Native Son [Paperback]

Richard Wright (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1966

Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. 100% Money Back Guarantee.

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Perennial Library; Paperback edition (1966)
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000E3CRHW
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,987 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars what a story. what a shame., June 13, 2009

By 

Aspry Jones (East Coast) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Native Son (Paperback)

My copy of this Richard Wright jewel came broken, ripped and old, mixed among several other literary treasures from a local stoop sale. Every time I turned a page, it would break from the ancient adhesive binding and almost turn to dust in my own dye-stained fingers. Was this a first edition paperback? No idea. The beginning pages were long lost and any other potential date displays were ripped or smeared. I was reading the future lining of my kitchen trash bin. How in the world could such wonderful gems as books have such cruel fates?

This entire book is about cruel fates. Broken up into three parts, Wright's "Native Son" tells the story of Bigger Thomas, an angry and foolish young black man from 1940's Chicago. He is powerfully built but weak-minded because he didn't have a proper education. He had big dreams of becoming an aviator but lack of opportunity forced him to live in a rat-infested room with his mother and two siblings. He just wanted to be left alone but his suffocating world would soon torture him with relentless attention. He was one of many young black men like this during the age of evil prejudice, withheld freedoms and spirit-breaking segregation.

The first "book" introduces us to Bigger and his dead end plan to rob a Jewish deli with his gang. The second "book" shows that he could have a chance for a better life if he could make better choices. When something finally goes his way - a job as a driver for an affluent white family, unforeseen events turn his good fortune into a deadly nightmare. That's when "book" three resolves all conflicts with a predictable, yet harrowing end. Packed with suspense, this gut-wrenching tale speaks to the modern world about a history we should never forget.

I feel that I should separate the sections of the book in order to properly review the piece. The beginning is your average low story of black hard-living during hard times. The middle is rough, startling and easily the strongest writing of all parts. I could not put it down. However, Wright loses me a bit during the denouement. It seemed like he had run out of story and while his words are powerful, they meander and repeat. The novel is already dialogue-heavy, but it goes a little overboard near the end.

It's a great, great book - just by no means perfect. It's sad to see this beaten thing go into the garbage can.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unforgettable, March 14, 2011

By 

Funny girl "Voracious reader!" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Native Son (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book. I initially found it difficult to read but then I got into it and could not put it down. It is an amazing, well laid out story. Bigger Thomas....sigh! I have never been more aggravated by a character's stupidity.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Native Son, November 15, 2010

By 

Anita M. Shirk "Anita Marie Shirk" (Rolette, North Dakota) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Native Son (Paperback)

The language is rather rough in this book. However, it does fit in with the character. I have been reading it for a while now and hope to finish it soon. The book came in a timely manner and the packaging was fine.