Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

Their Eyes Were Watching God was written by Zora Neale Hurston in 1937 and although it did not receive wide acclaim at the time, it is now considered by many to be a quintessential example of 20th Century American African American literature.

The book is about Janie, a young African American woman and her journey through poverty, marriage, and trials to find herself. The book definitely has some feminist connotations to it. Janie is a fiercely independent woman, who refuses to settle for the life others have given her or think that she should have. It is her experiences in life and in love that bring an increasing sense of self-awareness to Janie. I love the character of Janie. She wasn't willing to settle when she was expected to, and in the end she was determined to be herself and live her life, regardless of what others thought or said. I respected that about her.

The language of the book takes some getting used to. It is written using the Southern vernacular, which can be tricky at first. However once I got into the story and pick up the rhythm of the language I hardly noticed it. The language is almost like another character in the book. It transports you into this world and is essential to the greatness of this story. I'm glad I picked this book up. I recommend that you give it a chance.