By Aiyana Edmund | On March 7, 2018 | Updated February 15, 2026 | Comments (3)
Zora Neale Hurston (1891 – 1960) was a memoirist, novelist, and folklorist who was an active member of the Harlem Renaissance literary movement. Following a sampling of quotes on life, love, and suffering from Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora’s best known work.
Always somewhat controversial, discussions and perceptions of Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937) have evolved over the decades since it was first published.
The story follows Janie Crawford as she matures from a voiceless teenager compelled to marry against her will, to a woman with greater control over her own destiny. Read More→
By Taylor Jasmine | On March 2, 2018 | Updated February 20, 2026 | Comments (0)
Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks is the only novel by this esteemed and much honored American poet. Published in 1951, its language is both spare and profound; it reads beautifully and poetically without seeming affected. It’s the story of a middle-class, mid-twentieth century black woman leading an ordinary, extraordinary life.
The story opens when Maud Martha is seven, observing the adults around her with wonder and bafflement. The story begins to grip as she enters adulthood, with its dating rituals, love, jealousy, marriage, motherhood, disappointment, loss, contentment and joy.
It skims the surface of segregation and bias, and explores familial and neighborly bonds — all within a surprisingly short novel. Presented here is a selection of quotes from Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks, a book that deserves to be rediscovered and treasured. Read More→
By Taylor Jasmine | On February 27, 2018 | Updated September 27, 2025 | Comments (5)
Louisa May Alcott (1832 – 1888) is best known as the author of Little Women and its sequels, including Jo’s Boys and Little Men, though the scope of her work goes far beyond these beloved books. Following is a selection of quotes from Little Women that remind us why the classic novel is so timeless.
In 1868, Louisa’s publisher offhandedly asked that she try writing a “girls’ story” for their list. Thinking little of the request, she cranked it out in two and a half months, though her heart wasn’t in it. Neither she nor her publisher thought it was in any way remarkable.
In addition to her literary pursuits, Louisa May Alcott was also known for promoting women’s rights and campaigning for women’s suffrage. In Little Women and subsequent novels, she expresses her views through her characters, in their dialogues and actions.
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By Aiyana Edmund | On February 26, 2018 | Updated February 14, 2026 | Comments (0)
Daphne du Maurier (1907 – 1989) was a British novelist, playwright, and short story writer.
As the author of romantic suspense thrillers, she’s arguably best known for Rebecca (1938), though Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, and the short story “The Birds” (which inspired the terrifying 1963 film are close contenders.
Initially, some reviewers dismissed Rebecca as “women’s fiction,” or mere gothic romance. But with the benefit of decades of perspective, it’s viewed as a masterful psychological thriller. Read More→
By Aiyana Edmund | On February 22, 2018 | Updated November 2, 2025 | Comments (3)
Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014) was a multi-talented poet, civil rights activist, memoirist, and more. Here we present a compilation of Maya Angelou’s inspirational quotes that we would all do well to live by.
In the course of Angelou’s writing career, she published seven memoirs (starting with the classic I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, 1969), three books of essays, and several books of poetry.
She also wrote plays, screenplays, and television shows spanning more than fifty years, received dozens of awards, and collected more than thirty honorary doctoral degrees. Angelou led a bold, inspiring life, and was a true trailblazer to be remembered and honored. Read More→
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