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Readers` Reviews

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
liz rosebraugh
As part of my Directing class in school, I've had to some plays in preparation for the scene work that's to come later in the semester. One of those plays was Lorraine Hansberry's classic A Raisin in the Sun.

First, I want to talk about the positives. A Raisin in the Sun truly is a moving play. It's honestly one of the best examples of how good American theatre can be. It's expertly paced, each act ending with a crescendo that begs the audience to come back after the intermission. The characters are well-written, if frequently unlikable - though that's sort of the point. These are all flawed characters and I appreciate just how well developed each of them is. It's interesting how even though this play was written and set in the 1960s, its subject matter is still so relevant and applicable to today's society. If you didn't know any better, this play could've been written and been placed in 2017. This play has won countless awards over the years, and it definitely deserves it. It truly is an amazing play, regardless of the issues with the script I'm about to talk about.

I have a feeling that this play is one that's much better seen than read. Like I said, it's truly a good play, but the actual script itself leaves something to be desired. There's something so daunting and annoying about a script that has to spell every action out in its stage directions. At no point do I as a reader of plays, or a theatrical artist, need to know every little movement the characters do (and have their reasoning spelled out for me) or have every minute detail of the set told to me. Some of that should be left for the production team of every production to decide (as is the case anyway since frequently, directors ignore stage directions in scripts even if there are barely any, to begin with). I recognize that this may just be a personal preference of mine as a Theatre artist and playwright, but it's just a pet peeve of mine when it comes to some scripts. This seems to be a thing that many modern plays have moved away from doing, thankfully. As a result, the scripts of many a classic play are bogged down with unnessecary stage direction.

For me, if the stage directions were just edited down to the bare necessities for a reader to understand the action instead of the endless, constant interruptions describing the minute details of the set and the meaning behind every action - as though the reader, actor, and director can't make those inferences without it being spelled out for them, then this script would be a lot better. I think it's probably unfair to judge this play by its script. If this were a novel, the amount of detail in the descriptions would be great. As a script, it detracts from the experience of reading it. Watching it, however, probably rectifies those problems since the action doesn't stop to explain the set or detail the actions that a viewer can plainly see. My issues with the script boil down to how the detailed stage directions take away from the momentum of the story since the dialogue is what thrusts the story forward and every time you have to stop to read a paragraph of stage directions kills that momentum. But watching a play is different since the stage directions are just acted out. The momentum is there because all the action is happening while the lines are being said instead of having to be read in between lines.

All in all, it's a brilliant play with a script that's a drag to read but, most likely, a true delight to actually see performed. I won't know for sure until I see the production of it that is happening here in Greensboro later this spring, but I suspect seeing the play will highlight all the truly good aspects of it. Such is the case for many a play with a script full of too much stage direction. As a result of my displeasure with the script itself, I'd recommend seeing a performance of A Raisin in the Sun rather than reading the script, but if you have no choice, the script will do. It's a good, enjoyable, and important story that's worth experiencing in whatever way you can experience it in.

(3.5 out of 5 stars)
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
lex ruggiero
It's always interesting going back and reading required-reading books from high school/junior high. I'd not read "A Raisin in the Sun" since high school, but picked it up to see what I thought now, ~15+ years later.

It really is a profound play, with a gripping plot and characters that alternately make you love and hate (or perhaps strongly dislike) them. I definitely wanted to reach into the book and smack them upside the head sometimes - but then I got to the end ... and wow. Talk about a mic drop finale!

I may not have appreciated "A Raisin in the Sun" in high school (do we ever appreciate things in high school, though?), but I certainly do now. Remarkable writing, story, and message.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
colie
This is the story of a black family in Chicago. I got this play from overdrive to read for a bookmark challenge my library was having. The Youngers get a check for ten thousand dollars (the origin of the check is never explicitly stated but seems to have something to do with Big Walter Younger). Mrs. Lena Younger puts a down payment on a house and the Youngers are moving to a new neighborhood. What happens to them pertaining to the move is the subject of the play. Really enjoyed this play.
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★ ★ ★ ★ ★
bipin
A Raisin in the Sun gives the reader a look into the life of a working-class African American family. The reader can see the struggles that the Younger family goes through. The tension in this book was quite high. I had to put it down twice because I was getting to into it.

A Raisin in the Sun represents a metaphor for the variety of issues that takes place in the African American community. It also covers a variety of racial issues that are a crisis still to this today. The Younger family bands together and Lena's little kitchen plant is a key symbol of the entire story, survival does exist even if the worse of situations.

5/5 stars.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lsmith
Lorraine Hansberry died at the age of 34. She lived long enough to produce a true literary classic in "A Raisin in the Sun." This was a play that discussed the trials and tribulations of a working class black family in Chicago trying to get a piece of the American dream following World War II.

This story focuses on the family problems of the Younger family. Lena is the matriarch and she was about to receive a 10,000 dollar insurance payment following her husband Walter's death. Her daughter lives with her in a run-down modest house. Her son, daughter, and grandson also live in the small dwelling.

Walter Jr., or "Brother," was frustrated with having his dreams of success deferred. He was a dreamer who wanted to invest in a business and leave his job as chauffeur behind. His sister Beneatha, or "Bennie," was an ambitious college student with a lot of confidence. She was determined to beat the odds and become a doctor. Ruth was Walter Jr.s wife and a hard worker with a practical mindset. She and Walter had a strained marriage because of a difference in outlook on life.

There was a lot of tension in the Younger household. The story is a metaphor for the dialogue and variety of influential outlooks in the African-American community. Lena represents a traditional and religious world view. Beneatha has taken to radical ideas and is firmly opposed to assimilation into white society. She has sought to develop a connection with her African tribal roots. Walter is a dreamer and speculator who wants fulfillment in the business world. Ruth is a practical common-sense woman who is focused on day to day survival.

