REVIEW: Passing (Nella Larsen)

Book: Passing

Author: Nella Larsen

My rating: 4/5.

Premise: married to a successful physician and prominently ensconced in Harlem's vibrant society of the 1920s, Irene Redfield leads a charmed existence - until she is shaken out of it by a chance encounter with a childhood friend. Clare Kendry has been "passing for white", hiding her true identity from everyone, including her racist husband. Clare and her dangerous secret pose an increasingly powerful threat to Irene's security, forcing both women to confront the hazards of public and private deception.

[⚠️CW: racism]

This book is all about race and identity. It explores racism, particularly of that era, and attitudes towards mixing of races. It also looks at being true to your identity and the pressures to be loyal to those like you. There comes a point where Irene is faced with a dilemma where removing a problem would involve betraying her race. Similarly, there is the whole concept of "passing as white", which some characters see as necessary to avoid hardships, but other see as a betrayal. In terms of the writing, one thing that struck me was the descriptions. They were gorgeous in my opinion and really stood out to me. I would heartily recommend this book to anyone.