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34 pages 1 hour read

Maud Martha

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1953

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Book Brief

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Gwendolyn Brooks

Maud Martha

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1953
Book Details
Pages

180

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • 1940s-1950s

Publication Year

1953

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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Super Short Summary

Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks is an experimental, non-linear narrative consisting of vignettes that depict the life of Maud Martha, a dark-skinned African American girl growing up in Chicago. The story explores her family dynamics, racial identity, romantic encounters, marriage to Paul Phillips, financial struggles, and personal growth, ultimately closing with Maud feeling hopeful about her future. The book addresses themes of racism and economic hardship.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Bittersweet

Nostalgic

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.1

3,314 ratings

78%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Gwendolyn Brooks' Maud Martha receives acclaim for its poetic prose and deep exploration of an African American woman's inner life. Readers appreciate Brooks' nuanced character portrayal and social commentary. However, some find its episodic structure challenging. Overall, the novel is praised for its emotional depth and lyrical narrative, despite a few structural criticisms.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Maud Martha?

A reader who would enjoy Maud Martha by Gwendolyn Brooks is likely appreciative of poetic prose and introspective narratives. Fans of The Street by Ann Petry or The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison will find resonance in this novel's exploration of African American life, identity, and beauty through the lens of everyday experiences.

4.1

3,314 ratings

78%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

4%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

180

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • 1940s-1950s

Publication Year

1953

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

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