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sawthisdidthat's review against another edition
3.0
This book took me an unreasonable amount of time to finish. I like Hughes’s poetry, but his autobiography left me wanting. I felt by the time I finished, that I still didn’t really know him. Like several other reviewers, I noted that there was a critic who said something to the effect of him using too many words to say essentially nothing. At times I did feel this way. There was a lot of name-dropping in one section, and I probably only recognized about 20%, so while historically relevant, did not garner my interest. I also felt that he was describing many things around him, but didn’t spend a lot of time describing his own actions. Very fly-on-the-wall observation style for most of the book. I’m sorry to say I will soon forget much of it.
tamekaaalice's review against another edition
4.0
an incredible look into the life of one of the best writers of the century. The Big Sea takes the reader on a trip through the inspirations of Mr. Hughes. A must read!
mkamara98's review against another edition
3.0
Read this for a project I'm working on in class and I was pretty enjoyable. I think because I was reading it more for research and less for fun I wasn't really paying attention to writing prowess but more collecting information.
beths0103's review against another edition
3.0
I much prefer Hughes's poems to his prose writing - at least when it comes to his autobiographical writing - I haven't read his fiction work yet. It was interesting to read about his life, but I was hoping his writing would be a little less utilitarian given that he is a poet.
niniane's review against another edition
5.0
Story of the early years of the famous Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes.
It was interesting hearing how he worked as a sailor and went to Paris and Italy. His Paris experience was different than Ernest Hemingway, becaise Hughes had to find work to support himself. He could only get hired at nightclubs with Black dancer headliners.
The story of his patron was intense, and how she turned on him but he still seems to be fond of her.
It was interesting to hear of his daring risks, such as throwing all books into the ocean, or taking a train to Paris when he had 7 dollars and no job (and a cheap hotel costs $1 per night).
It was interesting hearing how he worked as a sailor and went to Paris and Italy. His Paris experience was different than Ernest Hemingway, becaise Hughes had to find work to support himself. He could only get hired at nightclubs with Black dancer headliners.
The story of his patron was intense, and how she turned on him but he still seems to be fond of her.
It was interesting to hear of his daring risks, such as throwing all books into the ocean, or taking a train to Paris when he had 7 dollars and no job (and a cheap hotel costs $1 per night).
gdwilliams019's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
5.0