Monday, September 13, 2010

Quicksand by Nella Larsen

This book follows the life of Helga Crane through several iterations. She starts as an independent, young teacher--but when teaching in the South stifles her, she moves North to Chicago, New York, and eventually Denmark, before returning to the States, a hasty marriage, and the servitude and drudgery of childbearing. I thought the critiques of religion, racial attitudes, and marriage were all well-done. While Helga doesn't have all the answers, she does a magnificent job figuring out how to live her life true to herself until she comes smack against these obstacles--which makes the story a moving one.

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