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37th out of 65 books
—
8 voters
Quicksand and Passing
Nella Larsen's novels Quicksand (1928) and Passing (1929) document the historical realities of Harlem in the 1920s and shed a bright light on the social world of the black bourgeoisie. The novels' greatest appeal and achievement, however, is not sociological, but psychological. As noted in the editor's comprehensive introduction, Larsen takes the theme of psychic dualism,...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
April 1st 1986
by Rutgers University Press
(first published 1986)
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Coming-of-age, woman as child, young woman with all the potential of a child until she foolishly marries an ugly man for a house, for God, for the chance to give up responsibility for her own foolishness.
Helga Crane goes from Naxos, a prestigious school dedicated to Negro uplift - call it the nonprofit sector - to suddenly realizing that she hated the hypocrisy of do-good work. When she quits Naxos at 23, declaring how much she hates it, her boss calmly looks at her and says, " Twenty-three, I s...more
Helga Crane goes from Naxos, a prestigious school dedicated to Negro uplift - call it the nonprofit sector - to suddenly realizing that she hated the hypocrisy of do-good work. When she quits Naxos at 23, declaring how much she hates it, her boss calmly looks at her and says, " Twenty-three, I s...more
After reading both of these novels I was so sad to find that after some scandal about plagarism Larsen abandoned her writing. I wish, I wish, I wish she had written more.
After reading these two powerful short stories, Nella Larsen is now up there with one of my favorite authors. Both stories beautifully depict the restless and beleaguered spirit of smart, young, black women in 20th century America. What is so striking is how much I related to the feelings, emotions and internal battles of the characters. Despite it being of another time, I think many women, especially women of color, will resonate with the suffocating limitations of race, class and gender that t...more
Of the two books in this collection I only read Passing. I found it a very engaging read, and an incredibly interesting subject matter. WHo doesn't like to learn about the 1920's, about New York in the 1920's, and about the African American woman's experience in NY in the 1920's?! I appreciated the brevity of this book (it contained no filler, nothing unnecessary), and at times I found myself riveted and needing to know what would happen next. I felt the ending was a bit of a copout, however, bu...more
I completed Quicksand months ago, and its taken me this long to process the lessons in this story. The main character's appetite for self-satisfaction is insatiable- this leads to indecision and confusion in many facets of her life. Often I think fear can dictate our sense of personal well-being and social acceptance of our choices; here, the fear of making a choice that would stun others was a constant reason behind many of our subject's decisions. Without living a life of her own from a very y...more
Passing is a story of deception and hidden things. The title refers most obviously to the narrative of racial passing that moves the plot along. Clare is a black woman passing as white; she has even married a white man under the pretenses of being white. The narrative begins with the reintroduction of Clare and Irene (the protagonist of the story) at a restaurant where they are both passing as white and Irene's introduction to Clare's husband, who turns out to be quite racist. Humiliated by the...more
In many ways Larsen presents her female characters as Romantic heroines trapped in a Naturalist novel. As the poet W.B. Yeats has lyrically expressed, they’re “sick with desire and fastened to a dying animal.” That dying animal is embodied in many ways in "Quicksand" and "Passing," from sterile or racist environments (such as Naxos and Clare's home life with Bellew), to the fragile limitations of the female body, to the institutions of marriage and the responsibilities of motherhood. In a brutal...more
These are two novellas by Nella Larsen I read these in college during one of my many American lit courses. The professor had us study the Harlem Renaissance, which I had never even heard of before, let alone studied. Both of these novellas were just wonderful stories, and I really enjoyed reading them, and the other works out of the Harlem Renaissance that I was exposed to in that course.
May 22, 2010
Mohammed Najeeb
added it
Passing is a story about "passing" as a white man when you black. This concept is hard to understand, until you realize that you can pass as a Caucasian when your very light skinned just like the main characters, Irene and Clare, from passing. This book is a great book, very short read, and has a presence of ambiguity which makes the reader keep on reading. Overall great book.