For most of the story there is internecine warfare between the family members. Beneatha and Walter are selfish and are looking to impose their wills on the family to get their way. Walter wants to invest in a liquor store. Ruth and Lena try to persuade him of the folly of this plan. Walter is so disheartened by his menial job that he refuses to listen to their pleas.

Beneatha makes a choice between marrying an establishment successful black man named George Murchison. She ultimately chooses to marry a Nigerian intellectual named Joseph Asagai. This is Hansberry interjecting some of her ideology as she rejects the old racial views of Booker T. Washington in favor of the more progressive outlook of W.E.B. DuBois.

Lena buys a house in a white neighborhood and faces opposition from tenants who don't want a black family to move in. A man named Lindner has veiled threats of the consequences moving in the neighborhood may hold for the Younger family. Walter has a moral dilemma. He has the choice between taking the refund and additional money of the purchase price of the home and abandoning the courageous move of moving to a better dwelling or taking a gutsy and courageous stance of moving in to the new neighborhood and challenging the status quo.

Further compounding the situation is the fact that Walter's "business partner" skipped out of town and walked away with 6,500 dollars. In the end, Walter makes the tough choice to stand up against racism and make the move to the new neighborhood. Lena applauds the move and feels that her son has finally acted like a man.

In the end, the story has a happy conclusion. Beneatha marries a man who values her and she rejects marriage to the establishment figure. Walter grows up and becomes a man. Travis, Walter and Ruth's son, has a bright future to look forward to.

This is a tremendous play that covers the gamut of issues involving the racial crisis of the day. The black community overcomes the conflicting ideals and abandons the internecine warfare. Instead, the family unites behind a common cause. Lena is weak and frail, but is as a solid as a rock from a moral standpoint. Her fragile plant is a key symbol in the story. It survives despite less than optimum conditions.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
anna lisa
The Story:
It's really shameful how little I know about some classics in English literature. Prior to receiving this audiobook, I'm not sure whether I had ever even heard of A Raisin in the Sun. Since I had actual discs of this, I had to load it onto my iPod in three minute chunks as 'songs,' rather than as an audiobook. Unfortunately, this means that chunks kept coming on my shuffle, which I can tell you is really irritating, especially since one part begins with an alarm clock. Not cool. So, because of this, I was a bit biased against this play and assumed I would hate it.

Well, sometimes, I don't so much mind being wrong. This was a really good play, albeit a short one. It follows a brief period in the life of the Younger family of Chicago. They live in a small apartment, three generations all together. Even though all of them are working (or going to school) like they should be, money is tight.

However, there is a gleam of hope on the horizon, because an insurance check for $10,000 dollars is coming to Mama. Everyone in the family has their own idea of what should be done with the money. Mama wants to buy a house for everyone. Well, the down payment anyway. Beneatha wants money so she can attend medical school. Walter wants seed money for some money-making scheme with his drinking buddies.

The characters all seem very real in the way they interact and behave. I love the little squabbles they get into, which are so...family.

The Performance:
Everyone in the cast did a completely awesome job. I really liked all of their voices, and they all seemed well matched to the characters. Fun fact: Beneatha is actually voiced by the actress who plays Tara on True Blood.

I wasn't sure how it would be to listen to a play being acted out. I thought it might be confusing, especially since I did not have a copy of the play with me while I was listening. Plays are meant to be watched, so I thought I might lose out on some things. Well, I'm sure I did, and I would like to see it performed. However, it doesn't feel like I really missed out on anything enjoying the play this way.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
danapulley
Yeah, so this is pretty much perfect. Also, I have to say that even though I have seen the movie version, and I knew it was coming, I still had to put my Kindle down and take a break after the big plot twist. It just makes me SO MAD every single time.

Also, it just infuriates me on so many levels that men somehow think their pain and their dreams are somehow more important than everyone else's. The sheer selfishness and entitlement. Sure, toxic masculinity but also just...UGH.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
chauna
Produced in 1959, A RAISIN IN THE SUN was the first Broadway play written by a black woman: Lorraine Hansberry (1930-1965), a memorable author who based the central story on an incident that occurred in her own family and which eventually evolved into a landmark Supreme Court ruling in 1940 as Hansberry v. Lee.

The play presents us with three generations of the Younger family: the widowed matriarch Lena; her son Walter Lee and daughter Beaneatha; and Walter's wife Ruth and their son Travis. The family resides in a semi-slum apartment building on the south side of Chicago in the 1950s, where each tries to rise above the difficulties of their enviroment and the many social limitations imposed upon African-Americans at that time. But there is hope on the horizon: Lena is about to receive insurance money from her husband's death.

Unfortunately, instead of pulling the family together, the money actually drives them apart. Each member lays claim to it in some form or fashion. Lena dreams of owning her own home; daughter Bea is attending medical school and needs money to finish her degree; and most especially Walter Lee dreams of owning a liquior store. Bit by bit the pressure chips away at the family, already strained by years of frustration, and explodes at the play's climax--although not precisely in a way that one might foresee. When the explosion arrives it does not shatter the family; it unexpectedly reaffirms it.

When I review a play, I like point out that plays are not really intended to be read. They are intended to be seen on stage, where performing artists and designers breathe life into the lines and bring force to the story and its themes. This is true of every play. It may be especially true of A Raisin In The Sun, which on paper feels somewhat dry and slightly preachy. But I have seen the play performed--and let me assure that you that it brings the audience to hysterical laughter, painful tears, a sense of deep outrage, and an affection for its characters that few other modern plays can match. It is indeed a brilliant work and a great classic of 20th century American theatre.

