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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
This book was pretty darn amazing. The story is not so much what happens to the characters as the world they live in. For a glimpse into life as a young black boy in the midwest in the early 1900s, there's not much else that's been written that can beat this. Getting to read Sandy's thoughts allows us a glimpse not just into his life, but his mind, that seldom besides Langston Hughes would have been able to provide. Really enjoyed this book.
As I began reading this I was reminded of Bernice McFadden's The Book of Harlan, another story of a young man in part inspired by her grandfather, here it's semi autobiographical, as Hughes writes of a boy named Sandy, like himself and like Harlan, raised by a grad other who is more worldly and wise, women with ideas about raising grandsons to reach their better potential, while their daughters are off following their husband(s) who like the road and move from place to place.
Aunt Hager as they affectionately call her, is a great character and the one who truly formed Sandy into the quiet, highly observant child and teenager he becomes, a hardworking washerwoman who is always there for those who are ailing, and who worked every day of her life.
We follow Sandy through his opportunities and disappointments, his observations of how his people are treated and the strangeness of those who try to be what they aren't, moving up in a world that makes some of them ashamed of their humble beginnings and the humble trying to be good, but not allowing themselves to have fun in case it corrupts them.
It's a heartfelt story that leaves a sense of recreational as the last page is turned, when Sandy is deciding whether to leave school as suggested by his mother, to support her, or return to his studies as suggested by his Aunt, who like her mother wishes him to have that chance at bettering himself.
His observations of family dynamics, of the impact of race, of community connection, of the culture of music and the complications of young love are portrayed vividly, without judgement, leaving it to the reader to note the obvious.
Ultimately the title says it all, the way to cope, the example he admires, the man who finds something in his day to laugh about or someone to laugh with, finds joy right there.
Aunt Hager as they affectionately call her, is a great character and the one who truly formed Sandy into the quiet, highly observant child and teenager he becomes, a hardworking washerwoman who is always there for those who are ailing, and who worked every day of her life.
We follow Sandy through his opportunities and disappointments, his observations of how his people are treated and the strangeness of those who try to be what they aren't, moving up in a world that makes some of them ashamed of their humble beginnings and the humble trying to be good, but not allowing themselves to have fun in case it corrupts them.
It's a heartfelt story that leaves a sense of recreational as the last page is turned, when Sandy is deciding whether to leave school as suggested by his mother, to support her, or return to his studies as suggested by his Aunt, who like her mother wishes him to have that chance at bettering himself.
His observations of family dynamics, of the impact of race, of community connection, of the culture of music and the complications of young love are portrayed vividly, without judgement, leaving it to the reader to note the obvious.
Ultimately the title says it all, the way to cope, the example he admires, the man who finds something in his day to laugh about or someone to laugh with, finds joy right there.
adventurous
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Strange reading this at the same time as I'm reading How to Be an Antiracist.
While some of the themes may be dated, they aren't as dated as they should be almost a century later. It was interesting to read how different people dealt with the hand they were given (being black) and how white society treated black people.
Leaving the sociology behind, this is a well written story that feels autobiographical and what I kept finding myself thinking, was that he writes lyrically and it's easy to see how he became known as a poet. There is a lot of it in the way he paints a scene.
While some of the themes may be dated, they aren't as dated as they should be almost a century later. It was interesting to read how different people dealt with the hand they were given (being black) and how white society treated black people.
Leaving the sociology behind, this is a well written story that feels autobiographical and what I kept finding myself thinking, was that he writes lyrically and it's easy to see how he became known as a poet. There is a lot of it in the way he paints a scene.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was Hughes' debut novel, published in 1930, and is the first work I've read by him other than poetry. I was so moved by this coming-of-age story about Sandy Rogers, a Black boy in a small Kansas town. Hughes creates unforgettable characters and portrays the Black American experience and the struggles of every day life in a racially divided country in a way that is both beautiful and painful.
The story is divided into 29 short chapters and I loved the simplicity of Hughes' very literal chapter titles like 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘑𝘪𝘮 𝘉𝘰𝘺'𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳 and 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘱. In 𝘗𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭, Sandy observes the old Black men around him and how they laugh, in spite of poverty and hardship. "𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓."
I won't soon forget Sandy, the observant little boy who wants to play the guitar like his father. And then the insightful young man who is trying to understand the world and his place in it.
The story is divided into 29 short chapters and I loved the simplicity of Hughes' very literal chapter titles like 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘑𝘪𝘮 𝘉𝘰𝘺'𝘴 𝘓𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘎𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘳 and 𝘉𝘢𝘳𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘱. In 𝘗𝘰𝘰𝘭 𝘏𝘢𝘭𝘭, Sandy observes the old Black men around him and how they laugh, in spite of poverty and hardship. "𝑩𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒏𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒆𝒓."
I won't soon forget Sandy, the observant little boy who wants to play the guitar like his father. And then the insightful young man who is trying to understand the world and his place in it.
While nothing much happens and there's not much of an over-arching plot other than a boy growing up at a time of racial segregation, there are many, many observations at play and lessons to be considered... on love, on race, on struggle, on loss, on sense of self and much more. I highlighted more than a few sections because they seemed to very accurately describe some of the world's struggles right now. How sad it is that almost 100 years later we still have such division and prejudice... How poignant and beautiful but also tragic that it takes writers and artists to really paint the picture clearly for us. Thank you Langston Hughes.
