Book Reviews of Their Eyes Were Watching God

This book is one of the very best books that I have ever read. I first read it in high school. I still pick it up again every now and then just to read my favorite parts. If you saw the movie and didn't read the book - READ THE BOOK! The movie did not do this book justice at all. Hurston's writing is so poetic, so symbolic . . . A truly careful reader will savor every word of this wonderful masterpiece.

Powerful prose from a fantastic writer. I never bothered to see the movie because her descriptions created a vivid painting in my mind that no director could recreate. Historically, it's an important book, as well as a wonderful read.

I tried very hard, but couldn't get into this book. I'm sure it's wonderful, but it's one of those books you have to sit down with and make an effort to read and I guess I'm not in the mood to make that effort.

A wonderful stoey with heartwarming natural wisdoms. Loved this book!

I love this book! I have read it several times over the past 15 years -- I keep coming back to it. The characters are compelling -- you begin to care about Janie and what happens to her very early on. Even my Dad couldn't put it down, and he is not a reader! He picked it up on a weekend visit, and I had to send it home with him!

good story - basis for Oprah Winfrey Tv movie enjoyed it and it moves quickly -great look at culture in the South

One of the best books I have read; I have gotten a hold of this books some years ago; I believe it was someone else's, and I got to the point where she was about to marry the first husband, and for years, I had to find out what happened to this woman, and somehow, I got my hands on a copy of the book and read it through; You cannot help but want the book for yourself; It's a bit hard due to the dialect, but you can relate to Janie's struggle to be herself; I watched the movie and enjoyed it; And had to put a review here for this book; HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I thought this was a wonderful novel. It was full of joy, humor, sorrow, and all the emotions in between. I really enjoyed Hurston's writing and her use of African-American dialect. This reminded me a lot of Mark Twain's writing. She alternated the conversational dialect with eloquent prose to describe the events in the novel - a really great piece of literature! When this novel was first published in 1937, it received a lot of critism especially from Richard Wright (another African-American writer) who "excoriated Their Eyes as a novel that did for literature what the minstrel shows did for the theater, that is, make white folks laugh... The novel exploited those quaint aspects of Negro life that satisfied the tastes of a white audience..." However, this novel has come to be proclaimed as one of the finest black novels of all time. It is studied today in many college literature courses.

I also saw the TV adaptation of this novel starring Halle Berry when it came out a few years ago. I don't remember much of the details but do remember enjoying it.

This book is interesting as it was written in 1937 and was one of the first books written by an African American portraying African American life. It's characters move the action and they are not victims - but capable of creating the lives they want. The written speech of the characters make it a little difficult to read, but you care about the characters and what happens to them. A strong, female lead character makes the book worthwhile.

"The prototypical Black novel of affirmation: it is the most successful, convincing, and exemplary novel of Blacklove that we have. Period." --June Jordan, Black World

A must read!!!

Reading this book was like a pleasant time travel through someone else's eyes: through Zora Hurston's, and her view of the world, despite the times, was so beautiful and strong, I found the book uplifting and beautiful.

Great book, hard to put down.

The language was difficult to read at first but once I got into the rhythm of the thing it was very enjoyable. This was a poetic and beautiful story.

Probably one of the best love stories I've ever read. Even though it does have a southern draw on the words, it was very easy to get through, if you just sound it aloud, rather than in your head...then you understand what they're trying to say. A favorite of mine, and it's so much better than the movie, like they usually are.

Beautiful writing, but I didn't really like the character. This is the story of a black woman in the Deep South during the Depression.

Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person-no mean feat for a black woman in the 30s.

Fair and long-legged, independent and articulate. Janie Crawford sets out to be her own person no mean feat for a Black woman in the 30's. Zora Neale Hurston's classic 1937 novel follows Janie from her nanny's plantation shack to Logan Killick's farm, to all-Black Eatonville-where she gathers in"the great fish net" of her life. Janie's quest for identity takes her on a journey during which she learns what love is, experiences life's joys and sorrows, and comes home to herself in peace.

Loved It, Loved It, Loved It... If you Love "The Color Purple", you will Love This Book!!!

Very good Book I reccomend reading it

I enjoyed this book :)

Story of an independent and articulate black women. Janie's journey teaches her about love, life's joys and sorrows and returns her home to find peace.

Forward by Mary Helen Washington; Afterword by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

If you watched the movie, you must read the book - it's even better!

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