Quicksand
Registered by 
perryfran
of Elk Grove, California USA on 8/21/2009
This Book is Currently in the Wild!
perryfran of Elk Grove, California USA on 8/21/2009 This Book is Currently in the Wild!
19 journalers for this copy...
I found this book on PaperbackSwap.com after recently reading PASSING by Nella Larsen.Product Description
Brave, bold, and brilliant, this ground-breaking first novel is the work of one of the Harlem Renaissance's most influential and enduring writers. Larsen's autobiographical portrait of a biracial woman's quest for self-identity and acceptance offers a cautionary tale of an individual lost between two cultures.
About the Author
Nella Larsen (1891-1964) was the author of two novels and several short stories. She received a Guggenheim fellowship to write a third novel in 1930 but, unable to find a publisher for it, she disappeared from the literary scene and worked as a nurse. See more about Nella Larsen here.
This is also No. 681 on the 1001 books you must read before you die list.
I thought this short novel was excellent! It is a superb study of a complicated and appealing woman, Helga Crane, who, like Larsen herself, is the product of a liaison between a black man and a white woman. The story is often very tragic - when Helga was young, her black father had left her and her white mother who remarried a white man. Helga basically had no identity. Her mother's brother had always been sympathetic to Helga but when Helga returned from teaching in a black college in the South, her Uncle's new wife wanted nothing to do with her - she didn't consider Helga to be their niece since Helga's father was black. The story goes on to chronicle Helga's experiences in the Harlem of the 1920s and then in Denmark where she visits her Danish aunt and family. Helga is never able to find what she is looking for. I read Larsen's other novel "Passing" a few months ago and as much as I liked that work, I believe "Quicksand" is even better and more thought-provoking. High recommendation.
Journal Entry 4 by perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, October 13, 2009
perryfran at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada on Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (10/13/2009 UTC) at Bookring/Bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Canada
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Sending to mafarrimond in the UK to start this bookray. Enjoy!
Sending to mafarrimond in the UK to start this bookray. Enjoy!
Received today. Will read and send on.
Rich and powerful writing. Insightful and thought-provoking.
Journal Entry 7 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Saturday, November 14, 2009
Arrived safely on my doorstep this morning, thank you xx
Journal Entry 8 by Danielle23 from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 18, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this book even though I disliked Helga a little. She was too flighty for my taste although I did have a huge amount of sympathy for her at the end of the book.
Will be off to the next reader soon, thanks for sharing perryfran xx
Will be off to the next reader soon, thanks for sharing perryfran xx
Journal Entry 9 by Danielle23 at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom on Monday, November 23, 2009
Released 14 yrs ago (11/23/2009 UTC) at Sunderland, Tyne and Wear United Kingdom
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Off to the next in line xx
Off to the next in line xx
Journal Entry 10 by kingfan30 from Somewhere in Lincs 🤷♂️, Lincolnshire United Kingdom on Friday, November 27, 2009
Book has arrived safe and sound. In typical in style I have not had any rings or rays for months and have had several turn up in the space of a couple of weeks. They are all fairly small ones so hopefully it wont be to long till I get round to this. Thanks for including me x
30 Dec 09 - I started off feeling sorry for Helga and ended up finding her very frustrating. A thought provoking book though.
30 Dec 09 - I started off feeling sorry for Helga and ended up finding her very frustrating. A thought provoking book though.
Journal Entry 11 by kingfan30 at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Monday, January 4, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (1/4/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
On its way to Caroly
On its way to Caroly
Journal Entry 12 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Received today thanks.
Journal Entry 13 by Caroley from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, January 7, 2010
I enjoyed this one but didn't feel much sympathy for Helga. I do feel she brought most of her misfortune upon herself. I thought it was a very good read, and equally as good as Passing by the same author.
Thanks for sharing it with us perryfran.
I've PMd EmgeeNL and as soon as I have an address I'll get the book on its way.
Thanks for sharing it with us perryfran.
I've PMd EmgeeNL and as soon as I have an address I'll get the book on its way.
Released 14 yrs ago (1/8/2010 UTC) at Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Posted airmail to EmgeeNL.
Posted airmail to EmgeeNL.