These two novels were really fascinating. They explored issues facing African-American women during the Harlem Renaissance era, particularly light skinned women. There is a tremendous emphasis on liminal figures in these books--African-Americans marginalized by race, lesbianism repressed and projected, and individuals passing between race and through sexualities.
the harlem renaissance is the only historical era i care one whit about, and these two novellas represent some of my favorite writing from it. i re-read them often. i think they're incredibly evocative and mercurial; for a long time, i've had a fantasy of writing a treatment of *passing* as a full-length film. but i'm too lazy.
Nella Larson was an author that was thought of as crazy, a liar, a plagiarist in which she simply vanished for awhile in her career. But this book is very insightful. Some believe that Helga, the protaganist in Quicksand, is a biography of Larson's life itself. But the two books are seen as a movement, filled with sexual desire and the representation of one's race. Overall a great read!
Passing is one of the best books I have ever read. The conflicts in that novel are so complex and tightly composed that while reading it, I feel so conflicted and torn I can barely breathe. Beautiful language, fascinating story, complicated and well-constructed characters. This book is excellent in every way possible.
I read Quicksand, the first novella in this book, as part of the MA exam reading list, and though I was a little resistant at first, it eventually won me over. Following Helga Crane as she escapes a prominent but stifling faculty position at a southern all-black school to move to Chicago, Harlem, Copenhagen, back to Harlem and finally to rural Alabama. With each new place she goes through the same emotional cycle of elation, irritation, then rejection as she moves on to a change of scenery and p...more
The end really didn't seem to live up to the rest of the story. She kind of deviated from what the beginning of the story was about. Maybe that was the point and it was lost on me. Overall though, I liked it. Not as much as Passing but it's still a good one.
i really, really did not like quicksand. helga was one of the worst heroines in the history of required reading. i did not pity her even though i was probably supposed to. passing was enjoyable though, hence two stars instead of one.
Dec 09, 2008
Qmiller
added it
Two challenging novellas that constitute basically everything this enigmatic Harlem Renaissance author ever wrote. They definitely bear discussion: the heroines are notoriously unlikeable, but the books are charged with energy.
Very good book, though I only read Quicksand thus far. It's rather depressing, yet reminded me of myself in many, many ways. It's helped me recognize what I want to change in myself.
I read both of these back in college. Just taught Quicksand in my Women's Voices class. Interesting story with a much criticized, but to me still interesting, ending.
Apr 30, 2009
Jill
added it
Just wrote a 15-page final paper on this book, although I greatly enjoyed both stories, am happy to put my earmarked/post-it-noted/highlighted copy DOWN. :)
In terms of literary merit this probably deserves more stars. As a matter of personal preference, though, I don't get too excited about the Harlem Renaissance.
Jan 10, 2011
Lisa
marked it as to-read
Heidi W. Durrow, author of "The Girl Who Feel from the Sky" gives a nod to Harlem Renaissance writer, Nella Larsen and her books.
It starts out as if it's about race. It ends up as a cautionary tale against having children and, for women, the end of dreams.
Quicksand - Helga - never content, extremely depessing
Passing - a more interesting look at a yearning for the "exotic"
Passing - a more interesting look at a yearning for the "exotic"
Apr 17, 2013
Deborah
added it
Wonderful classic! I found both of the stories riveting! And the editor's notes were very informative.
Read this one in my first year working for a school. I liked it a lot and so did the 11th graders.
1 like · like · see review
Although I may have just made it through Quicksand and stopped before finishing Passing...
It was very disappointing at the end. Enough so that I didn't go on to read Passing yet.
May 16, 2009
Alexis
added it
Quicksand and Passing (American Women Writers Series) by Nella Larsen (1986)
Really really liked Passing its so rich in imagery
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Nellallitea 'Nella' Larsen (first called Nellie Walker) was an American novelist of the Harlem Renaissance who wrote two novels and a few short stories. Though her literary output was scant, what she wrote earned her recognition by her contemporaries and by present-day critics.
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ISBN # 978-0-385-72100-4
She does have other stories beyond the two you have read. I hope this helps you to s...more
Dec 29, 2008 07:06pm