From the Bookshelf of Never too Late to Read Classics…

Dust Tracks on a Road

Zora Neale Hurston,

Maya Angelou (Introduction)

Start date: February 1, 2023

Finish date: February 28, 2023

Discussion: Non-Fiction Classics

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Nov 05, 2016 Chrissie rated it liked it

Shelves: 2016-read, bio, southern, usa, audible-uk, classics

Through reading this book one discovers much about Zora Neale Hurston's life and personality. She was a short story writer, novelist (author of Their Eyes Were Watching God), anthropologist and folklorist. She lived from 1891 to 1960.This book was published in 1942, 18 years before her death. A chronology listing the important events of her entire life is found at the book's end. She died in poverty and was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1973 author Alice Walker saw that a gravestone was instal Through reading this book one discovers much about Zora Neale Hurston's life and personality. She was a short story writer, novelist (author of Their Eyes Were Watching God), anthropologist and folklorist. She lived from 1891 to 1960.This book was published in 1942, 18 years before her death. A chronology listing the important events of her entire life is found at the book's end. She died in poverty and was buried in an unmarked grave. In 1973 author Alice Walker saw that a gravestone was installed with the words "A Genius of the South."

Zora was born in Notasulga, Alabama, but at the age of three her family moved to Eatonville, Florida, one of the first self-governing all-black municipalities in the United States. This is where she grew up, this is where she called home and this is the town she uses as a backdrop for many of her stories. From the start, as a young child she was brazen, sassy and curious. She had opinions and there was no stopping her.

The book covers her youth, her education and what she did with her life. That she became a folklorist shows. It is reflected in how she tells of her life; her experiences are related through stories. These stories have dialogs and songs. Has she recalled them word for word? Are they noted in diaries? There is no mention of such. I assume they are improvised. What is interesting to note is that the autobiography reads almost as a collection of stories. This isn’t surprising given that she was a folklorist and that she loved the songs of her people!

Chapters cover her personal beliefs - on religion, on the value of friends, on hoodoo, on dance, on books, on race pride, race consciousness and race prejudice and most importantly on individualism. One should never clump people into groups, not ever!

The book ends and then a long section is filled with what seems like add-ons. The chronology spoken of above, as well as appendixes, very lengthy acknowledgements and her involvement with a dance production. The appendixes summarize much of what was indicated earlier in the book, clarifying if you happened not to have understood. It is just that I had understood and they felt preachy, like a repetitive lecture.

What hits one immediately as you read the book is that the writing style is unusual. I found it unique in two ways. Nothing is said without a story. This became occasionally excessive. Secondly, metaphors and similes abound, but at times this felt simply wordy and repetitive. Other times what the author was saying was unclear due to the use of idioms and black nomenclature of which I am unfamiliar.

The audiobook is narrated by Bahni Turpin. She sings, she changes inflections for different characters, she recreates revivalist meetings…….. or shall we just say she dramatizes for all that she is worth. Many will like this. It is not badly performed. If what you are looking for is a performance, you will be happy. I prefer a simple reading of the text.
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Sep 29, 2014 Jane rated it really liked it

I fancy a reread

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Oct 05, 2022 t.s. cronenberg rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

in another time she would have been a communist and it was painful to see her overarching (and personally familiar) individualism continually get in the way of a class analysis of power that she nevertheless saw clear eyed, esp knowing which way her politics sadly developed & how they contrast with the way & place she ultimately died. an exceptionally genius talent

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