GFT, the store Reviewer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tolles
For a play vs. movie review please visit my blog ...On The Shelf (www.dotdotdotontheshelf.blogspot.com)

I have often heard people gush over Lorraine Hansberry's play, A Raisin In The Sun and told myself there was no rush to read it on my own because I would eventually have to read it for some class. Sadly, this book never actually made it onto the required reading list for any of my classes so it was left up to me to read it at my leisure. This summer, I finally had a chance to pick the play up from my mother's collection while I waited for my own boxes to be shipped from Pittsburgh. My ultimate reaction was that this play was nothing like I expected it was infinitely better.

A Raisin In The Sun follows the Youngers, an African-American family living in South Side Chicago sometime between the end of WWII and the present. The Younger family includes Mama/Lena, a retired domestic worker;Walter/Brother, her son who has big dreams of making it; Ruth, Walter's wife; Ruth and Walter's son, Travis; and Beneatha, Walter's younger sister who wants to become a doctor. As the play begins, the Youngers are all anticipating getting the insurance check that covered Walter Sr., Mama's husband who has recently died.

Each person in the family has big dreams of what they want to do with the money when they get it however, Walter is the most vocal about his plans. When the check finally comes, Mama takes the money and buys a house in an all-white neighborhood with half of it and gives the rest to Walter with strict instructions to put half in the bank for Beneatha's medical education and use the other half for whatever he sees fit. Unfortunately, Walter does the opposite and things start to unravel from there.

For once, I can actually agree with the general consensus and say that this particular play is worthy of the title of classic. Everything in Hansberry's play felt extremely relevant and real to me, from the characters who were trying to figure out how to spend their new found fortune to the themes that Hansberry brought up about African-American's place in American society. Even on paper, the characters' emotions and actions are mapped out and shown so well that watching a film or live performance for Hansberry's work was actually unnecessary. I personally enjoyed each aspect of the play and could see how certain issues such as, the idea of the black man's ambitions being unrecognized or the questioning of whether blacks are better off assimilating into the American culture vs. African culture are still relevant. Yet, when I watched the 1961 film adaptation, I wasn't necessarily as impressed by it like I was with the play.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
carol ganz
I loved this play. I read it certain that i would be thoroughly depressed but it was so beautiful and insightful! My 17 year old friend is reading it for school so a few of us are reading along. Now i can't wait until everyone finishes so we can watch the movie as well. Also, this is the first time i've borrowed an e-book from my library for use on my Kindle (NB: I borrow audio books all the time) and it worked very smoothly.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
courtney levy
Lorraine Hansberry based the title of her play on Langston Hughes's famous poem about a dream being constantly deferred. Case and point are the fictional Youngers who are about as nonfictional as you can get. They are a struggling family of African Americans desperately in need of something better than what life, or perhaps a better word would be society, has dealt them.

Love is a constant in the Younger home even if it seems to be in hiding for most of the play. That threatening of love dying spurs the play forward as each obstacle beats the Youngers down into what would seem to be unyielding submission. However, throughout the play Hansberry cleverly intercedes with hopeful new dreams and metaphors such as the sun, children, and Big Walter's presence equating to hope. As the Youngers wait on the check to come in the mail of Big Walter's life long struggle to gain some money, the Youngers retain hope. But as their dreams are constantly stepped on hope becomes the last thing to die.

This play not only talks about African American rights, but women's rights as well. The author touches on it briefly throughout the play to give a reminder that not only are African Americans being subjugated against, but women as well. It makes Black women the bottom of the proverbial totem pole. Not-so-surprisingly, then, she makes her female characters extraordinarily strong in this play. It also comments on ideas such as returning to Africa as a 'cure' to the desperate situation African American's must face in America. Asagai, a Nigerian man, is very secure in his identity and suggests it, but it is only briefly considered, giving a hint as to where Hansberry stood on that particular subject.

Many other smaller, but no less important, nuances of the text include lost identity that is captured well in Benethea. She is divided into categories as to how an African American should look, talk, or otherwise conduct herself.

As Walter, our male whirlwind of the story, struggles on his big ideas and dreams the women tend to focus on smaller, more attainable battles. While he focuses on money, they focus on love. A balance has to be reached and defiance of the 'system' needs to be established or else the threat of society will crush the Youngers and all that they represent.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
michael heggemeyer
Raisin in the Sun is an in-depth look into the soul of the downtrodden. Even though it was written in the 1950's, I believe the window it provides into the souls of its main characters is a window you could look through today- and still see much the same thing. It is a very satisfying look at the difficulties life can throw us and our responses. It is also a look into African-American culture, the ghetto and struggles most white people will never know of. It was well written and constructed. I highly recommend if.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
julie edwards
Lorraine Hansberry's famous play offers raw and realistic drama. The story examines conflicts and dreams within an African American family from Chicago's South Side in the 1950's, plus the effects of racism. The family includes Walter and Ruth Younger, his widowed mother Lena, son Travis, and sister Beneatha. Walter is a hard-working chauffeur who dreams of buying a liqour store before he loses his money to a con artist. Beneatha is an ambitious college student newly attracted to the back-to-Africa philosophy of her Nigerian friend, while Lena and Ruth dream of escaping their slum and buying a house in a better area. That latter dream becomes reality via the life insurance from Lena's late husband. Lena purchases a house in a better area, at which point the all-white neighborhood tries to pay off the Youngers to keep them from moving in. We see the family separate with the expected insurance settlement, only to reunite when faced with rejection.

