Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale HurstonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A lot of the reviews for Their Eyes Were Watching God seem to focus on the "lyrical writing", which is impressive. But, what made me love this book were the characters - none of them felt one dimensional. Janie, of course, is my standout favourite. Hurston could so easily have made her a "victim" or an "inspirational figure"; Janie is neither - she is a woman who is just trying to understand herself and the world she lives in.
Apparently, after her initial success, Hurston faded into obscurity in later years and her recognition as, according to the blurb in the Virago edition, "one of the most influential African American writers of the 20th century" came after she died. I cannot imagine that a white male author with Hurson's considerable talent would have been forgotten in such a way.
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