When I think about classics, despite having been proven wrong by many a book, I still tend to assume they will be boring, the writing will be stilted, reading them will feel like a chore, and I just won’t enjoy them that much. None of those assumptions proved true for Passing by Nella Larsen.

This short but impactful book was a page-turner. At the beginning, Irene, a light-skinned Black woman, is visiting Chicago when she runs into an old acquaintance Clare, who she knew from childhood. Clare is also Black but has been passing for white, is married to a white man, and has a child with him. As Clare coerces her way back into Irene’s life, Irene is torn between judging Clare’s choices and helping protect her by corrobrating her dangerous lie. In a particularly unsettling visit with Clare, Irene is made aware of just how racist Clare’s husband is.

Irene was such an interesting narrator. She’s far from perfect - she’s controlling to a fault, obsessed with maintaining her family’s own status and appearances, and has lots of class privilege. Her family is wealthy - her husband is a doctor, and they employ servants in their house. She’s light enough to pass for white when she must. She judges Clare harshly, but never really turns the lens inward.

This book was tense, with a building sense of foreboding that leads to an ambiguous end. I love an ending where the reader gets to form their own theory, and I have mine for this one 👀 DM me if you want my take - no spoilers here from me! Overall, I loved this one. Definitely a great one to pick up if you want to read more classics but are a little wary of them. I am looking forward to watching the Netflix adaptation too!