- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Harpercollins; Reissue edition (Feb 1990)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0060916508
- ISBN-13: 978-0060916503
- Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 13 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 408,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Novel
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Product Description
Review
'For me, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD is one of the very greatest American novels of the 20th century. It is so lyrical it should be sentimental; it is so passionate it should be overwrought, but it is instead a rigorous, convincing and dazzling piece of prose, as emotionally satisfying as it is impressive. There is no novel I love more' --Zadie Smith
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Book Description
* Zora Neale Hurston's masterpiece is perhaps the most widely read and highly regarded novel in the entire canon of African American literature.
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
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First Sentence
SHIPS AT A DISTANCE have every man's wish on board. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
SHIPS AT A DISTANCE have every man's wish on board. Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Where's dat blue satin dress she left here in? Where all dat money her husband took and died and left here? What dat ole forty year ole `oman doing wid her hair swingin' down her back lak some young gal?"
I know nothing of Zora Neale Hurston except that she wrote a great classic in Their Eyes Were Watching God sometime in the nineteen thirties.
The books makes its focal point around Janie Crawford, the envy of all other black sisters because of her light skin and her below the waist long hair. A strong and independent Afro-American woman, Janie knows what she wants out of life and leaves her town of Eatonville searching for it; finding herself at the altar on three occasions.
Forced more or less into the first marriage with Logan which did not last longer than a snowball in hell, Janie does her best to be a good wife, but at this stage she is still young and does not understand what is required of her in this unity which is on the verge of breaking down. As this happens, she quickly hooks up with the sweet talking Joe Starks, a man whom she looks up to and who will become the mayor of the small county where they live. Life with Joe Starks is different to the marriage with Logan as all the folks look up to Starks who is responsible, thoroughly arrogant, stubborn and forces his opinions and standards on Janie, like it or not.
But a reprieve comes in Janie Crawford's life after the death of the Mayor, which finds her grown into maturity and with a better comprehension of the world around her, and a better understanding of her desires and how she may acquire this love which has eluded her all these years. From her past experiences Janie reaches out for marriage the third time over with a man twelve years her junior, and this is when she will taste love at its sweetest for the first time, and be acquainted with pain, racial prejudice and great loss. For lovers of classical books, this book comes highly recommended!!!
SUGAR-CANE 28/03/05
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is one of the few that left me with a 'wow' feeling after I finished it. It is hard to describe just how amazing this book is, so I suggest that you read it to find out!
The racism is shocking at times, yet it invites us into the 'porch culture' that is so commonly associated with Black America. The protagonist is Jane, the product of rape by a white school teacher. Her mother runs away, leaving her in the care of her grandmother, who tries to shield her from the strong racism (Janie doesn't even realise she is black until she is 6!) and, wanting the best for her, arranges a marriage when Janie is just 16. Janie struggles but eventually takes her to a man worthy of her love. It is a beautiful tale, full of sadness, yet these downtrodden characters show admirable determination to survive and make the best of life. It is well worth reading, and easy to see how this book provided inspiration for authors such as Toni Morrison!
The racism is shocking at times, yet it invites us into the 'porch culture' that is so commonly associated with Black America. The protagonist is Jane, the product of rape by a white school teacher. Her mother runs away, leaving her in the care of her grandmother, who tries to shield her from the strong racism (Janie doesn't even realise she is black until she is 6!) and, wanting the best for her, arranges a marriage when Janie is just 16. Janie struggles but eventually takes her to a man worthy of her love. It is a beautiful tale, full of sadness, yet these downtrodden characters show admirable determination to survive and make the best of life. It is well worth reading, and easy to see how this book provided inspiration for authors such as Toni Morrison!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Library Binding
I think that the language at times was hard to follow, but after getting use to the language the book was poetic and life impacting. I think that any one who do not understand the message of this book is a shallow person.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Let's hope God wasn't watching
As a committed Mormon, I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of Biblical references, quotes from the bible and allusions to parables. Read more
Published 2 months ago by wendy jones
Love in the Muck
"Their Eyes were Watching God" is the most famous novel of the African American novelist and anthropologist Zora Neale Hurston (1891- 1960) and a classic of American literature. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Robin Friedman
Riveting
This book, although one that I had to read I found it extreamly interesting. Admittedly the way the book is wriiten in a dialect is hard to read at first but as you get into it... Read more
Published 20 months ago by W. Hawking
Very moving
Amazing imagery, beautiful language. It moved me to tears on my train into work, embarrassingly!
Published 20 months ago by Ms. Beverly J. Tagg
A Powerful Book
Hurston tells the story of Janie, a poor black girl whose grandmother, born into slavery, bequeaths her granddaughter the indispensible freedom of marrying a free, moneyed black... Read more
Published on 22 Sep 2009 by Mrs. K. A. Wheatley
Sho does read well!
Reading Their Eyes Were Watching God takes us back to simpler times, though not necessarily easier ones. Read more
Published on 4 July 2009 by Dixie Al
A definite classic and a must have...
I hadn't even heard of Zora Neal Hurston until a few weeks ago, till I was given the book as a gift, and then watched the movie (starring Halle Berry and produced by Oprah... Read more
Published on 11 April 2006
An outstanding story
Their Eyes Were Watching God was one of the best books that I've ever read. The book answered a lot of questions about life. Read more
Published on 22 Feb 2006 by "mickie119"
Poetry In Motion
No this isn't a poetry book but it is lyrical in its execution. I believed I was Pheoby listening to Janey. I was transported to the porch. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2004 by ms frazzled
A rhythmic and beautiful tale
Janie Starck is a woman with dreams - big dreams, romantic dreams. But her grandmother knows those dreams will only get her into trouble, for "De nigger woman id de mule ah de... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2004 by www.bibliofemme.com
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