From Library Journal
Each of these stories is a finely faceted gem that takes place in a time gone by, yet they are as meaningful now as they were when Hurston (1901-60) first wrote them. "Drenched in Light" is a humorous but bittersweet account of a young black girl's desire to simply bask in her own uniqueness under the menacing eye of her disapproving grandmother. "The Conscience of the Court" is about the love and loyalty of a maid to her employer, a woman she has known since birth. It raises some interesting thoughts about the complex, unequal relationships between rich and poor, black and white in the Old South. A young man's desire to see the world that beckons beyond his small hamlet and fulfill his father's dream is the theme of the tragic "John Redding Goes to Sea." A hard-working woman's just reward and rightful revenge against an abusive husband is the essence of "Sweat." These stories are rich with emotion and insight into the meanderings of the human heart. Renee Joshua-Porter's reading brings the text to life and makes each character distinct. Her voice soars, soothes, and coaxes every nuance of feeling from the author's work. An excellent choice for all libraries.?Nancy Paul, Brandon P.L., Wis.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Review
As powerful as Zora Neale Hurston is in print (and she has one of the most significant voices in the history of African-American literature), hearing her as narrated by Renee Joshua-Porter makes Hurston's work dance and soar with an unfettered vigor. Her best known work is the novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God", but it is her shorter stores that are a sort of spontaneous combustion of energy, emotion and provocation -- like the author herself. Out of print for decades, Hurston's works are again receiving the attention they deserve. Stories is an audio book anthology of six stories, and each one is a gift from Zoara Neale Hurston to the listener, a true and vivid celebration of the rich African-American culture. --
Midwest Book Review
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