The Silver Petticoat Book Club discussion

It's time to check in on our second book club pick from our 2023 Winter Selection.

Did you read "Plum Bun" by Jessie Redmon Fauset with us? What are your thoughts on this classic book? Did you love the characters? Do you have a favorite part? Or how did you feel about the romance?

Let us know in the comments! And feel free to start a discussion! (If you haven't read the book, you can always respond later!)

This was my first experience with the Harlem Renaissance and I really enjoyed it. Jessie Redmon Fauset did a good job of describing the atmosphere of 1920s America through the eyes of a young African-American woman. I could totally understand where Angela was coming from, even though I didn't agree with some of her choices. I did have a hard time when she ignored Jinny at the train station. Angela knew her sister was naive and coming to a strange city, but she put her own selfish concerns first. Roger definitely wasn't worth that. I knew from the beginning of their relationship that he wasn't going to marry Angela. I know she wanted comfort and freedom, but I'm not sure I could have been involved with someone who hated my race if I had been in her position. I'm glad she chose Anthony, because the poor guy needed some happiness in his life. I'm also glad that Jinny ended up with Matthew, because she really didn't ask for much from anyone, but her entire family either died or left her. Matthew and Anthony were a bit clueless about how the women really felt about them, but I've definitely known people like that in real life. I don't blame Angela for deciding not to tell Jinny how she really felt about Anthony, because I think she really did feel bad about the train station and was trying to make her sister happy. I really liked the scene where Angela revealed that she was biracial in front of the reporters because she was angry about how Rachel Powell was treated. I was also glad that some of her white friends stood by her after they found out the truth. I think Jane Austen fans would enjoy this book because the characters and setting are different, but Jessie Redmon Fauset has a similar way of writing a story that is about romance and a young woman coming of age on the surface, but actually has a lot of commentary about the society the author lived in.

Moonflower wrote: "This was my first experience with the Harlem Renaissance and I really enjoyed it. Jessie Redmon Fauset did a good job of describing the atmosphere of 1920s America through the eyes of a young Afric..."

This book is a fantastic introduction to the Harlem Renaissance - and great for Jane Austen fans, too.