I really enjoyed Janie’s character and learning more about her life. It’s no secret that she went through so much turmoil and heartache throughout the story, but still tried her best to make lemonade out of lemons. Every single time I turned the page I was hoping she’d find happiness, solace, and a sense of self, and at times she did… though it wasn’t perfect by any means. But it was hers and that’s what mattered at the end of the day. 

As for the writing, I loved it! Hurston’s prose is beautiful and deeply thought-provoking, but I also appreciated the raw southern dialect/AAVE that she included - it was critical IMO. Oftentimes, folks who don’t understand the nuances and cues of AAVE either mock it, don’t take it seriously, or simply use it in the wrong context 🙄 - I was able to follow along pretty well and actually laughed out loud at many of the things the characters said. Even in the face of despair, Black humor still finds a way to shine. 

Final Thoughts: Overall, I 100% recommend! If you find yourself struggling with the dialect, then I’d recommend finding an audiobook, but other than that I thought this was a poignant and reflective read, and I’m glad Janie’s happiness was exactly that, HERS, no matter if it fit the readers idea of it or not.