Passing is a captivating novella that delves into the complex friendship between two women. Clare, who has been living a double life by passing as white, is married to a man who holds blatant racist views, deeming Black people as detestable. On the other hand, Irene is married to a Black man who constantly seems to yearn for something more, as if the grass is always greener on the other side.

The story takes unexpected turns, and it becomes evident early on that this friendship is doomed to an unhappy ending. However, the exploration of their relationship and the inner turmoil they both face is truly fascinating.

Quicksand, on the other hand, is a journey through life that left both the reader (myself) and the protagonist, Helga, with a sense of dissatisfaction. The journey itself was not the issue; rather, it was the sudden ending that left me scrambling to search for answers.

I even spent some time googling to ensure that the edition I was reading wasn't missing the proper conclusion. It felt as if another tale could have begun from that ending, but it's clear that Helga has fallen into the trap implied by the title. This novella will surely linger in my thoughts for a while.

Both novellas are worthy of four stars each. They offer unique perspectives and thought-provoking themes that make them a great addition to any reading list. I read them as part of the Read Harder challenge prompt: Read a book with a cover you don't like. And despite the initial hesitation due to the covers, I'm glad I gave these novellas a chance.

Quicksand



Helga Crane, a biracial young woman in the 1920s, has some financial support but still has to work. However, all the opportunities that come her way turn out to be disappointing and depressing after her initial excitement. She works as a teacher in a school that upholds Anglo-Saxon values, then gets a job in Chicago with a wealthy woman who introduces her to New York and befriends another wealthy woman who looks down on biracial romantic relationships. She spends two years in Copenhagen being spoiled and shown off by her mother's sister. Back in Harlem, she feels both more at ease and more uncomfortable. Finally, she goes to the South for an arguably sudden ending. Three men, only one of whom she loves, are not suitable for marriage for various reasons, and a fourth enters her life during a vulnerable time. This short novel is psychologically perceptive and extremely well-written, especially for a first work.
3 stars (October 17)

Passing



Now that I know the ending, I really should reread Passing. It truly deserves it. The close third-person point of view is Irene's, and once I reached the final section, it became clear to me how close this perspective is and how crucial it is to remember this when thinking about Clare, Irene's biracial childhood friend who is 'passing' as white. Irene is as light-skinned as Clare and is married to a darker-skinned black man who is a doctor; they have two young sons. (Skin color is significant to the story and is described in various ways.) Irene has an intense longing/need/desire for security, which dictates all her actions. However, both women are limited by a lack of choices not only in a racially divided world but also in a man's world. This masterpiece of less than a hundred pages should stand alongside other works that I was reminded of while reading, works that we consider to be genius: The Great Gatsby; The Good Soldier; Mrs. Dalloway.
5 stars (October 23)

*



I told myself that I didn't have to reread Passing immediately, but I had no control over the situation. I couldn't move on until I did, and I reread it last night. I still haven't been able to move on: To explain further would involve discussing spoilers, so I'll just leave it at that. (October 24)

One of those books I discovered in college through assigned reading was truly remarkable.

It seemed to tick both the "feminist" and "African American" boxes, making it a unique and thought-provoking piece of literature.

"Passing" is not only a captivating story but also especially psychologically interesting. The controversial phenomena to which it refers adds an extra layer of depth and complexity.

As I delved into the pages, I found myself immersed in the lives and struggles of the characters, their desires, and their secrets.

The concept of "passing" as presented in the book raised important questions about identity, race, and gender.

It made me reflect on the ways in which society often forces people to conform to certain norms and expectations, and the consequences that can result when individuals choose to break free or hide their true selves.

Overall, this book has had a profound impact on me and has become one of my all-time favorites.

I really liked this story! There are so many facets to Irene and Clare. Their actions can be interpreted in very different ways, depending on how you view the characters. It's quite fascinating. For example, Irene's decisions might seem cautious to one person and cowardly to another. Similarly, Clare's actions could be seen as bold or reckless.

I also appreciate how the ending is open to interpretation. What you think happened really depends on your perception of the characters. Maybe Irene and Clare's relationship will continue to evolve in a certain way, or perhaps it will end abruptly. The possibilities are endless.

I can't wait to watch the movie and see how the director brings this story to life on the big screen. I'm sure it will be a visual treat and will add another layer of depth to the characters and their story.

Nella Larsen, a writer in the Harlem Renaissance, was born on April 13, 1891, and passed away on March 30, 1964.

She was of mixed blood, with a Danish mother and a colored father from Danish West Indies. When her father died, her mother remarried a Danish man named Peter Larsen, who gave Nella her new last name. She had a half-sister, making her the only person of color in the family. This sense of being of mixed blood gave her a feeling of inferiority and not knowing where she belonged.