This drama presents potent trends like resistance to integration, pan-Africanism, and militancy, but never becomes soapy or preachy. This play was first performed in 1959, as Chicago's South Side was fast turning from white to black - integration being defined by neighborhood activist Saul Alinsky as that brief period of time between when the first black family moves in and the last white family leaves. Sadly, several once-stable neighborhoods became crime-ridden slums, and cancer took Ms. Hansberry (1930-1965) at just 34. Still, her raw, realistic drama provides a powerful testament.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ellen bicheler
Lorraine Hansberry's dramatic play, A Raisin in the Sun, is about the life of an African-American family living on the South Side of Chicago in the years following the Second World War. Lena Younger (Mama) is the head of the family that includes her married son Walter Lee, his wife, Ruth, their young son, Travis and Walter's younger sister, Beneatha, who is a college student. The family is struggling to support itself. Walter Lee works as a chauffer, and Ruth and even Mama work to bring in enough money. They leave in a run-down apartment and even have to share the bathroom with other tenants.

Lena's husband has died and she is about to get an insurance check for $10,000, a lot of money for those times. Everyone in the family has a dream for a better life. Walter Lee wants to buy a liquor store, Mama wants to have a house with a garden, Beneatha wants to become a doctor and Ruth just wants everyone to be happy and content. The check arrives and the drama plays out against a backdrop of racial prejudice.

This play was the first drama featuring an African-American theme to play on Broadway. It has been highly acclaimed ever since. It shows basically decent people struggling against life's difficulties. It is particularly relevant now, given the recent election of an African-American (not co-incidentally from Chicago) as president of the United States. For that reason I give it five stars.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
shalyce
The play A Raisin in the Sun takes its title from a line from the classic poem by Langston Hughes that I is called "A Dream Deferred." Appropriately enough, the play focuses on the deferred dreams of the Younger family, an African American family living in Chicago sometime after World War II. The family consists of Mama, Walter Lee Younger, his wife Ruth, his son Travis, and his sister Berneath. The whole family lives together in a small apartment. It is long been Mama dream to move into a house and she could finally make this a reality with the aid of insurance money from her deceased husband's policy. Walter Lee, however, wants to use the money to open up a liquor store because he is tired of working as an unrespected chauffer. Berneath--a college student--dreams of becoming a doctor and believes that some of the money should go to her schooling. Thus, although each family member believes that the money will fullfill their dreams, it actually just causes more conflicts. The ultimate theme of the play is that money itself cannot make your dreams come true. Dreams must be worked on in order for them to come true. Eventhough some dreams may never be realized, they never truely "die." Instead, they allows remain in the back of your mind ever if they will never actually be realized.
I found this play an enjoyable and quick read. To me, it was more appealing than plays of August Wilson, who wrote plays of a similar theme (Fences, The Piano Lesson). One good thing about the play is that although the Youngers are a black family, the theme of the play seems appealing to any audience since many families have had money problems and even more families have had dreams about life that they have struggled to fulfill.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
dzikrina
In many ways, this play was in itself a Civil Rights Movement. Written by Lorraine Hansberry, a black woman living in the segregated and tense Chicago of the 1950's, this became the very first play written by an African-American for the Broadway stage. It was a smash hit, enjoyed and appreciated by both blacks and whites at the time for its realism, its powerful family drama and its sentimentality. Hansberry drew from her own experiences in Chicago. Her father was a landlord in the slums of Chicago and she experienced racism when she first moved to an all-white neighborhood much like the Younger Family in the play.

This play is groundbreaking. It depicts something 50's audiences were not used to. For blacks, it was like seeing a slice of real life, though in some ways this play is a tad romanticized. Some of the lines are awfully real. Mama and her daughter's conversations are rather believable. The character of Beneatha is colorful and nuanced. She is an optimistic intellectual, with much pride in herself and in her African heritage, as she attests by dating Asagai, a student hailing from Nigeria. This play was first popularized by stage renditions and film with the incomparable Sidney Poitier as Walter. This play is one of the top plays of all time and deserves to be taught in English classes at the High School or College Level. Excellent.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
khryseda
On par with great American works like "Death of a Salesman", "Raisin in the Sun" gives readers a dramatic and unflinching look into American life. While some readers may find reality hard to swallow, most readers we see a reality that is too true.

The Younger family is a typical post World War II black family in America. They are grateful for the end of slavery, yet the younger generation is thirsty for more freedom. As Walter sees it, this freedom comes with wealth. When Walter's father passes, the family has a chance at financial wealth through the late father's insurance policy. But a foolish investment leaves the family right where it started, in poor financial shape. Walter does have an opportunity to amend for his foolishness with the price of submitting to a white man. Walter's ulimate choice is between pride and wealth.

