Quicksand and Passing by nella larsen

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

The writing style of this work earns three stars. It has its own characteristics, but perhaps there is still room for improvement in terms of elegance and fluency.

However, when it comes to the interesting themes and the vivid depiction of racial issues in that period, it definitely deserves five stars. The author manages to bring to life the complex and often tense racial dynamics of that era, making the readers truly understand the challenges and struggles faced by different ethnic groups.

The interesting themes add an extra layer of depth and吸引力 to the story. They engage the readers and make them think about various aspects of society and human nature.

Overall, despite the limitations in the writing style, the work is highly commendable for its exploration of important and timely topics. It provides a valuable perspective on a significant period in history and is well worth reading.

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MayucchiYukie

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Coming-of-age is a complex journey, especially for a woman. In the case of Helga Crane, she starts off as a young woman with all the potential of a child. However, her choices lead her down a path that is far from what one might expect.

She goes from attending Naxos, a prestigious school dedicated to Negro uplift, which can be considered part of the nonprofit sector, to suddenly realizing that she despises the hypocrisy of do-good work. When she quits Naxos at 23, expressing her hatred for it, her boss offers some sage advice. He tells her that lies, injustice, and hypocrisy are present in every community, and most people develop a sort of immunity or callousness towards them. Otherwise, they couldn't bear it. He also points out that while there may be less of these evils at Naxos compared to other places, because they are aiming high, the ugly things are more noticeable.

After leaving Naxos, Helga Crane searches for something cleaner and more beautiful. She sometimes finds it in great luxury, in being served. She is determined to have as much of the beautiful world as possible, but she never truly confronts the horror of limitation.

In the end, giving birth to her fifth child, she becomes a slave to the extra mortality of a woman's body. She has chosen to lead a normal life that involves pain and ugliness. She first leans into this pain by superficially turning to God and becoming a believer. Her second way of dealing with it is by marrying an ugly but powerful provincial Southern preacher. With him, she limits her world to what is expected of her: being a wife, raising children, and having a small clan of loyalty. However, despite her attempts to keep this world beautiful, she ends up trapped in a small world, confined to her bed, and unable to stay awake without the help of a nurse.

Helga Crane's story is a cautionary tale about the choices we make and the consequences that follow. It shows how even the most well-intentioned people can end up in a place they never intended to be.

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RoterMann

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I completed Quicksand months ago, and it has taken me this long to process the lessons within this story.

The main character's insatiable appetite for self-satisfaction leads to indecision and confusion in multiple aspects of her life.

Often, I believe that fear can determine our sense of personal well-being and the social acceptance of our choices. Here, the fear of making a choice that would shock others was a consistent factor behind many of the subject's decisions.

Since she didn't live a life of her own from a very young age, she was unable to precisely identify what she wanted - in terms of her intellect, social life, and love. What a chaotic situation!

Despite its historical perspective, this story can resonate with young adults. The challenge might stem from the awareness this book could generate within the reader regarding our own self-perpetuating flaws and shortcomings that are hindering us from reaching our full potential.

I have a complex relationship with this story. I both love and hate it. As a result of reading Quicksand, I have been compelled to engage in self-reflection. I'm not certain if I can read Passing, the second story by Larson, just yet.

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Helios21

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Extremely disappointing is the literary value of these novellas, which seems almost non-existent. The fact that Larsen's only two full-length novels are now commonly published in one volume might already be an indication. Are the publishers perhaps concerned that those who purchase one of these may not be particularly inclined to buy the second?

To be sure, they are closely related in terms of themes and subject matter. In this regard, these are very important works, and the combination makes sense. The entire subject of that strange and convoluted (and more or less strictly American) concept of 'passing' and the pernicious and subtle influences of racism on black society are significant themes. However, precisely because of this, they deserve a better treatment (in literary terms) than they receive here. Larsen is truly a far cry from a literary giant like Tony Morrison.

In fact, while reading these novels, I couldn't help but think that it was amateur hour. Initially excited to be able to read two novellas about these themes in prose that seemed (at first) to faintly resemble Edith Wharton's, I was soon disillusioned. The dialogue is dull, awkward, and often both overly explanatory and simplistic at the same time, as is the prose style. There is little or no subtlety in handling the plot. There are even (in the first novel, Quicksand) some clumsy violations of perspective. I really can't understand any of the praise I've seen heaped on this book by the promotional texts.

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spikesagitta

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I brought this book back in the early 90s.

At that time, I simply put it on the shelf and completely forgot that I even had it.

Just recently, I finally got around to reading it.

Now that I have finished, I am truly sorry that I waited for such a long time.

This book is truly remarkable.

The writer's talent and the story within the pages are just as captivating and engaging as they would have been back when the book was first published.

It's amazing how a book can stand the test of time and still have the power to touch the hearts and minds of readers decades later.

I am so glad that I rediscovered this hidden gem and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a great read.

It's a book that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

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ILEGENES

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

I only read "Passing" as it was the one assigned for my Major American Writers class.

Perhaps at some point in the future, I will read "Quicksand" as well.

This story held my interest. However, I found the writing style to be rather challenging to follow at times. It didn't seem to have a natural flow.

Nonetheless, I did take pleasure in the descriptions. There are numerous beautiful sentences within it that added to its charm.

The ending was quite strange and was definitely left open to interpretation.

Overall, it was a fine story. It wasn't anything truly exceptional, but it wasn't bad either. It had its strengths in the form of the descriptions and the thought-provoking ending, but the writing style did pose a bit of a hurdle for me.

Despite this, I'm glad I read it as it gave me a better understanding of the work of this particular American writer.

I look forward to exploring more of their works in the future.

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MainReaper6666

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Two novellas from 1928 and 1929.

I initially believed I had some understanding of "Passing" at least. I thought it would be a somewhat melodramatic work that offered a contemporary perspective on a complex racial issue. However, it turned out to be far more than that.

The issues of race are not merely glanced at or alluded to. They are right at the core of Larsen's writing. There are no soft euphemisms. Instead, there are simply two societies existing side by side in 1920s New York, Chicago, and other places. The only way to transition from one to the other is by lying and denying one's ethnicity and origins. The advantages and costs of "passing" are directly addressed... and there is indeed a touch of melodrama.

But, for me, the real gem here was "Quicksand," which was even more intricate. Helga has a white mother and a black father. Whether she is partying in Harlem or living with her socially ambitious aunt and uncle in Copenhagen, she remains both black and female throughout - like quicksand upon quicksand - being dragged down by this twofold constriction of her intelligence, her sexuality, and her freedom.

It has been more than a decade since I last read any Edith Wharton. But I thoroughly relished revisiting this unapologetic 1920s portrayal of womanhood, which contributed as significantly to my appreciation of feminism as Atwood did in her writing 60 years later.

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silver_shield

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

A rather interesting novel and novella that explore racism and passing.

The novel delves deep into the complex issue of racism, presenting a vivid and detailed picture of the discrimination and prejudice that exists in society. Through the eyes of the characters, we witness the harsh realities they face and the impact it has on their lives.

The novella, on the other hand, focuses on the concept of passing. It examines the choices and consequences that come with trying to pass as someone else in order to escape the burdens of racism. The characters in the novella struggle with their identity and the moral implications of their actions.

Together, these works offer a thought-provoking exploration of racism and passing, challenging our assumptions and making us reflect on the importance of equality and acceptance. They remind us that racism is still a prevalent issue in our world today and that we must continue to work towards a more just and inclusive society.

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Quicksand and Passing

nella larsen

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