Both in "Quicksand" and "Passing," Larsen describes the lives of women who, like herself, are very light-skinned and can pass as white or colored. In "Quicksand," Helga Crane is a young, vain teacher who travels to Denmark on the advice of her uncle. She is welcomed by her deceased mother's sister but still feels like she doesn't quite belong. In "Passing," Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry are both passing as white, but their lives are complicated by their true identities and the prejudices they face.

The autobiographical content in both novels is high, and the theme of racial segregation is still relevant today. Larsen's writing style is anything but dated and reads very fresh. The protagonists, who have to deal with racial hatred, prejudices, and hypocrisy, have a great psychological depth and are magnificently developed. These are classic gems that are part of the Schwob-list and deserve never to be forgotten.

Larsen studied partly in the US and later in Denmark. After returning to the US, she worked as a nurse in New York and taught at the university. She was influenced by the ideas of Booker T. Washington and married a black man. However, their marriage ended in divorce when she discovered that he was cheating on her with a white woman. Sadly, a false accusation of plagiarism led to her withdrawal from the Harlem Renaissance and her decision to stop writing. She suffered from depression and died at the age of 72.

Title: "Quicksand & Passing"
Original title: "Quicksand & Passing"
Author: Nella Larsen
Translation: Lisette Graswinckel
Pages: 320
ISBN: 9789046822951
Publisher: Nieuw Amsterdam
Published: January 2018

Over the years, I have read these novellas numerous times.

They have played a significant role in my master's thesis, which focuses on mixed race African-American women and the concept of the "cyborg."

The "cyborg" is a being that exists within seemingly contradictory identities, and these novellas provide valuable insights into this complex topic.

By analyzing the characters and their experiences in the novellas, I have been able to explore the ways in which mixed race Af-Am women navigate and negotiate their multiple identities in a society that often views them through a binary lens.

The novellas offer a rich and nuanced portrayal of the challenges and opportunities faced by these women, as well as their unique perspectives and voices.

Overall, they have been an essential source of inspiration and data for my research, and I continue to return to them for further exploration and analysis.

Nella Larsen, a remarkable mixed-race woman, was actively writing in the early 20th century. Despite not having an extensive body of published work, her two novellas served as powerful windows into her life experiences. She existed in a unique position, straddling two different worlds.

Today, we might classify her works as literary #OwnVoices fiction. It's truly fascinating to explore the depth and authenticity that Larsen brought to her writing.

I诚挚地希望大家能够去我的博客看看我对这两部作品的#书评。

Here is the link: https://tcl-bookreviews.com/2020/11/1... I believe you'll find it an enriching and thought-provoking read.

I truly loved "Quicksand" as it vividly depicted an aimless young mixed-race woman's struggle to find a sense of belonging in 1920s America.

She delved into several different aspects of her black and white heritage in this pursuit. Nella Larsen's characterizations were exquisitely done, and the forlorn ending of "Quicksand" was especially poignant.

However, I was less enamored by "Passing." Nevertheless, it too had interesting characters that are not typically depicted in literature.

I had never before heard of middle-class mixed-race women successfully "passing" as white during that era.

But it was incredibly strange and heartbreaking to read about the character of Clare, who had married a racist white man without him having any idea about her black heritage.

It made me think about the complex and often difficult situations that these individuals found themselves in during that time period.

I made up my mind to read "Passing" prior to the release of the movie. I took great pleasure in reading "Passing". It was truly fascinating to contemplate the concept of passing from two different perspectives. Well, in fact, it was really only Irene's perspective, which was to hold a poor opinion of Clare's choice. However, in my view, Irene's judgment of Clare was not justifiable. This is because she essentially believes that she is making sacrifices for the race, yet still considers herself above it. And then there is the factor that she is jealous and suspicious. I must say, though, that I preferred the book to the movie.

As for "Quicksand", what a continuously escalating story it is. Another dissatisfied "negro" woman, this time with a black father and a white mother. She doesn't feel completely at ease in either world. Always in search of something... I was engaged with the story until the crazy leap into religious fanaticism and then the denial of God??? It ended in a very strange way. But still, it is an interesting story about belonging and contentment, which is what I concluded.

Mild spoilers (I try to be vague about the endings).

This edition (Rutgers University Press, 1986) presents two remarkable Harlem Renaissance novels by Nella Larsen. Both center around mixed race young women in the 1920s.

In "Quicksand", the protagonist Helga is a charming and intelligent young woman. She travels extensively, visiting family, making friends, and seeking a sense of home. However, from the start, she is restless. Her search for identity and belonging is constantly elusive. She journeyed from Chicago to experience different lives - a Southern academic life, a vibrant Harlem life, a high-class European life, and a rural Southern life. No matter where she goes, she feels out of place.

I appreciate the overall "feel" of the novel, the time period, and the atmosphere. Even without explicit descriptions of color, the places she visits are vivid. She engages in various activities like shopping, attending parties, visiting historic places, restaurants, and art shows in New York and Copenhagen. The novel is rich in color. It begins by describing Helga's room in the boarding school. She loves nice things and pretty clothing, and everything is detailed. The sky, with its changing colors throughout the day and night, is also well-described. People, too, are diverse in color, both between and within races. This shows that color is a spectrum, with each color unique yet easily blendable with another, and none superior to the others.