While this play is a tense drama, few people recall the humor in this show. There are many points when I found myself laughing out loud. By any standard, this is a classic and American standard in theater and literature.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
dinar
A truly wonderful story that will grab your heart. Matthew Clay had his reasons for keeping his emotional distance from everyone. No one knew better than him that whenever you loved something or someone...you always lost them. It was better to protect your heart in advance.
Jaimie Greene is the new temporary housekeeper. She is there because her brother's wife, Maggie, was having a very difficult pregnancy and was forced to bed rest until she delivers. Maggie was the housekeeper until then. Jaimie is a 'city girl' and according to Matthew...she don't belong on a ranch. Jaimie is an excellent cook, housekeeper, loves children and is totally devoted to helping Maggie. She tries to avoid Matthew whenever possible.
When Jaimie and Matthew can't avoid each other, then sparks fly, literally. She has a sassy mouth and isn't afraid to use it on him. She has a tender heart and would adopt every single animal on that ranch if she could and keep it for a pet. If only she didn't have to put up with that big, grouchy bear. They are so different. But that doesn't stop the intense attraction. Matthew tries hard to avoid it, but he can't.
This story flows seamlessly from beginning to end. From the difficult pregnancy throughout the difficult attraction. It is surprisingly enjoyable. A couple of accidents on the ranch will keep you on pins and needles and reading nonstop. This book not only kept my interest throughout, but I was also surprised to find myself at the last page. A shouldn't miss fiery romance. Also for western romance lovers.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
mary grace
"A Raisin In the Sun" was a recent part of the One book, One Chicago program, having not read the play since college, I had forgotten what a great work it is. That said it is impossible to write on the all the emotional levels that "Raisin" brings to the reader and/or audience member.
A struggling, African-American family strives to make it out of crowded Chicago Housing Project and to own their piece of American dream pie. Several of the characters in this extremely well written drama have their own dilemma to face: Ruth Younger, wife to Walter, must decide if she should have bring another baby to her already financially strapped family. Walter Younger, husband to Ruth, who has huge dreams and little means, of providing for his family. Beneatha Younger, sister to Walter, who is med student and dreams of being a doctor now questions her own life and culture. Finally, and most importantly, is Lena Younger (Mama) who is fighting to keep her family together after the death of her husband. The issue of assimilation of African heritage in American culture is still significant factor today and continues to be a struggle for many minorities in America as well. In my opinion, Raisin remains a fresh and relevant dramatic work for today and for many years to come.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kristl
I read this book in 2015 although it has been famous for very long. Interestingly, this story occurs in southland Chicago long time ago, and still, the separation of white and black community still exist today.
The story itself went very smooth and touching, and each character is very well described. The deeply religious mother, the brother struggled with his pursuit and reality, the wife that has tried her best to organize the household but powerless since lack of money, the sister that trying her best to pursue a degree for a better life, although no tuition in front of her, the son that going to primary school even lack of paying the fees that teacher have asked. All characters are described very well. and the story itself has enough to draw my eyes that I couldn't stop reading it.
It is a great story with the highlights and end with a surprisingly and reasonable ending. It is funny that the white community even send a representative to negotiate, ask the black family not to move in to the white community. Although losing the largest amount of money the man has ever got, by his most trustworthy friends, this man has stand strong and defend his family. Holy god has worked in his family, when it is bad time, the family could make it through.
This is very beautiful story compressed in small pages. Definitely will stay in my mind since it makes me believe faith and have known more about the painful experience that African American have gone through.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
dubinski
In Lorraine Hansberry’s screenplay A Raisin in the Sun opens our eyes to see into the truth of an african americans life. In the play we see the life of a working class family living on the south side of Chicago.

I wouldn’t recommend this. I felt like the play was all over the place not location wise but story wise. Maybe if I saw the play in person I would have a different perspective but when it ended I found myself more confused then anything. Again, this was something I read for my 2015 reading challenge. This one was to complete reading A Play, which I had never done before and I do not think I will be doing again anytime soon.

Although I wouldn’t recommend this book, it wasn’t horrible. I wasn’t falling asleep but I wasn’t in awe either. I am used to reading novels where we see more depths in the characters and this was really missing for me. I wanted to see more depth and feeling in the characters. To be honest I finished this book a couple weeks ago and I had to skim through the book to write the review. The characters do not stick with you after you finish reading it. Is it just me or are a lot of books/plays you were made to read in high school like that?

One lesson or theme if you will, that I noticed in this play was the struggle to decide what was more important. Family or money? I believe this is a struggle we all face at one point in our life. Some face it earlier than others. In the play they struggle with many aspects of this. To have a baby when the can’t afford it and many other situations that I won’t say as I do not want to include any spoilers. Most of this play is this family arguing over money. This could be why I did not care for this book. Those of you know me personally know that I do not like discussing money. It puts me to sleep to be honest. Thankfully this book did not.

One thing I didn’t like in this play that it all took place in one room. How boring for the audience in my opinion. It makes for an affordable play to produce but not very entertaining.

Overall I rate this book a 3 out of 4 stars.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
yelena
This book is definitely an American Classic. It tells of a struggling African American family during a very diffcult time of the African-American race, civil rights for women, and most importantly dreams for all. Hansberry does an outstanding job capturing the lives of a typical black family in the late 50s- early 60s. Everything from dealing with financial security to the possiblity of trying to become more, is some of the same issues we are dealing with now as everyday people. A very great read. I would recommend for any serious reader.

Stone Michaels, Author of Defining Atlas
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kay gerard
Some might call the Youngers black; I call them black and blue. All the rage of the minority experience in America has found its way into one household, and the characters of this drama burst on stage with the sheer weight of it. The American Dream has been placed within the hearts of a people who have not the resources to make that Dream a reality -- so what do they do?

What else? They fight about it.

Hearts are bared; hearts are broken; hearts are emptied. And the playgoer is left there to pick up the pieces. After hearing the moving story of Walter Younger, should he give up his dream? After watching the despair of Lena Younger, should he give up his history? After watching the transformation of an American family on stage, should he sing for the exuberance of life or smash tables for its injustices?

And yet, fifty years later, "A Raisin in the Sun" has wilted -- if only imperceptively. Segregation, time has proven, cuts both ways. The problems of injustice in America have not let up one bit, even as our problems of racism have steadily improved. Hansberry was not shortsighted, but this marvelous play of the 1950s does not apply quite as brilliantly to the problems of a new millenium.

