Asali Solomon Libros

2011 Reprint of 1928 Edition not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Nella Larsen's first novel tells the story of Helga Crane, a fictional character loosely based on Larsen's own early life. Crane is the lovely and refined daughter of a Danish mother and a West Indian black father who abandons Helga and her mother soon after Helga is born. Unable to feel comfortable with any of her white-skinned relatives, Helga lives in various places in America and visits Denmark in search of people among whom she feels at home. The work is a superb psychological 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. In one sense, Quicksand might be called an odyssey; however, instead of overcoming a series of obstacles and finally arriving at her native land, Larsen's protagonist has a series of adventures, each of which ends in disappointment.

Inspired by 'Mrs. Dalloway' and 'Sula', this tender novel follows two women at midlife as they rediscover themselves and perhaps each other. Liselle Belmont is hosting a dinner party to thank her husband Winn's supporters after his failed bid for state legislature. Uncertain about Winn's political ambitions and the life that came with them, she now grapples with questions about their relationship and her own identity. Just before the party, an FBI agent informs her of potential corruption involving Winn, adding to her anxiety about the evening ahead. Meanwhile, across town, Selena navigates her day with a sense of quiet determination, trying to ignore the harsh realities surrounding her—homelessness, hunger, and the painful history of America. Her happiest moments were spent with Liselle in college, but years of separation have left them distant. A chance encounter at a drugstore after Obama's election barely rekindles their connection, yet as the day unfolds, Selena's memories of Liselle begin to alter her course. This expertly layered and humorous narrative offers a profound exploration of midlife, celebrating the choices that shape us, the people who influence our journeys, and the possibility of reimagining ourselves even when life feels predetermined.