This is a major source of Helga's unease. In every place she lives, she becomes dissatisfied and struggles to fit in or understand her true identity. Colors are often seen as separate and segregated, whether physically, culturally, or socially. In Harlem, she is hurt by wealthy black people who claim to hate whites. In Denmark, she is welcomed but treated as "exotic". In the urban South, a white preacher has a condescending attitude towards blacks.

Helga's journey evokes sympathy. One might argue that she should make up her mind and stop searching for something better. But her difficulties are real, and the unfairness of society towards blacks and mixed-race people, especially black women, is a serious issue. She is constantly objectified, either as a "lady" or a "Jezebel", rather than a normal person with normal desires.

Due to her unhappy childhood and society's racism, Helga is caught between two worlds. She loves her white relatives and their culture, but they treat her as inferior or a curiosity. She also loves Harlem and her black friends, but dislikes the hypocrisy among them. It's sad that neither Helga nor the author seems to find a solution to the "race problem".

I highly recommend the journal article "The Aesthetics of Race and Gender in Nella Larsen's Quicksand" by Ann E. Hostetler. It provided valuable insights for my review.

"Passing" is a shorter novel about two mixed-race women who are wives and mothers. The main protagonist, Irene, is in a Chicago hotel restaurant when she realizes she is being watched by another woman. She worries that she has been discovered as black and could be thrown out due to segregation. It turns out to be her childhood acquaintance, Clare. They reconnect, but Irene disapproves of Clare completely hiding her race and marrying a white man. There is a darkly amusing and suspenseful scene where Irene meets Clare's husband, who unknowingly makes racist remarks in front of them. After Irene moves back to New York, Clare misses her and visits several times.

Like "Quicksand", "Passing" is a psychological novel that delves into the thoughts of the protagonist. Irene is an unreliable narrator who seems to project unconsciously. While her disapproval of Clare's husband is understandable, it's ironic that she also disapproves of Clare's full passing for white, considering she herself sometimes engages in similar behavior. Of course, there is a difference between Irene's occasional passing and Clare's daily pretence. Irene is also concerned about how Clare's husband would react if he found out. Irene is married to a black doctor and usually does not hide her race, except when it suits her.

Although the novel is mainly about race, I also found the husband-wife dynamics interesting. Irene and her husband have disagreements about where to live, how to raise their sons, and being able to express their true thoughts. It is implied that both Clare and Irene may be attracted to each other, but Irene is in denial. I didn't realize Irene was such an unreliable narrator until she talked about preventing her husband from moving the family to Brazil. She portrays herself as selfless, but it's not clear what was truly better about staying in New York. What is clear is that Irene values security and comfort above all else, and her husband resents being guilted into staying.

My only complaint is that both novels end abruptly, leaving the problems and questions unresolved. I suspect these issues were also unresolved in real life, making the books powerful calls for change. I'm disappointed that Larsen's career was so short. If you can find this edition, the introduction by Deborah E. McDowell, which focuses on the sexuality of the main characters, helped me better understand the unsatisfying endings of both novels.

QUICKSAND
The writing and storytelling in Quicksand are truly strong and compelling. However, the main character can be quite frustrating. It is the story of a young adult woman who is desperately trying to find a place to belong. Her identity and inner struggles with it make this task endlessly complicated. The story takes place in the 1920s, both in the US and in one European city.

PASSING
Passing has a much stronger narrative than Quicksand. The story is told from Irene's perspective, a Black woman living in Harlem who can 'pass' as white but only does so in moments of great need. By chance, she is reunited with her childhood friend Clare, who has married a white man and lives her life fully passing. Irene struggles with having Clare back in her life for many reasons, and these struggles form the narrative. Passing is a compelling short read, and I'm excited to see the film adaptation.

Both Passing and Quicksand end in ways that leave a lot of room for the reader's imagination. This allows the reader to come up with their own interpretations and endings, adding an extra layer of depth to the stories.

Shew…Quicksand was probably a 3-star for me, while Passing was a 4-star, so I rounded up to a four-star.

As a white woman, it is truly unimaginable for me to know exactly what it's like to be a black woman. However, I am committed to continuously being empathetic and making an effort to understand that experience.

I felt deeply for both women in Passing. I grasped the significance of staying true to one's race and yet also desiring to "pass" in order to have more opportunities. And I also understood the sense of missing one's race if one chose to "pass". There was no real "win" for them, which is truly heartbreaking to me.

Edit: I first read The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and loved it so much that it led me to read this. I will never cease my efforts to learn more about the struggles that others face.

This journey of understanding is essential, and I hope to continue growing and evolving in my awareness and empathy.