Nevertheless, this play should be required reading for any American who wants his rights to be respected, and occasionally has a wrong idea of how. (In other words, pretty much any one of us.)
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
shaq o neil
A Raisin in the Sun is one of the most important pieces of American Literature in history. Every American should read this play (and then watch the 1961 film with Sidney Poitier) to understand a beautiful, strong, sad, and uplifting view of racism and life in 1950s Chicago. Lorraine Hansberry writes with the passion of a person living a hundred lives. It is a beautiful story. My 11th grade American Literature students read it every year, and it is overwhelmingly their favorite text all year.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
steven patterson
For the first few pages, as the rather depressing scene was being set, I was afraid that this book was going to be yet another "Death of a Salesman," which I had no desire to subject myself to. But then Bennie enters and the family debate on atheism ensues, and the entire tone of the book changes. An argument about atheism, in a run-down inner-city apartment! This is fantastic! At that point I was hooked and had to read straight through to the end -- which doesn't take very long, because this is a very fast read. Spend an evening with your nose in this book, and you will be glad you did.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
markus okur
Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun' is a very powerful and mind opening book. The readers and audience are able grasp a good idea of what life was like for some African Americans in years prior to today. I would recommend it to anyone. 'A Raisin in the Sun' is a play about an African American family from Chicago, who has strong values and the ability to stand by one another through tough hardships. Hansberry is able to connect to readers and the audience within the book by explaining each main character (Walter, Ruth, Mama, Beneatha and Travis Younger), through her words of description that is so unbelievingly deniable. The main characters each have their own uniqueness that helps distinguish their "place" within the play. Although this book is mainly about the rough life of the Younger's and how much easier life was for whites than blacks in the 1950s, it is not completely sad and depressing. Hansberry demonstrates that the Younger's want change and with that she provides tons of anticipation within the play, causing the readers and the audience to want the Younger family to overcome the curveballs life continues to throw at them. 'A Raisin in the Sun' is a good example of a story that expresses, love, sufferings and a family that never gives up in one setting. If you are looking for a heart touching and moving story, this is the book for you.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
tejasvi ravi
I love this play. It shows how a boy becomes a man. It takes time for Walter to truly understand his role, but with time he realizes that his family is depending on him. It shows a family’s dynamic. I would recommend this play.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ran yuchtman
"A Raisin in the Sun," the play by Lorraine Hansberry, was produced in New York City in 1959. Hansberry creates the story of the Youngers, a struggling African-American family whose members deal with poverty, racism, and painful conflict among themselves as they reach for a better life. The Youngers are, in my opinion, one of the most unforgettable families in United States literature. Hansberry balances grim drama, comic moments, and redemptive love as the play unfolds.
Although a few of the characters may seem a bit stereotypical, the play strikes me as surprisingly fresh after all these decades. It is also fascinating to hear the voices of three generations of a single family in this play. Ultimately, "Raisin" is a celebration of struggle, pride, and hope, in addition to being a historically important indictment of mid-20th century racism. This is essential reading for anybody with a serious interest in United States drama or African-American literature.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
betsy brooks
I became interested in this screenplay after watching The Fences movie. I think every American who wants to learn from our past needs to read about the domestic level strife people had; particularly those in poverty.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
ciro
A good theme is the most important piece of a play, it is necessary to create a play with literary merit. This is one of the key factors that make A Raisin in the Sun an excellent play. The general theme of the play revolves around the conflicts that can arise when dreams are put on the line. The author, Lorraine Hansberry uses this theme to illuminate how selfish people can be when dealing with their dreams. This selfishness is generally not a problem; however when given the opportunity to achieve this dream people tend to loose themselves.

The delivery of the theme in A Raisin in the Sun is excellent. Hansberry places opportunity and hope in one of the most unlikely families possible, the Youngers. The Youngers are an African American family living in Chicago during the 1950s. The Youngers have lived a somewhat deprived life because of the nature that African Americans were treated during the 1950s. However this is all about to change when they hear that of an insurance check for $10,000 heading in their direction. This dramatic shift in hope allows Hansberry to show the true power dreams can have over people.

Hansberry does an exceptional job of displaying the desperation people can feel for their dreams. Before the check comes it is made apparent that Walter and Beneatha both have very clear and distinct dreams. Walter wishes to open a business and Beneatha wishes to go to college. Beneatha and Walter have no mind for each other's dreams. An example of this is when Walter neglects to deposit money for Beneatha's education before giving the money to Willy Harris. Through his mistake, Walter shows how dreams can get in the way of judgment and lead to desperation.

Lastly Hansberry manages to wrap up the story very nicely by showing great character development. Throughout the play Walter becomes more and more conflicted with Mama as she continually rejects his proposal. As time goes on Walter loses almost all hope in life because of Mama's choice. This along with other decisions of Walter pushes the reader to lose hope in Walter. By the end the play it is revealed that Walter has given up on his dream in exchange for his family's respect. Walter giving up on his dream shows character growth because he sees the importance of the dreams of his family.

In conclusion a Raisin in the Sun is a play that delivers a great theme by showing the conflicts that dreams can create. A Raisin in the Sun isn't a great play but it is exceptional as play I read in English class.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
jeff benner
I had to read this for school, so I opened up the book expecting to hate it.

Well, I loved it.

This book is really fantastic, and as a white teenage girl in the Pacific Northwest, I found myself surprisingly enough relating to the characters. I was educated about the time and how people were seen. What I found was so profound about this, was that it wasn't about living through the abuse of others in their new neighborhood, but that it was about BEFORE they moved. It's the same characters interacting with each other in ONE setting, yet there is not a dull moment.

