Passing by Nella Larsen

While this book is ostensibly about a woman with black ancestry who passes as white and marries a virulent racist, I found Debbie McDowell's argument in the introduction to the omnibus version (Passing and Quicksand) that it's also about a hidden, emotional relationship between Clare (the woman who passes) and Irene (the narrator) very convincing. This book is both fascinating and rich, and the three-act structure builds to a well-paced and exciting conclusion that raises a lot of questions about ethics and responsibility.