The book arrived. It's on my TBr for now
Journal Entry 16 by EmgeeNL from Rotterdam, Zuid-Holland Netherlands on Wednesday, February 17, 2010
I found ita sad story about a woman who is looking for a place/community where she feels at home. At one hand I disliked the maincaracter, Helga, because she never seemed to be satisfied with what she's got. At the other hand being a child of a black father and a white mother in the United States around the 1920's is probably not easy. And therefor I can sympathize with her.
I have PM'ed the next one for their address.
I have PM'ed the next one for their address.
Journal Entry 17 by EmgeeNL at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Friday, February 19, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (2/18/2010 UTC) at Controlled Release, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is on it's way to the next reader
The book is on it's way to the next reader
Received today - thanks for sending EmgeeNL! And thanks again perryfran for including me in another of your great bookrays! :) I have a couple of books before this but they are small so shouldn't take me too long to get to it.
I found this easy to read, and quite an engaging story. Like other readers here, I felt both sympathy and annoyance with the character of Helga Crane. I also found the introduction about the author Nella Larsen, quite fascinating in the way her story almost mirrors that of her character Helga - this is almost an autobiographical account of her life spent seeking the acceptance of others and finding her place in life.
Thanks again perryfran for including me. Sending off to pinkydinky next.
Thanks again perryfran for including me. Sending off to pinkydinky next.
Journal Entry 20 by Jozebedee at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Monday, March 15, 2010
Released 14 yrs ago (3/15/2010 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
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CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent second class today. Enjoy! :)
Sent second class today. Enjoy! :)
Arrived today. Going to the top of MTBR.
Helga is stuck between two worlds. Not really feeling at home in either. She is neither black nor white and is surrounded by people who remind her of this. There are one or two incidents that really remind her of this such as the uncle's wife telling her she's not really family. Also there was one point in the book where she seemed to be almost invisible. After lurching from one community to the next the ending is incredibly sad.
Have PM'd fushmush.
Have PM'd fushmush.
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Sent to fushmush today.
Sent to fushmush today.
It has arrived. I have two bookrays ahead of it.
Like others, at first I didn’t have much sympathy for Helga. I agreed with others that she seemed flighty and why couldn’t she just be happy with what she had? But by the end I did begin to empathise with Helga’s situation. Half white, half black Helga didn’t seem to fit wholly into any of the worlds that she belonged to.
She leaves Naxos in a fit of anger because she is told that as a woman from respectable black stock she must stay as a role model. In Denmark she was treated as an exotic collectable. Finally she ends up in the deep South where she is told that she must be satisfied with the life of perpetually squeezing out kids. She has a pair of healthy strapping twin boys, and then a delicate little girl and then her last child is a sickly thing her dies after a week. It’s like life is being sucked out of her. The book ends on a very depressing note with her pregnant with a 5th child even before she has a chance to recover.
Continuing bookray:
TQD (Sydney, international)
Cally-c (UK, Europe preferred)
She leaves Naxos in a fit of anger because she is told that as a woman from respectable black stock she must stay as a role model. In Denmark she was treated as an exotic collectable. Finally she ends up in the deep South where she is told that she must be satisfied with the life of perpetually squeezing out kids. She has a pair of healthy strapping twin boys, and then a delicate little girl and then her last child is a sickly thing her dies after a week. It’s like life is being sucked out of her. The book ends on a very depressing note with her pregnant with a 5th child even before she has a chance to recover.
Continuing bookray:
TQD (Sydney, international)
Cally-c (UK, Europe preferred)
Turned up in the mailbox today. A wet day in Sydney, but it escaped the downpour and is now safely inside. Thanks FuShMuSh!
I've got a couple of rings ahead of this one, so will get to it in a little while.
I've got a couple of rings ahead of this one, so will get to it in a little while.
Quicksand was a fascinating depiction of a woman who can't fit in. Much like Nella Larsen herself, Helga Crane is a black woman, brought up unhappily in a white family (her mother is white, her black father is no longer around, and her mother has remarried a white man). Some of the references to her childhood were heartbreaking, knowing that Larsen was writing from her life. Helga Crane is not a very likeable character - far too prickly and difficult - but a fascinating character.
Helga finds it difficult to fit in with white people (with her obviously black ancestry), but also finds it difficult to fit into the black community. She has a fascinating friendship with a black woman, Anne, who is very concerned with the "race issue" (which I think is one of those very multi-faceted issues, because I couldn't pin it down to one particular aspect!). This lack of being able to identify with other people, for Helga, leads to her tragic ending.
