A review by thesubmariner
Hurston: Novels & Stories by Zora Neale Hurston

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.