Their Eyes Were Watching God

Rating:
Summary: Definitley on my list of best literature
Review: I too read this book in college and was so moved. I have since become a fan of Zora Neale Hurtston and turned my daughter onto her when she had to make a reading selection and she also loved it. The lyrical true-to-life and scenery as well as the rich metaphors and analogies is just priceless. When asked to name my best reads, this was the first thing put down. How how wish Ms. Hurston was still around to impart such great writing.

Rating:
Summary: This book isn't worth reading.
Review: There are two types of fiction, general fiction and literary fiction. In general fiction, you rely on an exciting plot and suspense to keep you turning the page. In literary fiction, it's the thought-provoking content and profound ideas that keep you reading. This book fit into neither of these categories. There was hardly any excitement or entertainment value at all in this book, and no strong, well-conveyed message to fill the gap that the lack of entertainment leaves behind. I question the purpose of writing the book. Was Hurston trying to tell her own story? If she was she should have realized that the story wasn't worth telling. I think she was trying to convey a message of female empowerment, which unfortunately her message was supported by such a weak storyline, that the purpose was lost, and she failed miserably. She was basically reiterating the obvious, readers already know plenty about domestic violence and the problems facing African-Americans in post-slavery years. Yes, these are ideas that are important for everyone to recognize, but a book needs to be stronger than this one to be able to truely make people think and make the messages stick in their minds. Once again, this book wasn't worth reading and definitely not the $13.95 of purchasing it.

Rating:
Summary: This book isn't as good as I would have hoped.
Review: Although there are some good points about this book, overall I must admit, I didn't really see the point. Many parts of the book were unimportant or carried out too far. However, the language was a redeming quality. I liked the way the author changed the dialogue to sound completely different from the rest of the book. When she spoke of setting, used proper grammar and speach. But when she spoke of the characters, she used a slightly more correct version of the characters language. At the books high points, I would give it a 6, although during the inane portions, around a 2.

Rating:
Summary: This book was a really good book
Review: This book really caught my attention. At the begining of the book I have to admit it was a bit confusing, but I caught on to it and really got hooked on it. In order to understand this book and enjoy it you really need to pay attention in the beginning. This book basically talks about searching for the right love and survival. Jaine's experiences with love were not excatly what she thought they would be. Marrying Logan and Joe were good experiences for Jaine, they taught Jaine the true aspects of life and she learned to react to them. After she met the love of her life Tea Cake she realized that what she was living was all horrible. I guess when you run into the love of your life everything just seems to be wonderful. Marrying Tea Cake was the best thing that could ever happen to her, Jaine saw things a different way and learned what true love was regarding the age differnce.

Rating:
Summary: This book was one of the best books I've ever read.
Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God. The book is wonderful for all age groups to read. Once you've read the first chapter twice, you'll grasp the language and begin to understand the story line.Each chapter will get your attention in it's on way. Once you start reading you won't want to put the book down.

Rating:
Summary: This book was one of the best books I've ever read.
Review: Their Eyes Were Watching God. The story of a young lady, Janie Crawford's evolving life through three marriages, was very interesting. Every chapter of the book has it's on signifigance and meaning that a person would love to read. Once you've read the first chapter twice you'll grasp the language of the book. Once you sart reading you'll have a hard time booking the book down.

Rating:
Summary: Profound and Beautiful!
Review: This book is timeless. Although the language is awkward, the tale of love and the views on race relations are timeless and applicable to today's society just as they were in the 1930's. I read this book over 5 years ago in college and after reading it again, a little older and wiser, I have come to appreciate it - I remember being hung up on the dialect last time I read it.

Rating:
Summary: This is a book that should be read by everyone
Review: I am not a book reader. I have probably only read and finished a total of fifteen to twenty books in my seventeen years living. I don't read books unless I have to because they just don't appeal to me; however, Their Eyes Were Watching God certainly did. The way Hurston takes us through all of Janie's stuggles and then resolves them with Janie meeting Tea Cake. To me that is the most interesting part of the book. I really felt that I was the one meeting Tea Cake and I grew to love him as well as I did Janie. I repect Hurston so much for writing such a fantastic novel.

Rating:
Summary: The true Love Story
Review: This is a timeless story of True Love--love that doesn't come from money or the (false) security of being kept in fine possessions. It tells the irony that "owning" a lover is not secure. But giving a lover the freedom to bloom means you will hold them forever, and they will possess your soul.

Rating:
Summary: A response to several unfair criticisms
Review: I read this book several years ago, and would not be writing this, however I couldn't let the last two reveiws go without a response. I think there are fair criticisms of this book (some of which are brought up further on in the reviews), but I feel the last two reviewers did not put in the required effort to understand the book. The dialect, although it takes a few pages to get used to, really helps to bring the scenes to life, to put you into that setting. While much of the subject matter could make a white person uncomfortable, this is a tale of one person's experiences and thoughts, and while it happens to be fiction, it is based on the reality at the time (and many would argue, to some extent the reality today). As a white reader I also think I had to understand the benefits I recieve living in our society, just because of the color of my skin, otherwise it would have been easy to get defensive and look down on the characters in the book. Effort IS required by the reader, as in any book worth reading, but if you put in that effort you will be hard pressed to find a finer, more moving story, and you may find yourself changed for the better in the process.