I have Cally-c's address already, and will get this one in the post to her asap! Sorry it's spent so long here in the meantime!
Helga finds it difficult to fit in with white people (with her obviously black ancestry), but also finds it difficult to fit into the black community. She has a fascinating friendship with a black woman, Anne, who is very concerned with the "race issue" (which I think is one of those very multi-faceted issues, because I couldn't pin it down to one particular aspect!). This lack of being able to identify with other people, for Helga, leads to her tragic ending.
I have Cally-c's address already, and will get this one in the post to her asap! Sorry it's spent so long here in the meantime!
Released 13 yrs ago (12/1/2010 UTC) at Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia
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And it's in the post to cally-c, on a miserable wet Sydney day!
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Arrived this morning - I'll read it next.
Not quite sure whether I liked this one or not. I didn't feel much sympathy for Helga until the end of the book. I thought the way she upped & left her job, fiance & home at the beginning of book showed a lack of consideration for others, but then felt more sympathy as she was treated like a curiosity in Denmark.
Interesting, thought-provoking read though.
Interesting, thought-provoking read though.
Offering as a Bookray.
Participants so far:
shovelmonkey1 (UK - UK/EU)
lucy-lemon (UK - UK)
Rach-489 (UK - EU)
lamelemon (EU - EU)
Simson-Shilitoe (EU - Int'l)
oppem (US - US pref)
ChiBoiler (US - Int'l)
Participants so far:
shovelmonkey1 (UK - UK/EU)
lucy-lemon (UK - UK)
Rach-489 (UK - EU)
lamelemon (EU - EU)
Simson-Shilitoe (EU - Int'l)
oppem (US - US pref)
ChiBoiler (US - Int'l)
Off to shovelmonkey1 in the post today.
Journal Entry 33 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Thursday, February 10, 2011
Received this today and it's arrived at just the right moment as I will be finished my current book - The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen - by this evening so I can get started on this straight away. Thanks for including me in this ring and putting me top of the list!
Journal Entry 34 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 16, 2011
For some reason I got an immediate mental block with this book after the first two pages. I picked it up and then put it down again about three times and never got further than page three. Why? Absolutely no idea. Anyway I finally made a full on effort to get on and read it (achieved by doing a two hour train commute and taking no netbook or other reading material) and finished it in under 24 hours. Helga Crane does come across as an unlikeable character but I think if you consider the context of her life and her experiences (abandoned because of the colour of her skin, pigeon-holed, poor and unsure of which culture she belongs to) then she had every right to feel angry and defensive. Her situation and her heritage (White Danish Mother, Black West Indian Father)led to her effectively being viewed with a mixture of scorn, suspicion and pity by both white middle class american society and Harlem Society. Her own anger in return was just a way of protecting herself from the way she knew she would be judged. While I did enjoy this story, in the end it will be the three page introduction which impacted me the most. Nella Larsen herself had a lonely and isolated life and this book really tells a story about her.
Journal Entry 35 by shovelmonkey1 at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Released 13 yrs ago (3/17/2011 UTC) at Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Now travelling to Lucy-lemon. Happy reading.
Arrived the day before yesterday. I started reading it in the gym, and had to put it down because I kept stopping! I'm almost finished, so I'm messaging the next person on the list. So far, I'm really enjoying the book.
Arrived yesterday, thanks so much for sending and for sharing.
Ok it has taken me a while with this one, I just couldnt get into it. Despite being a short book thats relatively simple, I just didn't connect with any of the characters or hold any interest for what happened to them. I will be PM'ing Lamelemon to pass this on.
Ok it has taken me a while with this one, I just couldnt get into it. Despite being a short book thats relatively simple, I just didn't connect with any of the characters or hold any interest for what happened to them. I will be PM'ing Lamelemon to pass this on.
Posted yesterday so should be arriving pretty soon. Hope you enjoy!
Picked up this morning from the post office, thanks Rach-489 and cally-c. This book seems intriguing and the many different reviews are enough for me to start reading it as soon as possible.
[Later edit, May 31st]
What started as an easy read soon got to be a little fastidious. I couldn't bond with Helga and never realized why she kept restraining herself from every little bit of pleasure and well being she could find about. Whenever things seem to be going the right way for her, she makes up her mind to look for something new and every time it's worse off than she started. I can understand that sexist and racist prejudice are challenging for her epoch, but I can't figure out why she torments herself even more and punishes herself for things no one's guilty of.
