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Not Without Laughter
 
 

Not Without Laughter (Paperback)

~ (Author), Maya Angelou (Introduction) "Aunt Hager Williams stood in her doorway and looked out at the sun..." (more)
Key Phrases: not without laughter, Aunt Hager, Sister Johnson, Jimmy Lane (more...)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

List Price: $14.00
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  School & Library Binding, September 30, 1999 $24.55 $24.55 $14.00
  Paperback, April 3, 2008 $4.00 $2.16 $2.63
  Paperback, March 1, 1995 $12.60 $0.20 $0.01
  Unknown Binding, December 31, 1968 -- -- $9.99

Frequently Bought Together

Not Without Laughter + The Ways of White Folks: Stories + The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes
Price For All Three: $36.03

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  • This item: Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes

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  • The Ways of White Folks: Stories by Langston Hughes

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  • The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes by David Roessel

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Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This is another in the new Scribner Paperback Fiction line. Poet Hughes made the jump to fiction with this 1930 first novel of an African American boy's coming of age in a small Kansas town.
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Product Description

A classic of African-American literature, with a new introduction by Maya Angelou, presents a coming-of-age novel filled with lyricism and humor and set in a small Kansas town during the early twentieth century. Reprint. 15,000 first printing.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 299 pages
  • Publisher: Touchstone (March 1, 1995)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0020209851
  • ISBN-13: 978-0020209850
  • Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #487,588 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #16 in  Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > African American > Hughes, Langston
    #18 in  Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( H ) > Hughes, Howard

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Langston Hughes
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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:
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2 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.4 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Laughter and Living, August 2, 2002
By Eric Anderson (London, United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Despite his considerable output of poetry, short stories and autobiographical work, this is Langston Hughes' only novel. It is the tremendously crafted story of Sandy, a black child of the 1920s in rural Kansas. In poignant tightly written chapters, Hughes' depicts various events in Sandy's life often slipping into the perspective of those closest to him. Sandy lives most his life with his strong-willed and deeply religious grandmother Aunt Hager. She is a benevolent woman who desires peaceful racial relations despite the overwhelming amount of racism and discrimination professed by both white and black community members. Sandy's mother Annjee is a loving and hard working woman eternally devoted to her husband Jimboy who is a good hearted man constantly on the move. Sandy's aunt Tempy is a well-off woman trying to immerse herself in white society and denigrating her own race in the process. His other aunt Harriett is a wilful woman who turns from the church for a different kind of existence. Through these expertly drawn characters, Sandy views their examples and he must make the choices that will effect his future. The novel is a tremendous chronicle of the struggle of a family to survive financially. It gives accounts of the psychological dilemma created by growing in a racially divided society and the diffuse joy in life that can be found even in troubling circumstances.

Maya Angelou wrote of Not Without Laughter: "This book was written when preachers had to be poets and poets were preachers, because they needed to be available to all the people all the time." The messages this novel gives are not subtle. But, through its varied perspectives and eloquently written prose, it envelops the issues it preaches with emotionally edifying ideas. It leaves the reader with a feeling of deep connection to all the characters, particularly the beautiful Sandy in whom we invest our hope and trust to fulfil his potential to become a good, intelligent and strong man who does not feel limited by his racial heritage despite any restrictions society may attempt to place for him. Although it may be a shame that Hughes never wrote another novel as he aptly demonstrated his skill in this one, Not Without Laughter stands as shining work be a skilled artist.

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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing story of the influences and decisions in youth, July 9, 1998
By A Customer
Langston Hughes is a truly gifted writer. In this story he shows six different characters, all afflicted by racism and the numerous tactics each devises to combat its force. Their methods include,hating white america, enduring the blow, assimilating, laughing in the faces and then there is Sandy...He is slowing coming of age amidst all of these adults that he loves and admires, but soon he shall have to pick a path of his own. He knows that he must fight against the threat of racisim with out developing so much anger it consumes him as well. He knows must stand up for the race and culture he loves and some how advance his people with the power of his life. This story, is one of the best depictions of a black family that I have come across and can relate to. I miss Langston, and I love his legacy.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Not Without Laughter, January 20, 2000
If you're not a Langston Hughes fan-once you read this book you'll be a fan for life. I guarantee you'll want to read everything he's ever written. Wait until you discover" Simple". Not without Laughter took me back in time to a small southern town and the loving, secure, life defining relationship I shared with my grandmother.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Great seller!
The book came quickly and was in the promised shape. Will definitely but from this seller in the future.
Published 10 months ago by Cheryl M. Pifher

3.0 out of 5 stars Slow to Warm
Book was interesting and provided a genuine sense of life for blacks during the early part of this century. Read more
Published on March 16, 2006 by Briana Littleton

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, heartbreaking yet redemptive novel
This is a fine novel written at a time of overt racial discrimation about members of a family surviving the best way they could. Read more
Published on February 3, 2006 by Vanessa of NY

3.0 out of 5 stars It was ok
Throughout the story you can see the talent of Langston Hughes. However, the subject was not unique or original for the current times. Read more
Published on January 25, 2006 by Georgia

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Such heart! I have read his poetry, but I had never read his prose. So smooth, so wonderful. I adore the characters. They followed me throughout the day. Read more
Published on September 23, 2004 by Bethanie Frank

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read Classic
This book by Langston Hughes captures the life of the Midwest through the eyes of a young growing by in the early 1900's. Read more
Published on August 16, 2004 by cielle

2.0 out of 5 stars Will bore you to death
Langston Hughes is definitely a better poet than he is a novelist. I found this book to be lack luster and boring. Although you may like a character or two... Read more
Published on August 10, 2004 by BlackLitLover

5.0 out of 5 stars I Loved this book!!
It shed new light for me and allowed me a glimpse into a world I previously had no understanding of. Read more
Published on July 14, 2002 by jillellenart

5.0 out of 5 stars One of a Kind
I had to read a book for a book report due in a week. I was beginning to feel hopeless before I stumbled onto this in the library. Read more
Published on November 20, 2001 by Morgan Parker

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book
I really liked this book. The characters were intersting and the relationship Sandy had with his grandmother made me think of my grandmother. Read more
Published on November 11, 2001 by Laura A.Richardson

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