Quicksand - Nella Larsen - 4 stars

[Robin P]

This author is best known for her book Passing. This is her first novel and is somewhat autobiographical, in that Helga, like Nella, has a Danish mother and a (missing) Black father. Helga keeps trying to find her place and her purpose, but everything disappoints her. She goes from a Black college in the South, to Chicago, Harlem, Copenhangen and then does the journey in reverse. Each time she thinks she has found her place, but after a year or two, she needs to make a sudden escape. It seems like the author is saying that Helga's mixed race status in a race-bound society (1920's) makes it impossible for her to fit in anywhere. this is a short book and an interesting evocation of the time.