I am however glad to have read this one and will ship it tomorrow morning right between France and Germany, to Simson-Shilitoe.
[Later edit, May 31st]
What started as an easy read soon got to be a little fastidious. I couldn't bond with Helga and never realized why she kept restraining herself from every little bit of pleasure and well being she could find about. Whenever things seem to be going the right way for her, she makes up her mind to look for something new and every time it's worse off than she started. I can understand that sexist and racist prejudice are challenging for her epoch, but I can't figure out why she torments herself even more and punishes herself for things no one's guilty of.
I am however glad to have read this one and will ship it tomorrow morning right between France and Germany, to Simson-Shilitoe.
Journal Entry 40 by lamelemon at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (6/1/2011 UTC) at Exchange/Trade, A Bookcrossing member -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
off to Simson-Shilitoe. Thanks everyone for sharing this book with me :)
Journal Entry 41 by Simson-Shilitoe at Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, Alsace France on Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The book arrived safe and sound in today`s mail.
It will be my next book to read because it should be a shorter story than Willem Elsschot`s "Cheese".
Thank You "cally-c" for including me in this bookring this time because the first trial was not successful for me and two other participants last year.
And Thank You "lamelemon" for posting, for the nice written picture-postcard from Romania and especially for the stamps from your country.
It will be my next book to read because it should be a shorter story than Willem Elsschot`s "Cheese".
Thank You "cally-c" for including me in this bookring this time because the first trial was not successful for me and two other participants last year.
And Thank You "lamelemon" for posting, for the nice written picture-postcard from Romania and especially for the stamps from your country.
Journal Entry 42 by Simson-Shilitoe at Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg, Alsace France on Friday, July 1, 2011
A review by Kimberly Monda (http://findarticles.com):
Nella Larsen's portrait of Helga Crane in Quicksand (1928) criticizes the ways in which white racist constructions of black women's allegedly inherent lasciviousness have cut black women off from experiencing their legitimate sexual desires. Helga fears her desires because they seem to confirm stereotypes about black peoples' "primitivism" and "savagery." The first part of this essay treats Larsen's criticism of the sexual self-sacrifice of repression, a repression that stems from both white society's distortion of black peoples' sexuality as "savage" and from Helga's equally damaging family dynamics. The child of a black father who abandoned his family shortly after she was born and a Scandinavian immigrant mother, Helga associates her mother's coldness and rejection with their racial difference. Karen Nilssen's failure to grant her daughter the recognition that would help her gain access to herself as an active subject helps explain Helga's emotional repression as an adult.
The second part of this essay examines Helga's attempt to escape the self-sacrifice of emotional and sexual repression by quitting racist America for the liberal environs of Denmark and the affection of her dead mother's sister, Katrina Dahl. Helga channels her unacknowledged sexuality into the pleasures of consumeristic purchasing and self-display as the wealthy Dahls dress her in gorgeous clothes and show off her "exotic" beauty to their friends. Larsen uncovers the objectification at the heart of consumerism, exposing Helga's experience of desire and agency as illusory. This objectification returns her to the white constructions of black "primitivism" she had fled Harlem to escape. Helga finally seems to elude the tangle of cultural and psychological pressures that demand her sexual and emotional repression, however, when she rejects Axel Olsen's marriage proposal, thus repudiating both the Danish packaging of her exoticism as well as the distant mother who failed to recognize her. This symbolic rejection of her mother allows Helga to identify with her unknown and formerly reviled black father, an identification that permits her to gain temporary access to her subjectivity and, when she returns to Harlem, to acknowledge her long-repressed desire for Dr. Anderson.
Posting to "oppem" as soon as I get an address.
Nella Larsen's portrait of Helga Crane in Quicksand (1928) criticizes the ways in which white racist constructions of black women's allegedly inherent lasciviousness have cut black women off from experiencing their legitimate sexual desires. Helga fears her desires because they seem to confirm stereotypes about black peoples' "primitivism" and "savagery." The first part of this essay treats Larsen's criticism of the sexual self-sacrifice of repression, a repression that stems from both white society's distortion of black peoples' sexuality as "savage" and from Helga's equally damaging family dynamics. The child of a black father who abandoned his family shortly after she was born and a Scandinavian immigrant mother, Helga associates her mother's coldness and rejection with their racial difference. Karen Nilssen's failure to grant her daughter the recognition that would help her gain access to herself as an active subject helps explain Helga's emotional repression as an adult.
