tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post4565285414783887918..comments2023-10-26T04:53:55.401-05:00Comments on Literary Musings: Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale HurstonBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-68307391966438220372011-08-07T23:18:15.932-05:002011-08-07T23:18:15.932-05:00I just re-read this book for my book group's d...I just re-read this book for my book group's discussion on banned books. I loved it again. The first time, though, I did listen to the audiobook before reading it, and that helped a lot with the dialect.<br /><br />The themes ZNH delves into are certainly relevant today.<br /><br />Funny, the ALA site says it was banned because of language and sexual explicitness. Sexual explicitness? I certainly didn't think that was there! Of course, I'm not sure what year it was banned; by today's standards, it's pretty mild.<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughtful review.<br /><br />~ Annis (www.thedaymaker.blogspot.com)Annis Cassellshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04956658096326753578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-20089856540824359362010-10-05T00:39:19.813-05:002010-10-05T00:39:19.813-05:00This is one of my favorite books. You've writ...This is one of my favorite books. You've written a very thoughtful and observant review. I read it many years ago; and I think I saw the movie. I remember more about the book than the movie, though. I think I'll watch it again. I also listened to the audiobook this summer. Ruby Dee is the narrator of the unabridged edition. I understand what you mean about the dialect requiring your full attention. Reading it is a lot different from speaking or hearing it. And I don't think it's that extreme in works of the latter part of the 20th century and beyond. There may be a few; but I just leafed through <em>Wench</em> by Dolen Perkins-Valdez and <em>Beloved</em> by Toni Morrison—both of which I reviewed earlier this year. Both use dialect but not to the extreme used in <em>Their Eyes</em>. I read a lot of historical fiction focused on African Americans and slavery; so I'll have to pay closer attention. One of my close friends won't read ZNH because of the dialect.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03240426161600493554noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-81208592662849846492010-10-03T16:57:24.108-05:002010-10-03T16:57:24.108-05:00Kate, That's fantastic! I'm glad you liked...Kate, That's fantastic! I'm glad you liked it. I need to get around to watching it one of these days.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-23486572832290991982010-09-29T20:31:03.220-05:002010-09-29T20:31:03.220-05:00I just had to comment again–I watched the whole mo...I just had to comment again–I watched the whole movie here on your blog in the couple of hours. I thoroughly enjoyed it! = )Kate Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15878471739967889253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-1512719737498721052010-09-29T18:43:41.303-05:002010-09-29T18:43:41.303-05:00Thanks for linking to the movie! Maybe I'm jus...Thanks for linking to the movie! Maybe I'm just lazy, but I have a hard time with thick dialect of any kind (especially southern!), so I'm not sure I'll read the book.Kate Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15878471739967889253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-14427824813802953642010-09-29T11:00:13.036-05:002010-09-29T11:00:13.036-05:00Irena, Thank you! I didn't know there was a mo...Irena, Thank you! I didn't know there was a movie either until I googled the book to look for cover images and found their were a lot with Hallie Berry on it, which I assumed came from the movie. <br /><br />Amanda, I can understand some people like to read different vernaculars, it's just not for me. But I'm glad you liked the book as well!<br /><br />Coffe&Book, If you didn't mind it the first time around I'm sure it wouldn't bother you now. <br /><br />Nadia, Your right it is a great piece of literature, but the dialogue did bother me! I'm a baby.Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10780185535345559390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-89753069731954081622010-09-29T10:42:58.980-05:002010-09-29T10:42:58.980-05:00I read this book several years ago when I was in s...I read this book several years ago when I was in school and I remember loving it at the time. The dialogue didn't bother me and I found that it made the book even better. Truly a great piece of literature! Loved your review - spot on about the issues that are explored and the theme of the story being about self discovery.Nadiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14315207186180201488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-85093206714469375932010-09-28T14:27:49.543-05:002010-09-28T14:27:49.543-05:00I haven't read this in so many years, what a b...I haven't read this in so many years, what a beautiful write-up. I remember loving this book so much when I first read this. Although I don't remember it bothering me too much, I can totally see what you mean with how the dialogue it's written in -- it can definitely be very difficult to get used to that style of writing! I wonder if I'd feel the same way though, reading it as an adult?Natalie~Coffee and a Book Chickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12369504951819517390noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-932255626802461982010-09-28T11:45:04.818-05:002010-09-28T11:45:04.818-05:00I actually really liked the language on this one. ...I actually really liked the language on this one. Hurston wrote in oral tradition, which I thought was an interesting way to write. Normally I don't like dialect, but since she didn't mimic dialect and instead wrote it all orally (if that makes sense) it didn't bother me in this one. It probably helps that I come from the south and reading this was just like listening to someone with a strong accent...Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07026099426503180472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6331403748871569013.post-50583765088109365202010-09-28T11:34:15.353-05:002010-09-28T11:34:15.353-05:00Wonderful and insightful review! I really want to ...Wonderful and insightful review! I really want to read this novel one day, as I've also heard great things about it, and your delightful review just proves it. I had no idea a movie was made based on this novel, but I'll make sure to watch it once I've read the novel. Thanks for sharing!Irena @ This Miss Loves to Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16127816068294702715noreply@blogger.com