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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
This was so good, and I'm very glad I read it. So subtle and skillfully put together. To think about this woman dying at 34, and how many more great pieces of art she could have created. This is why I like to do Read Harder every year, because I probably wouldn't have gotten around to this without it.
This is a three act play that follows the Youngers, a black family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. Mom Lena, son Walter and his wife Ruth and son Travis, and daughter Beneatha all live in the same small apartment. Lena's husband has just died, leaving them a $10k life insurance check. The money becomes a catalyst for the events of the rest of the play.
Hansberry was such a talented writer, you know exactly who these characters are within three pages. The dialogue and stage directions are full of this subtle characterization. The play examines not only the family dynamic, but social and racial dynamics as well, through the story of the Younger family and their desires to have safety, a roof over their heads, for money, for respect, and
to have a better life, though what each person defines that as is different. The racial and social critiques present here sadly remain almost as relevant as they did back when Hansberry wrote this in the 1950s.
If you've somehow missed out on this like I had, highly recommend.
Read Harder Challenge 2020: Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author.
This is a three act play that follows the Youngers, a black family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. Mom Lena, son Walter and his wife Ruth and son Travis, and daughter Beneatha all live in the same small apartment. Lena's husband has just died, leaving them a $10k life insurance check. The money becomes a catalyst for the events of the rest of the play.
Hansberry was such a talented writer, you know exactly who these characters are within three pages. The dialogue and stage directions are full of this subtle characterization. The play examines not only the family dynamic, but social and racial dynamics as well, through the story of the Younger family and their desires to have safety, a roof over their heads, for money, for respect, and
to have a better life, though what each person defines that as is different. The racial and social critiques present here sadly remain almost as relevant as they did back when Hansberry wrote this in the 1950s.
If you've somehow missed out on this like I had, highly recommend.
Read Harder Challenge 2020: Read a play by an author of color and/or queer author.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I first read this play when I was 15 and reread in one sitting today before I teach it to my ninth graders this semester.
I remember loving this in school but I couldn't remember why. Now, with an adult perspective, I see that it has my favorite things: family drama, cultural commentary, and exquisite characterization, all in less than 200 pages.
Excited to pair the play with some contemporary nonfiction throughout this unit and hoping my students will find as much relevance in it as I do.
I remember loving this in school but I couldn't remember why. Now, with an adult perspective, I see that it has my favorite things: family drama, cultural commentary, and exquisite characterization, all in less than 200 pages.
Excited to pair the play with some contemporary nonfiction throughout this unit and hoping my students will find as much relevance in it as I do.
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book, I read it for the second time recently, this time not for school. Touches on a lot of issues we still see the effects of in Chicago today. A good read that helps understand a different time and the issues people were facing. Very digestible and even the characters who were frustrating had charming moments in the story. Really portrayed the cast as multidimensional people very well.
Content Warnings
Minor: Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, Gaslighting
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A story about clashes. Between generations, between individuals, between races, between pride and reality, and between reality and dreams. It touches on many of the themes that still trouble us today.
In the end it is a positive story of a family coming together, in their own way, to face a changing and challenging world.
In the end it is a positive story of a family coming together, in their own way, to face a changing and challenging world.
مسرحية A Raisin in the Sun للورين هانزبيري هي واحدة من أهم المسرحيات في الأدب الأمريكي، وتُعدّ عملاً رائدًا في تمثيل التجربة الإفريقية الأمريكية على المسرح. تدور القصة حول عائلة يونغر التي تعيش في شيكاغو في الخمسينيات، وتصوّر صراعها مع الفقر، والتمييز العنصري، وتحقيق الحلم الأمريكي.
التقييم (★★★☆☆):
المسرحية قوية من حيث الموضوع والرسائل التي تقدمها، لكنها ثقيلة في بعض الأجزاء، خاصة إذا كنتِ تقرئينها للدراسة بدلاً من الاستمتاع بها. أسلوب الحوار طويل ومليء بالمشاعر القوية، مما قد يجعله مرهقًا بعض الشيء. الشخصيات مكتوبة بشكل جيد، وكل منها يحمل بُعدًا نفسيًا معقدًا، لكن الصراع داخل العائلة قد يكون متكرراً أحيانًا.
إذا كنتِ مهتمة بالدراما الاجتماعية والسياسية، فقد تجدينها ممتعة أكثر، لكنها بالتأكيد ليست من المسرحيات الخفيفة أو التي تُقرأ بسرعة
التقييم (★★★☆☆):
المسرحية قوية من حيث الموضوع والرسائل التي تقدمها، لكنها ثقيلة في بعض الأجزاء، خاصة إذا كنتِ تقرئينها للدراسة بدلاً من الاستمتاع بها. أسلوب الحوار طويل ومليء بالمشاعر القوية، مما قد يجعله مرهقًا بعض الشيء. الشخصيات مكتوبة بشكل جيد، وكل منها يحمل بُعدًا نفسيًا معقدًا، لكن الصراع داخل العائلة قد يكون متكرراً أحيانًا.
إذا كنتِ مهتمة بالدراما الاجتماعية والسياسية، فقد تجدينها ممتعة أكثر، لكنها بالتأكيد ليست من المسرحيات الخفيفة أو التي تُقرأ بسرعة
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
It was alright until Act III, which was all over the place and made the entire play almost pointless.