's damsel nature, and certainly annoyed with Jim's brutishness. It's bad enough to read about a man doing sexist things but it's really frustrating when the woman embraces many aspects of sexism, putting herself down, as well. But sure enough I was pulled in. I realized the tale being told, the growth for which they were set up, and the power in the ways that their attitudes *don't* change by the end of the book. Not to mention all the other characters and tales along the way. A really captivating read that, personally, made me feel closer to my home of Florida just as "Their Eyes Were Watching God" did.
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