Their Eyes Were Watching God

How in the world do I write a review for the most beautiful piece of literature I have read this year? How??

This book touched me and laid itself on my heart is such a personal way. I connected with the dialect and read it without any trouble or pause as I was raised in a tiny little town called Brooksville, Mississippi. I lived on what was considered the wrong side of the tracks and that is how we all talked there. The dialect was natural and second nature to me.

The fun part is where this story took place. Just so happens I moved to the Orlando area a little over a year ago and I am never every single one of the towns Hurston referenced in this book. Each one just gave me a smile as I read it.

I did a non spoiler review of this one on my channel if you're interested: https://youtu.be/v3OyRnq5MaA

The beauty of Janie's story - the heart wrenching sadness - the shared feeling of your family expectations - the soul stealing sadness - just took my breath away. I originally picked this book up on my Kindle to read with some other friends who were reading it. I read it in 2 days and immediately purchased a physical copy as I knew this would be a story I would be reading many, many times over the years.

I cannot express how wonderful this story is, but I can tell you I am about to start a journey through everything Zora Neale Hurston ever wrote!

"...No matter how far a person can go the horizon is still way beyond you..." In Jim Crow era Florida, Janie begins her adult life with an arranged marriage to a much older man. Soon, she wonders if there is more to live than being a dutiful and obedient wife to a man she doesn't love. As soon as the opportunity arises, Janie sets out on a quest for fulfillment. Much of the novel focuses on Janie's relationships with three different men: Logan, an older man who sees Janie as simply a body to help with his farm; Jody, an ambitious man who uses Janie as a trophy wife; and Tea Cake, a man who lacks polish or prospects but who makes Janie laugh and feel alive. Some have argued that Janie's seeking of the male gaze makes her a poor example of the modern woman. However, in the context of the period in which the story is set and when it was written, it's difficult to miss Hurston's strong feminist theme. Janie is smart, strong, and not afraid to stand up for herself, but has to navigate the tricky balance between self-assertion and sacrificing ones voice for the benefit of another. This story bridges beautifully written prose with riveting story, and well-crafted character development. I am in love with everything about this book. This literary gold standard is the obvious precursor to books like The Color Purple, Go as a River, and Where the Crawdads Sing.

Hands down my all time favorite novel! If you read this in HS like most of us, it deserves a reread. The themes will hit differently after you’ve lived & loved.

So well written and made me root so hard for Janie to finally find what she’d been looking for.
“Love is like the sea. It’s a moving thing, but still and all, it takes its shape from de shore it meets, and it’s different with every shore.”

Harlem Renaissance. The book focuses on the story of Janie Crawford whose sole goal is to find love. Her grandmother arranges for her to marry a local farmer Logan who only wants a coworker. Then she marries Jody, a businessman who only wants her as a trophy wife and basically makes her a slave to their marriage. Then she marries Tea Cake, a man who is younger than she is and is also a gambler. They go to south Florida and get a job picking beans. Tea Cake truly loves Janie. They argue and fight, but have a good relationship. After Tea Cake is bitten by a rabid dog, his whole personality changes. From this point, there would be spoilers, and I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone.