Reviews

The Piano Lesson by August Wilson

dreaming_ace's review against another edition

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4.0

Of the century plays I have read so far I have enjoyed this one the most. A story about weighing history against the future and realizing the power (and grief) the past can bring into being. Objects can contain history and memories and a past that can be used to strengthen ourselves.

shannonjulia's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

jtrogers1992's review against another edition

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4.0

Enjoyed this but definitely need to read more about it. Cannot claim to have totally understood the depths of this.

rainehana's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I really really like this book. The writing is really good and the story is hooking. A lot of the conversations reveal things about the characters and underlying issues indirectly. Although there isn't much action, the characters make it interesting. The book just touches on major issues like racism, American dream, family conflict, family history/remembering, and slavery really well. 

dinasamimi's review against another edition

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3.0

I didn't connect very deeply to the plot but Wilson always bring the characters and the dialogue. Would love to see this on the stage.

grizzlyovaltine's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious fast-paced

4.5

ponch22's review

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4.0

Number four of my [a:August Wilson|13944|August Wilson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1321642333p2/13944.jpg] Century Cycle (after [b:Ma Rainey's Black Bottom|516792|Ma Rainey's Black Bottom|August Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1439819148l/516792._SY75_.jpg|504726], [b:Jitney|764327|Jitney|August Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348042927l/764327._SY75_.jpg|750403], and [b:Fences|539282|Fences (The Century Cycle #6)|August Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1481833774l/539282._SY75_.jpg|60745]) and probably the one that would most benefit from being seen over being read. I was not expecting [b:The Piano Lesson|565978|The Piano Lesson|August Wilson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1407615568l/565978._SY75_.jpg|171424] to be part ghost story & I'd love to see the ending on stage.

I was surprised how dramatic Wilson was able to make the struggle over ownership of an old family piano while creating a series of characters that I started loving and ended up hating (or vice versa).

brianhuynh's review against another edition

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emotional mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

How heavy is our ancestry? Can we lighten the load by letting that go? Is that even possible?  

vaporization's review against another edition

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3.0

wrote on a paper on this so I don't know if I like it because it's good or because I had to analyze so much

rats02's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5