Sassafrass, Cypress and Indigo: A Novel
by Ntozake Shange
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 259)
I read this in a class for school. It was a great story of 4 women (a mother and her 3 daughters) and how their lives have been shaped by the effects of racism in America and being women themselves. The writing style is varied and non-traditional, each chapter is for a different character and the writing style changes to match each woman (one is even written as a script). Yes, the story deals exclusively with these women and the ways that struggle against what society wants them to be, but it...more
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this book is really uneven. i loved the early parts and especially the parts about the children and their magic, but i think she really belabored the point by the end. i stopped feeling interested in the characters and felt tired and lectured to. i'm smart enough to get it. i like to work a little more than this story asked me to by the end. still, worth a read. and i dislike the last chapters of many books, i'm realizing.
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This little known book, is a favorite--encompassing black literature, women's literature, and coming of age. It tells the story of three sisters with slightly more attention given to youngest sister.
It provides unique insight into black familial relations, and society.
It provides unique insight into black familial relations, and society.
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I wish we could comission poets to write novels. Shange is a jazz/blues/dance/spoken language influenced poet, and although i didnt think this one had the same intensity as "Liliane" it is enjoyable especially because our author has such a way with words.
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Read in October, 2006
Three sisters grow up in South Carolina during the 1970s. The chapters are interspersed with letters from their mother, recipes, poetry, journal entries, etc. Black power and female power are common themes. Recommended by a fellow librarian.
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
anyone
This book was awesome. Not always what I expected. The book is vibrant with descriptions. I also got a kick out of the letters written by the mother, Hilda Effania. I think many of us know someone like that.
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Read in November, 2006
recommends it for:
black women.
this book is like a literary jambalaya: poetry, prose, recipes, drama. plus, i really like how she explores the different paths three artistic Southern-grown sisters take as they grow up. And sisterhood.
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"So Cypress learned to see other people as themselves, and not as threats to her person."
This line, and this novel, changed the way I conceptualize relationships. I'm still learning.
This line, and this novel, changed the way I conceptualize relationships. I'm still learning.
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Read in January, 1994
i read this in high school, i loved it! it was such a good bridge from magical child brain to adult beautiful woman juicy brain.! kind of cheesy in some ways, but can't help but love it.
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This is one of my most favorite books ever. This book transformed me. There's a passage about a flock of wild red birds that is forever stamped in my memory ...
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Southern African-American woman writing at its best! Gullah culture, voodoo, home remedies, and recipes all bound up in a beautiful novel about 3 sisters.
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Another unfinished text on my shelf (sigh). And this one is even in hardcover! It's a hodgepodge/patchwork quilt of genres (recipes even)...
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Has a copy to sell/swap
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Read in January, 1990
Such a magical story. I originally read this as a young adult and rediscovered it at small bookstore. I couldn't pass it up. . .
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Read in August, 2007
recommends it for:
black feminists
playful and sexy - explores deeply the identity of young black women through poetry, reiceiepepes for the soul and fabric
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absolutely one of my favorite books of all time. probably even among my top five stranded on an island books.
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Read in January, 1993
I loved this book! I'm glad a friend reminded me of it. I'm going to buy a new copy ASAP and re-read it.
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Read in August, 2006
A wonderful gift from Annie. I gave it to my mom to read next.
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Read in January, 1996
Now that I think of it, I should probably read this again.
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