This is the first by Langston Hughes that I’ve read. I haven’t read any of his poetry but this
book is full of poetic prose. The story
is about a young black boy, Sandy, that grows up through the pages. Sandy is raised by his grandmother Aunt Hager
until she passes away. His education in
life is then taken over by his Aunt and finally his mother.
If you’ve read Gone
with the Wind you will understand the vernacular of how these poor black
folk speak. At first it may be hard to
understand but after a while you fo’ shor’ will get it. I kept thinking throughout the book why it
was titled the way it was because there wasn’t much laughter. Finally I realized that life is what it is;
you must keep going, no matter what comes your way. There is love and hate, Christian and sinner,
family and friends and such music and dancing that you feel like you are right
on the porch. The book grew on me as did
all the characters. Don’t expect a
climatic ending, there is none. It’s one
of those books that you would like to see more of. I would like to see where Sandy’s life
takes him. Will he follow in the
footsteps of his almost non-existent father or will he remain with this mother
and tend to her.
Overall I would recommend this book. It’s a bit of history of poor black folks in
a small Kansas town. I think I must read
some of his poetry.
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