The Living Is Easy

The Living Is Easy follows Cleo Judson, a middle-class Black woman in Boston during World War I, as she works to establish herself in the city's social circles. Her husband Bart runs a successful produce business, allowing Cleo to pursue her ambitions of joining Boston's Black elite. Through manipulation and careful planning, Cleo orchestrates ways to bring her three sisters from the South to Boston, aiming to recreate her childhood family structure. Her schemes extend beyond family matters into social climbing and financial dealings, testing the limits of her relationships. Set against the backdrop of Boston's growing Black middle class in the 1910s, the novel captures the dynamics of social status, marriage, and family ties within this specific historical context. Themes of class mobility, identity, and the costs of ambition drive this exploration of African American life in early 20th century New England.

Readers appreciate West's portrayal of Boston's Black upper class in the early 1900s - a perspective rarely shown in literature. Many note the complex character development and sharp social commentary on class divisions, race, and gender roles. Multiple reviews highlight West's wit and descriptive writing style. Readers liked: - Historical details of Black society in Boston - Examination of social climbing and class tensions - Strong female protagonist - Rich dialogue and characterization Readers disliked: - Slow pacing in middle sections - Some found the protagonist unsympathetic - Multiple subplot threads left unresolved - Abrupt ending Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (90+ ratings) Common reader comment: "An enlightening look at a rarely depicted segment of American society, though the story itself can drag at times." Several reviewers noted the book works better as a social study than as a traditional narrative.

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🌟 Dorothy West was the last surviving member of the Harlem Renaissance when she passed away in 1998, and The Living Is Easy was her first novel, published in 1948. 📚 The novel's protagonist, Cleo Judson, was partially inspired by West's own mother, Rachel West, who was also a strong-willed Black woman determined to climb Boston's social ladder. 🏠 The book offers a rare literary glimpse into the life of the Black middle and upper classes in Boston during World War I, a perspective that was uncommon in literature of that era. ✍️ After the novel's publication, West took a 47-year break before publishing her second and final novel, The Wedding (1995), which became a bestseller thanks to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who worked as her editor. 🗞️ Before writing novels, West founded and edited the literary magazine Challenge in 1934, which published works by many notable Harlem Renaissance writers, including Langston Hughes and Countee Cullen.