(Shange & Nelson, 2009)

Note: Walking many miles to school in the dusty road, young Coretta knew too well the unfairness of life in the segregated south. Her yearning for equality began to grow. Together with Martin Luther King, Jr., she gave birth to a vision and a journey, with dreams of freedom for all.This extraordinary union of poetic text by Ntozake Shange and monumental artwork by Kadir Nelson captures the movement for civil rights in the United States and honors its most elegant inspiration, Coretta Scott.

Passing is a novel by American author Nella Larsen. Published in 1929 and set in 1920s Harlem, New York City. The plot centers on the meeting of two childhood friends of mixed-race African-American ancestry.
Clare Kendry and Irene Redfiel are friends from old and a chance meeting sees them rekindle a forgotten friendship. The title ( Passing) and central theme of the novel refer to the practice of racial "passing"; Clare Kendry's passing as white with her white husband, Jack Bellew, is featured as a central part and important role of the novel.

I downloaded this one for 75 cent to my kindle as was looking for something different and came across it while browsing short novellas.

I tend to applaud authors who can create a wonderful reading experience in books of less than 150 pages as opposed to block busters and here in "passing" so much happens within so little pages. This is one of those books that demands reading and discussing to get the best out of it. I loved the writing style and especially the abrupt ending of the novel. I am probably in the minority on loving abrupt or endings that are controversial but I enjoy an author who allows the reader a little story involvement. . I love to discuss books and Passing is one of those novels that has lots of material for discussion.

I have to say that I loved this play. It was a bit weird to read the stage directions along with the poetry that was being said by these characters, but it was quite easy to read and follow.

For colored girls is considered a choreopoem (i.e. there are monologues that also include dance and music) with seven women in different colors speaking to the audience.

The seven women are the lady in red, lady in orange, lady in yellow, lady in green, lady in blue, lady in brown, and lady in purple.

Some of the poems really spoke to me a lot and the play tackles so many different subjects such as rape, abortion, domestic violence.

Some of the language was a bit harsh too. There were a lot of n words and some ethnic slurs in there too. I wouldn't recommend to those who may be easily offended and who may not want to read about some of the subjects of this play.

lady in brown
& this is for colored girls who have considered
suicide/but are movin to the ends of their own
rainbows

A short novel about a concept so alien today to the white, non-American community that it's absolutely worth reading for its subject matter. It is a tad poetic, but not too much so; abruptly ending, but providing, to my mind, a sufficient sense of closure; the dialogues are fine, the situations feel realistic; the only thing I felt dissatisfied with were the characters.

The perceptiveness of Irene, the protagonist, her insecurities, her perception of herself as mother and wife make her very easy to identify with, but she seems to be an everywoman, a bland, middle-class wife. Clare, the antagonist, a woman engaged in a dangerous game of 'passing', is presented as stunning, capricious, unpredictable, and feline; but while it would be most unfair to say this was achieved by telling rather than showing, it must be said that Larsen does a fair share of both in Clare's case. Also, I don't feel the attraction of this supposedly fascinating character, who, for some reason, makes me think of Maggie, Julia Roberts' character in Runaway Bride and this priceless dialogue:

Maggie: Because you think I'm all like, "Hey, man, check me out."
Peggy: No, I don't. I think you're like... "I'm charming and mysterious in a way that even I don't understand, and something about me is crying out for protection from a big man like you." It's very hard to compete with. Especially as... married women who've lost our mystery.

Not an ambitious review, I know. But the book IS good. I intend to read Larson's Quicksand in the near future.

Yesterday's book buy. 
I wanted the original cover for this but this one is gorgeous too and plus it was only $4!