Paule Marshall
Paule Marshall was an American author known for her works that explore the African diaspora and the experiences of Caribbean immigrants in the United States. Her notable works include 'Brown Girl, Brownstones' and 'Praisesong for the Widow'.
Books
This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.
-
1. Brown Girl, Brownstones
This novel explores the life of a young Barbadian-American girl growing up in Brooklyn during the Great Depression and World War II. The protagonist struggles with her identity as she navigates the cultural divide between her parents' traditional Barbadian values and her own American aspirations. The story delves into the themes of immigration, cultural identity, race, and gender, as the protagonist comes of age and seeks to establish her independence.
The 4111th Greatest Book of All Time -
2. Praisesong For The Widow
The novel explores the transformative journey of Avey Johnson, a middle-aged African-American woman who, while on a cruise in the Caribbean, experiences a profound personal crisis that compels her to confront her disconnected life and lost cultural heritage. As memories of her ancestral past and her childhood in the South resurface, Avey abandons her affluent but sterile lifestyle to embark on a spontaneous pilgrimage to the island of Carriacou. There, through the island's rituals and the companionship of the local people, she reconnects with the communal values of her heritage and finds the strength to reclaim her sense of identity and purpose. The story is a lyrical meditation on the importance of heritage, memory, and the need for a sense of belonging.
The 6241st Greatest Book of All Time