Their Eyes Were Watching God
Book - 1991
Initially published in 1937, this novel about a proud, independent black woman has, since its reissue in trade paper in 1978, been the most widely readand highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature. With this richly illustrated new edition, the novel is finally accorded the treatment it deserves as a classic.
- Details
- Full Record
- Additional Info
Searching for more content…
Searching for more content…
Publisher:
Urbana : University of Illinois Press, c1991.
ISBN:
9780252017780
0252017781
0252017781
Branch Call Number:
HURS
Characteristics:
xxxii, 231 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.
Additional Contributors:
Opinion
From Library Staff
From Library Staff
A love story about a woman who dares to be unabashedly herself. Against all odds, she remains a strong feminist way before her time yet is able to put her own life on the line for love. She is not swayed by her first rich husband who "big-bellies 'round and worships the things of his hands.... Read More »
From the critics
Community Activity
Quotes
Add a Quote“She knew now that marriage did not make love. Janie’s first dream was dead, so she became a woman.” (25)
“Because I hate the way his head is so long one way and so flat on the sides and that pound of fat back on his neck.”
“He never made his own head. You talk so silly.”
“I don’t care who made it, I don’t like the job.”
(24)
“Cause you told me I was going to love him, and, I don’t. Maybe if somebody was to tell me how, I could do it.” (23)
Age
Add Age Suitability
Comment
Add a CommentStarted out fantastic. Poetic. Beautifully written. Amazing anaolgies. But the black lingo of "dis" and "dem" got really tiring. The low level of sophistication got very tiring too. Why did she hate her grandmother who sacrificed herself to raise her? Why did she endure even one episode of physical abuse from her husband and why did the author not sketch that out more? In the end, I was as disappointed with the novel as I was excited about it in the beginning.
Modern Mrs Darcy
Highly overrated, in my opinion. Found the conversations written in the southern, black dialect hard to read compared to the poetic & descriptive prose. Story was not exactly exciting and was a bit depressing.
As a young girl, Janie dreamed of love and happiness, but life rarely turns out how we plan. Full of betrayal, abuse, and tragedy but also beauty, romance, and humor, “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is a powerful and influential story of black female self discovery.
I listened to the audio version of this book with Ruby Dee reading/performing and both the story and Ruby Dee's performance are wonderful! At first I was not sure I could listen to the 'black speak' but after several minutes I was immersed in the story and found myself relating to the thoughts and feelings of many of the characters. I highly recommend this audio book!
I live on the land of Janie's FL but Hurston describes FL that I have never seen and people I have never met. This novel is overwhelming w/ feeling and descriptive words and phrases. It is written in a southern dialect but I found that it was essential to the story and the time. Janie starts out as a young girl whose Grandmother remembered slavery. This is a young black girl's coming of age novel in the south in the 1930-40s. Hurston's writing enables one to live in Janie's skin and really understand and feel the situations she encounters, her growth and eloquence when she is able to live life on her own terms.
So glad I went back and read this classic. Such a unique look at power dynamics re: gender and race during that point in time...and such lovely language and use of vernacular. Also: Ruby Dee reads the audio and is spectacular!
*Fangirling about Zora Neale-Hurston*
219 pages
A.J. Fikry