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bwguinig's review against another edition
5.0
August Wilson is having his moment. Sadly, it's come some ten-plus years after his passing. But when you have Toni Morrison writing the forward for your work(s), well, a person stands up and takes notice.
The Piano Lesson falls in the 1930's as part of August Wilson's larger Pittsburgh Cycle (or Century Cycle). Fences (1950's) has garnered competitive film award attention. I recently attended a performance of Jitney (1970's).
What I marveled at while reading was the manner in which the material stands both as a period piece while remaining timeless. The struggles and interactions capture a snippet of these characters lives, but they feel and appear wholly fleshed out.
Of course, as a play, there's that strange place of reading -- I focus much more on the text at perhaps the cost of losing some of the energy and pace if seeing a performance on stage. At the same time, there was still that rush upon reaching the final scene and even still, my heart races.
I'm somewhat embarrassed that I have not read/seen all of the plays in the cycle, but the task has quickly become a literary goal of 2017.
The Piano Lesson falls in the 1930's as part of August Wilson's larger Pittsburgh Cycle (or Century Cycle). Fences (1950's) has garnered competitive film award attention. I recently attended a performance of Jitney (1970's).
What I marveled at while reading was the manner in which the material stands both as a period piece while remaining timeless. The struggles and interactions capture a snippet of these characters lives, but they feel and appear wholly fleshed out.
Of course, as a play, there's that strange place of reading -- I focus much more on the text at perhaps the cost of losing some of the energy and pace if seeing a performance on stage. At the same time, there was still that rush upon reaching the final scene and even still, my heart races.
I'm somewhat embarrassed that I have not read/seen all of the plays in the cycle, but the task has quickly become a literary goal of 2017.
miriam_skaj's review against another edition
challenging
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
erinz's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
shinysquares's review against another edition
4.0
really classic, but I wish I could have seen it live.
iamtaylorhope's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
amelie5m's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mjmbecky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
4.0
Didn't know about August Wilson until I was in grad school. Then everyone kept talking about this play in particular. I love how it captures so many historically and culturally significant elements in the writing--the dialect, the language, and the allusions. Defintely deserves a place on the American classics list.
pas_moi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.25