Thank you Mr. Teacher for forcing me to read this!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
c blake
I recently read this play. Although I haven't seen it performed yet, I must say that it is certainly an excellent play that, given the appropriate actors, has the power to move the audience. At heart this play deals with dreams and racism. Some of the scenes, especially the last 5 - 10 pages will really move the readers/viewers through the skillful dialouge written by Ms. Hansberry.
Overall, this is a powerful, enjoyable, moving play I'd recommend for anyone mature enough to appreciate it.
As an interesting aside, in case you didn't know, the title "A Raisin in the Sun" comes from a Langston Hughes poem called "Dream Deferred."
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
starfy
This book outlines a colorful premise on the life of an African American family and describes their fight for their dreams.Schools have been using this play to get students reading and give them different perpectives.I think this book is for all.Some language...but it's not like no one has heard any badmouthing anyway.I think that it is just a really really really good play too and that Lorraine Hansberry did a good job just weaving everything together.You can really relate to this story with the dilemmas and questions it rises.And it's not like anything of a complicated story either, you can really decipher it.And last I believe the author wrote from her heart, exprssing herself through her work majestically.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
christina jones
How can anyone not relate to the struggles of the Youngers? Their story of trying to obtain the American Dream is universal and the ruts in the road along the way are Universal. Clearly, the women are the heroes, pillars of strength and ones with the most common sense. It's almost like Hansberry's central theme was, "you can do bad all by yourself."
.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
janet newport
I had to read this book for my senior AP english class and I was quite stunned when I realized that I actually liked it. I like to read, but not usually the books the teachers assign, and the other two books she had assigned turned out to not be all that good. I liked a Raisin in the Sun because it had just the right mix of drama, and humor. Lorraine Hansberry really knows when the drama has become too much and she adds in a little bit of humor like any great author would. I really liked the characters, especially Beneathea who I found to be especially poignant and humorous. This book did not have a greatly detailed plot, but it made up for it in the way it was presented. It wasn't supposed to be an adventure novel, so I wasn't looking for a whole lot of plot twists. I also liked the message it sent.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
chelsea hartman
"Raising in the Sun" convey about a black family who lived in ghetto for many years. In this family the head of the house is the mother because her husband was dead. In this family everyone has a dream that they want to accomplish. And they all have different dreams.
The mother dream was to have a happy family and a big house. She wishes to have big house to make since a family of eight living in one bedroom. So when she see that, she always want to do something about it, but she didn't have money to buy a house so they can all have their own bedroom. One of her son's dreams is to buy a liquor store. But his problem was that he doesn't have any money in his account because he drinks too much when he got money. He thinks that they can live a better life if he can open one. His mother never approved of that idea because of her religion.
Beth is a student who wants to go to medical school. Her dream is to become a doctor. She thinks that there is nothing that she can do. She always tries something and fail, but she never give up. She always does different things to see if she can do it or not. One day she told to her brother about her dream, and he didn't approved it, because one she was only little girl, second, they didn't have enough money to send her to school. When he told her about what he thought of her dream, she didn't listen to his remarks because she was certain that one day she will be somebody.
One of the dreamers wants to have happy family. That all she wanted. It's always something that they find to argue. When she sees that, she feels very disappointed because there wasn't a day that goes by with out the family argue over nothing. They always fight.
Those are the dreams that they have. But the sad thing was that, the mother was the only one, who accomplished her dream, because the mother bought the house. She got the money from her husband insurance money. When the mother got the money the first thing that she did was buy a house in predominately white neighborhood. There wasn't any black person who lived in that area. Even if they did, the white people were bombing them. The mother wasn't afraid of any of those things because the only thing that she wanted to do was to buy the house and make the family happy. She didn't care about all racially motivated attack the family might have to face in the new neighbor.
After the mother bought the house, there was extra money in her hand. So she decided to give to her son so he can put it in the bank and take it out when Beth accepted by one of the medical school for her tuition. He agreed to follow his mother's instruction when he took the money. But instead of putting the money in the bank, he chooses to talk to some people that are planning to sale their liquor store. He talked to them and gave the money to one of his friends. This guy took the money and disappear some where. Nobody could find him. When son come home and told his mother and his family about what had happened, they were shocked. They couldn't believe that he would do such silly thing. He didn't only lost the money but also destroyed the family's dream. So because the son lost the money Beth couldn't go to medical school and he couldn't buy the liquor store.
The family was very disappointed in him. There was nothing they could do without any money. Finally the mother say that she no longer wants to have the house because there wasn't nothing they can buy for their new house. But the whole family told her that it's better at least to keep the house. After they suffer for a long time, they were being able to have a house with big garden.
The book relates to the most of the African-American family living situation even today. We can only learn that when money (luck) comes to us somehow, we have to be careful before we jeopardize our life and our loved ones. We certain have to carefully evaluate the possibilities before we decided to invest our money. We cannot trust people in money. It is such evil thing that has been turn good people in such vicious and merciless. We should always be careful with our money.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
daeron
This play is good but not great. I had to read this in eigth grade for English class. There's a lot of irony in that; our teacher made us read this book but would not allow us to read To Kill a Mockingbird, because she thought our parents wouldn't like us reading a book about racism! ARITS DOES deal with racism! The Younger family is compelled to live a hard life because they are black; in fact, when they finally get enough money to build a new life, they find the perfect house in a white neighborhood - and are instantly offered money to NOT move there. Last time I checked, that was considered racism.
I don't see how you can compare ARITS with TKAM; some say the difference is in black and white. Maybe so, but you must take into consideration that TKAM is told through the eyes of an innocent child, and cannot be expected to have the entire harsh perspective as ARITS does. I personally thought this play inappropriate for middle-school aged children, particularly because of some choice words, but that's just me. TKAM is a better choice for younger people on the topic of racism.
This play also might lose the interest and patience of the reader. The ending was very strong, as were some other parts, but on the whole the play is very verbose. There isn't really much action, just a family talking on and on about dreams that will never be, and why they won't ever be. And if that's what you're interested in, take philosophy class.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kristine g
In her play, Lorraine Hansberry indirectly poses many tough-to-formulate-an-answer questions: What hapens to a dream when it suspends in time? Does its power grow and ultimately force him to act to make it happen sometime in the future-if not in his lifetime then in the future members of his kin? On the other hand, does it eat away at him, crystallizing and internally segmenting his own derived purpose and meaning of life until it is indiscernible from its original state of grandeur and grace? And perhaps more importantly than the aforesaid: Are these questions and the experiences of her Youngers only confined to them--people of "their" color, "their" ethnicity, "their" people?
The reader will find her work truly enriching and thought provoking. She doesn't impose censures or "beat around the bush." Her characters emote a sense of drive, passion, and hope that are truly at the VERY least reflections of many of our own lives.
This story about dreams and what happens to them is certainly one worth reading about.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
margie hays
Lorraine Hansberry's play "A Raisin in the Sun" provides an in-depth view of a family struggling to achieve their dreams. It shows how a person's dreams can oftentimes be the only glue that holds a family together. The Younger family lives in a world of poverty in post World War II Chicago. Their cockroach infested home and inability to provide basic funds for the child's education really pull you into their world.