The second part of this essay examines Helga's attempt to escape the self-sacrifice of emotional and sexual repression by quitting racist America for the liberal environs of Denmark and the affection of her dead mother's sister, Katrina Dahl. Helga channels her unacknowledged sexuality into the pleasures of consumeristic purchasing and self-display as the wealthy Dahls dress her in gorgeous clothes and show off her "exotic" beauty to their friends. Larsen uncovers the objectification at the heart of consumerism, exposing Helga's experience of desire and agency as illusory. This objectification returns her to the white constructions of black "primitivism" she had fled Harlem to escape. Helga finally seems to elude the tangle of cultural and psychological pressures that demand her sexual and emotional repression, however, when she rejects Axel Olsen's marriage proposal, thus repudiating both the Danish packaging of her exoticism as well as the distant mother who failed to recognize her. This symbolic rejection of her mother allows Helga to identify with her unknown and formerly reviled black father, an identification that permits her to gain temporary access to her subjectivity and, when she returns to Harlem, to acknowledge her long-repressed desire for Dr. Anderson.
Posting to "oppem" as soon as I get an address.
The book is now on its journey to Oregon. Happy journey and I hope you will like the book and the story, oppem.
What a lovely surprise to receive this book in the mail today. Thank you so much Simson Shilitoe for posting and also the extra surprise of some wonderful chocolate - have no fear both will be well enjoyed.
Just finished reading this not very long novel by Nella Larsen.
I confess to not having heard of her before reading this book but feel that will now look out for her other book, "Passing".
Like many other reader's before me, I was torn between all consuming sympathy for Helga & annoyance at her inability to find even a shred of contentment in her life.
I did a little research on Nella / Quicksand & found the book to be 'loosley autobiographical'.... from that point on I had a tremendous amount of sympathy for Nella and what a horrendous life she must have had in 1920 America ...
Nella / Helga was tormented trying to find out just where she belonged in society - neither white or black.... a whole life spent just trying to find out who she was & where she fit in... so very, very sad.
All in all for me not a 'great read' but a very interesting one....
I confess to not having heard of her before reading this book but feel that will now look out for her other book, "Passing".
Like many other reader's before me, I was torn between all consuming sympathy for Helga & annoyance at her inability to find even a shred of contentment in her life.
I did a little research on Nella / Quicksand & found the book to be 'loosley autobiographical'.... from that point on I had a tremendous amount of sympathy for Nella and what a horrendous life she must have had in 1920 America ...
Nella / Helga was tormented trying to find out just where she belonged in society - neither white or black.... a whole life spent just trying to find out who she was & where she fit in... so very, very sad.
All in all for me not a 'great read' but a very interesting one....
Posting this book to next reader in Chicago... hope you enjoy the read.
I have received this book and have already started to read it. I should finish it soon!
I have finished this book. Like others before me, I found the main character to be a bit annoying (I find this is a trend among many 1001 books). I did feel that she was her own worst enemy - the only reason she was always unhappy was because she really didn't want to be happy. She received so many chances and opportunities that others in her same situation would only dream of - and she continued looking for the next best thing.
The book was a short, quick read. I realized after I started it that I am the last on the list for the bookray - I will pass this on to a few local 1001 readers and then one of us will
"ray it forward"
Thanks for sharing!!!
The book was a short, quick read. I realized after I started it that I am the last on the list for the bookray - I will pass this on to a few local 1001 readers and then one of us will
"ray it forward"
Thanks for sharing!!!
Will attempt to release to angela861 this weekend!
I totally agree w/ many others. Helga was her own worst enemy. She was annoying and I just wanted to yell, 'Snap out of it, woman!'. I did find myself drawn into the story. This was a super quick read.
I'm passing this on to another local BC member.
Thanks for sharing!!
I'm passing this on to another local BC member.
Thanks for sharing!!
Off to ChiBoiler...
I have held on to this book for years as it is attached to the 1001 library, however, I am trying to downsize and can no longer hold on to it hoping someone will check it out. Hopefully it will find a good home in the wild.
