Listen, sugar plums. If you’ve made it this far in life without reading Passing by Nella Larsen, then congratulations: you’ve survived a profound cultural drought. But the time for ignorance is over. Because this novella? It’s not just a book. It’s a 155-page masterclass in literary mic drops, emotional gut punches, and the art of subtle, simmering chaos.
You think you’re ready? You’re not. But let’s dive in anyway.
Meet Irene and Clare: Frenemies Who Will Ruin Your Soul
On one hand, we have Irene Redfield: middle-class, stable, sensible, and armed with the kind of tightly wound self-control that screams, I am just barely holding it together. On the other hand, we have Clare Kendry: glamorous, reckless, and so chaotic she could probably upend your life just by blinking in your direction.
The plot kicks off when Clare, who’s been passing as white, reconnects with Irene. Clare’s life is a precarious tightrope walk—she’s married to a deeply racist millionaire who has no idea she’s actually Black. And Clare? Oh, she’s thriving in her role as the socialite who doesn’t belong. But she’s also bored. And when Clare gets bored, bad things happen.
Clare doesn’t just stroll back into Irene’s life; she swans in like a home-wrecking peacock, ruffles every feather, and dares everyone to say something about it.
Clare Kendry: Icon, Villain, Disaster Girl
Clare Kendry’s energy is best described as “I’ll ruin my life and yours, but I’ll look flawless doing it.” She’s the living embodiment of, “My reputation precedes me—and so does my audacity.”
Irene, who just wants to sip tea and wear sensible shoes, is both mesmerized by and terrified of Clare. Why? Because Clare represents everything Irene secretly wants but can’t admit: freedom, danger, and the ability to burn it all down for the vibes. Their relationship is a slow-motion car crash, and you cannot look away.
Nella Larsen’s Writing: Sharp Enough to Cut Glass
Let’s talk about Larsen’s prose. You know how some books meander through pretty sentences and scenic descriptions? Yeah, Passing doesn’t have time for that nonsense. Every word does work—plot, character, mood, existential dread—it’s all there, compressed into razor-sharp sentences that leave you gasping.
She writes the kind of dialogue that makes you feel like you’ve walked in on a private argument that’s none of your business, but you can’t stop eavesdropping. Every interaction between Irene and Clare is a masterclass in subtext, tension, and, let’s be honest, vibes so toxic they could power a small city.
The Ending: Tragedy Was Always on the Menu
Let’s get one thing straight: Larsen doesn’t do happy endings. She doesn’t even do “well, at least that turned out okay” endings. The conclusion of Passing is devastating, inevitable, and so perfectly executed that you’ll sit there for hours afterward, staring into the void and whispering, “What just happened?”
You’ll see it coming. You’ll know it’s coming. And it will still wreck you.
A Book That’s Way Too Relevant for Comfort
Written in 1929, Passing tackles race, privilege, and identity with the kind of nuance and precision that feels disturbingly current. Clare and Irene’s story isn’t just about individual choices—it’s about the systems that trap them, the masks they wear to survive, and the costs of those masks.
This book doesn’t just explore the past; it stares uncomfortably into the present and whispers, You’re still dealing with this, huh?
Why You Need to Read This Book Yesterday
Here’s the deal: Passing isn’t just a book you read. It’s a book you experience, survive, and come out the other side feeling both enlightened and emotionally gutted. Clare Kendry wouldn’t just suggest you pick it up—she’d demand it, probably while sipping a martini and blowing up your social life for sport.
Do yourself a favor. Read this masterpiece. Let it ruin you. And then thank Nella Larsen for wrecking your soul in the most exquisite way possible.
Buy it here:
Paperback – $5.99
Kindle – $4.99
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Also: I paid for the book with my own dollars 😆
