Not Without Laughter

"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 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. When it gets that way then it ain't love." ( )

I had no idea that Langston Hughes had written a novel. I really enjoy his poetry, so I was very excited to find this book.

It is the coming-of-age story of an Africa American boy in Kansas during the early Twentieth Century. Since I'm not African American, I don't really know what that experience is like, but this felt very genuine. It felt as if Hughes perhaps drew on his own early experiences.

This novel has a lot of heart, and there also seems to be a certain rhythm to the writing which I loved. ( )

RGG: Poet of the Harlem Renaissance, Hughes writes a coming-of-age story about a young black boy growing up in Kansas

interesting social study of a young black American boy, Sandy, brought up mainly by his hardworking grandmother Hager, a laundrywoman, his mother Anjee and two very different aunts, the rebel Harriett who becomes a jazz singer, and snobbish Tempy - written with a poetic, music-filled voice, ending on a note of hope. This is a very beautiful edition. ( )

Really enjoyed this story about a young African American boy growing up in the mid west and all his struggles and experiences. Mostly raised by his Grandmother who instills values, love and discipline, life was not easy, but the reader is left hopeful in the end. ( )