"Being colored is like being born in the basement of life, with the door to the light locked and barred -- and the white folks live upstairs."
What a fantastic novel! It's a simple, quick read that's packed full of lyrical, emotive language and a heartbreaking look at the reality of a young black boy growing up in 1930s Kansas. The wide opportunity gaps created by race and poverty are palpable in every sentence of this novel, as are the character's hopes and dreams. They are working hard to survive (each in his or her own way) in a reality where they are denied almost every single chance for success.
As a young boy, Sandy loves all the people in his life - his grandma, his mom and dad, his aunts - and his point of view allows the reader to see the value in each of their very different perspectives.
His dad Jimboy is a drifter, what some call lazy and good-for-nothing, but Sandy sees his positive energy, his quiet pushback against a society that offers him nothing, and his musical talent.
"O, they've got us cornered, all right," said Jimboy. "The white folks are like farmers that own all the cows and let the niggers take care of 'em. Then they make you pay a sweet price for skimmed milk and keep the cream for themselves."
His grandmother, who does endless laundry for white families despite her old age and waning health, relies on her faith and the power of love to keep her going.
"When you starts hatin' people, you gets uglier than they is -- an' I ain't never had no time for ugliness, 'cause that's where de devil comes in -- in ugliness!"
"I's been livin' a long time in yesterday, Sandy chile, an' I knows there ain't no room in de world fo' nothin' mo'n love. I knows, chile! Ever'thing there is but lovin' leaves a rust on yo' soul. An' to love sho 'nough, you got to have a spot in yo' heart fo' ever'body -- great an' small, white an' black, an them what's good an' them what's evil -- 'cause love ain't got no crowded-out places where de good ones stays an' de bad ones can't come in."
Sandy's mother is deeply in love with Jimboy and lives for the short periods of time he spends at home and for his letters when he's gone. Sandy's aunt is a talented singer and dancer who dreams of being successful without having to cook or clean for white people.
This novel broke my heart. Most heartbreaking was the chapter about Christmas, when Sandy's mom and grandma do their best to give him what he wants for Christmas. Inevitably he is disappointed on Christmas, but is old enough to know to hide his tears.
"But Santa Claus was mean to poor kids sometimes, Sandy knew, when their parents had no money."
though, there is more hope than anger here. I can only imagine that Hughes would have hoped for much more progress towards racial and economic equity over the past three-quarters of a century.
"But was that why Negroes were poor, because they were dancers, jazzers, clowns? ... The other way round would be better: dancers because of their poverty; singers because they suffered; laughing all the time because they must forget."
Themes: poverty, race, education, childhood, love, family
What a fantastic novel! It's a simple, quick read that's packed full of lyrical, emotive language and a heartbreaking look at the reality of a young black boy growing up in 1930s Kansas. The wide opportunity gaps created by race and poverty are palpable in every sentence of this novel, as are the character's hopes and dreams. They are working hard to survive (each in his or her own way) in a reality where they are denied almost every single chance for success.
As a young boy, Sandy loves all the people in his life - his grandma, his mom and dad, his aunts - and his point of view allows the reader to see the value in each of their very different perspectives.
His dad Jimboy is a drifter, what some call lazy and good-for-nothing, but Sandy sees his positive energy, his quiet pushback against a society that offers him nothing, and his musical talent.
"O, they've got us cornered, all right," said Jimboy. "The white folks are like farmers that own all the cows and let the niggers take care of 'em. Then they make you pay a sweet price for skimmed milk and keep the cream for themselves."
His grandmother, who does endless laundry for white families despite her old age and waning health, relies on her faith and the power of love to keep her going.
"When you starts hatin' people, you gets uglier than they is -- an' I ain't never had no time for ugliness, 'cause that's where de devil comes in -- in ugliness!"
"I's been livin' a long time in yesterday, Sandy chile, an' I knows there ain't no room in de world fo' nothin' mo'n love. I knows, chile! Ever'thing there is but lovin' leaves a rust on yo' soul. An' to love sho 'nough, you got to have a spot in yo' heart fo' ever'body -- great an' small, white an' black, an them what's good an' them what's evil -- 'cause love ain't got no crowded-out places where de good ones stays an' de bad ones can't come in."
Sandy's mother is deeply in love with Jimboy and lives for the short periods of time he spends at home and for his letters when he's gone. Sandy's aunt is a talented singer and dancer who dreams of being successful without having to cook or clean for white people.
This novel broke my heart. Most heartbreaking was the chapter about Christmas, when Sandy's mom and grandma do their best to give him what he wants for Christmas. Inevitably he is disappointed on Christmas, but is old enough to know to hide his tears.
"But Santa Claus was mean to poor kids sometimes, Sandy knew, when their parents had no money."
though, there is more hope than anger here. I can only imagine that Hughes would have hoped for much more progress towards racial and economic equity over the past three-quarters of a century.
"But was that why Negroes were poor, because they were dancers, jazzers, clowns? ... The other way round would be better: dancers because of their poverty; singers because they suffered; laughing all the time because they must forget."
Themes: poverty, race, education, childhood, love, family
It's Langston Hughes. What more needs to be said . . . symbolism, inspiration and themes. The vivid detail in which this story is told brought me back to a time long forgotten.