I just finished this book, and I feel like I should have liked it more than I did. Because I've heard about it for years, and I feel like people always said, "Oh, you HAVE to read it." And I liked it, but it's not a new favorite.
For one thing, the dialogue is written phonetically to reflect the people's speech (Black people living in Florida, so probably from the Carribbean), and it makes it hard to get through for me. It was like 200 pages long but took me over 2 weeks to read.
The thing I liked the most was Janie, the main character. She is exactly what a heroine in a book should be, in my opinion. She was strong and loving and hard-working. The love story between her and Tea Cake is very sweet and I really liked that.
Something I liked, that I'm sure was a big deal, was the prejudice displayed of lighter skinned Black people toward dark skinned people. This book was written in 1937, not exactly a time when talking openly about race was common. I read online just now (while verifying the publication date) that some of the Harlem Renaissance writers criticized Zora Neale Hurston for highlighting this aspect of African American life.
As I said, it was a good book, and I enjoyed it, but it's not a new favorite. I didn't ever feel completely wrapped up in it, I almost felt obligated to sit down and read it sometimes. I started The Glass Castle when I had about 60 pages left in Their Eyes Were Watching God, and I was way more into The Glass Castle. I had to make myself finish Their Eyes Were Watching God rather than get into The Glass Castle.
Anyone else have a different experience with this book? What do you have to say about it?
4 comments:
I feel like I have heard about this book as a "MUST-READ" from tons of people.
I'm glad for your insight, and while I will still very likely read it one day, it will not be put on my immediate reading list.
PS have you finished the glass castle yet? I brought it with me to Spain and my friend that came with me finished it on the way home (like on the planes) It's definitely a don't put it down.
I am LOVING The Glass Castle. I just came back from my lunch break, which I spent reading it, and I'm pretty bummed to be back at my desk and not just curled up somewhere reading it.
I just have to say amen to this review. It was interesting but not captivating. I suppose at the time the book was written the main character, Janie, was quite unique. But her story just isn't that unique today. I didn't think the book stood the "test of time" like some books do. (IMHO)
Their eyes were watching god has been one of my favorite books since High School. I love how it is written and Janie is my favorite girl hero (I don't like heroine, it's a drug)
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