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micaelamariem's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
I have to be honest.
The only reason this is 3 stars and not 4 stars is because animals were hurt in the making of this book and I cannot abide by that.
However, the book was beautifully written, illustrating the racial injustices Wright experienced and fought against (or his friends did, considering this may not be fully autobiographical).
The first part was very compelling, reminiscent of many coming of age tales. The second part wasn’t as interesting because it focused more on politics and Wright’s fall into communism, which had the potential to be interesting, but somewhere fell flat.
Still, if this is a true memoir, it’s really hard to judge and rate it (especially a classic one!) because it’s someone’s life. You can’t say anything about the plot because it actually happened.
I can say the writing and commentary was beautiful and evocative, the themes were strong, and you can tell he had things to say.
But also please don’t hurt animals :(
The only reason this is 3 stars and not 4 stars is because animals were hurt in the making of this book and I cannot abide by that.
However, the book was beautifully written, illustrating the racial injustices Wright experienced and fought against (or his friends did, considering this may not be fully autobiographical).
The first part was very compelling, reminiscent of many coming of age tales. The second part wasn’t as interesting because it focused more on politics and Wright’s fall into communism, which had the potential to be interesting, but somewhere fell flat.
Still, if this is a true memoir, it’s really hard to judge and rate it (especially a classic one!) because it’s someone’s life. You can’t say anything about the plot because it actually happened.
I can say the writing and commentary was beautiful and evocative, the themes were strong, and you can tell he had things to say.
But also please don’t hurt animals :(
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Racism, Cursing, Death, Grief, Chronic illness, Bullying, Classism, Religious bigotry, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, and Violence
emviiiii's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good, especially for the English class book that finally got me get back into reading after two years :)
4/5
4/5
shibaunited's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
radikaliseradgroda's review against another edition
4.0
3,5
Another one of these books that I can tell would have been a five star read if I wasn't reading for a deadline. Still, Wright's writing is clear, with a strong pathos, and I hope I get to experience it properly on a second read-through.
Another one of these books that I can tell would have been a five star read if I wasn't reading for a deadline. Still, Wright's writing is clear, with a strong pathos, and I hope I get to experience it properly on a second read-through.
yarafadel's review against another edition
4.0
This is a heavy book to read, the author speaks of his experience living in the Jim Crow south, then eventually moves north to Chicago for a better life. Highly recommended.
I don’t usually read book reviews until I am done with a book so as not to skew my opinion on what I’m reading. Reading reviews of this book was another prime example to show how micro aggressions and racism is very well thriving. You’ll read in the reviews that people claim this book was not about Wright’s own life, but any generic Black person’s life in the south at the time. This is an attempt to dehumanize yet another Black experience. I’ve also read in the reviews that the book sounded like an ongoing complaint where he did not do anything to change his circumstances - that made me ironically laugh. Wright did indeed do his best to save himself the best he could during one of the darkest times in history. Reading those reviews is beyond disappointing and frustrating.
I don’t usually read book reviews until I am done with a book so as not to skew my opinion on what I’m reading. Reading reviews of this book was another prime example to show how micro aggressions and racism is very well thriving. You’ll read in the reviews that people claim this book was not about Wright’s own life, but any generic Black person’s life in the south at the time. This is an attempt to dehumanize yet another Black experience. I’ve also read in the reviews that the book sounded like an ongoing complaint where he did not do anything to change his circumstances - that made me ironically laugh. Wright did indeed do his best to save himself the best he could during one of the darkest times in history. Reading those reviews is beyond disappointing and frustrating.