To the credit of Hansberry, I found myself very frustrated at times in this novel. It seems as if every time the family grows close to escaping their situation, unfortunate events cause their dream to be "deferred" as the opening poem of the novel suggests. Every time I would begin to root for one of the characters who seem to be making strides toward improvement, they fall very short of their goal. I found the character of Walter to be the most troubling because of his inability to devise and execute a plan to provide for his family. Though I certainly do not find Walter to be a treasured literary character, he did allow me to better relate to the struggles and pressures of men who are unable to provide for their family. Walter, however, does undergo a somewhat dramatic transformation which really served to redeem him in my eyes. Raisin's imperfect cast really makes this novel a gem because of the humanity of the characters.

This book is an easy read and can be well-understood by any high school student or above. I would strongly recommend this book for people who enjoy books on civil rights struggles, but more importantly to those who treasure books about the strong bond of a family's dreams.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
jeff harper
I had to read this for school, and I was not impressed. Although this book is great at expressing important issues that happened in the 1950s and still happen today, the characters kept fighting with each other and were never happy. The plot was very unrealistic, especially because $10000 is worth much more today than in the 1950s. If you don't like books that continually show unhappy people, do not read A Raisin in the Sun.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ukasz
I LOVED this play. It's characters we're brilliantly created. My favorite was by far Beneatha. This play demands emotional involvement. You can't help feeling depressed for the plight of the family because the characters are so REAL! Of all the plays we've read in my AP English class this is by far the best. It seemed very Shakespearian (another timeless playwrite) in its excellent characterization, wittisisms, and shifts between funny and tragic scenes. I'm glad the family was victorious in the end because I didn't want to go to sleep depressed (and I would have been, the book is THAT good). Lorraine Hansbury has earned every star with this play.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
pattyh2
Throughout my life I have grown up not understanding the images protrayed to me concerning the age of the Harlem Rennesiance. Few modern writers better capture the essence of racism and housing discrimination in the 1950's than Lorrainne Hansberry in this play.This play has the ability to recover and sustain ethical idealism amid the conditions society puts against African Americans at that age. It is a play about distress, futility and tragedy, but hopelessness, courage out of fear, and idealism out of fatalism. Is it possible to believe that someone can not love the vivid images and miss the strenght,suspense, and knowledge this novel portrays? Mama is the stronghold in the family becouse the father died and Walter the oldest son has not found the inner piece with him self yet. There is a cast of very few characters, with one of the Youngers appearing in every scene; Walter, the protagonist, is the main character and focal point throughout. The play also has a unity of time and place. Only a few days pass in the drama, and almost all the action takes place in the small, dingy apartment of the Youngers, located in the ghetto of South Chicago. The play is further unified by the themes of having dreams, discrimination, and pride, which are developed throughout. Another unifying factor is the use of the symbolic potted plant, which stands for the struggling Younger family and appears several times in the play. The plant, starved from sunlight yet cling for life,as are her children, encapsulates Mama's primary role as caregiver and nurturer. She also does a great job portarying simple objects like a garden plot into symbolizing a great deal. The garden plot at the new house signifies, as for Willy in Death of a Salesman, a little part of the promise land.At the end of the play, Hansberry proves that dreams really can come true, even for poor black people. Even though Walter's business deal falls through and Willy steals the insurance money, Walter comes into his manhood, standing up to Lindner and telling him that the Youngers will keep their house in Clybourne Park. As a result of his maturing, his marriage to Ruth is certain to improve, especially since she is delighted about moving into the new place. Lorraine Hansberry made it clear and picture perfect on how Walter transformed and corrected his wrong. Mama is also ecstatic that her dream of a nice place for her family is coming to fruition. Reading the story gives you a wholesome feeling and a better image of your future. Struggling through hard times. Finally, Beneatha is delighted that Asagai has asked her to be his wife and is willing to help her on her way to fulfilling her dream of being a doctor.Lorraine Hansberry developes all these themes and makes them rhyme through her use of slang and jargon. The unique language shows the different cultures of blacks from Chicago to Africa. These characters are very unique and each person sygnifies someone that you are today.Hold mama's hand as she takes you to her promise land.YOU Won't me sorry. READ IT!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
carrie grant
"A Raisin in the Sun" is an example of Midwestern African American literature, which delivers a realistic view of conditions of living for impoverished African Americans living in the Southside of Chicago. However, some tend to abjure this idea of Hansberry's play, they believe that her view of this lifestyle was exaggerated. The acumen of Hanberry's knowledge on the subject is lost on some, however her detailed sketch of the Younger's life shows the rest of us that this must have deeply affected her. The acerbic tone of Mama Younger when she is discussing money with her son shows Hansberry's expertise. With acrimony Walter (Mama's son) goes to his job as a driver of the rich every weekday. Hansberry's makes it clear to the reader that Walter has much antipathy towards the people he is driving around. Some may argue that in real life a chaffeur would be treated with more respect than which Walter received. However, from my experiences I've seen nothing but disrespect towards these workers. The apartment, in which the Younger's have lived for the longest time, is not a pleasant place to live. Hansberry's does an excellent job in the way she makes sure not to adumbrate the condition of the run down apartment. Some find it unrealistic that they could have been living in this ragged apartment for such a long time, and not being able to move out. This shows directly the unfair situations and poor pay that African American's received at this time in Chicago. Lorraine Hansberry's detailed play is for anyone who wished to understand the hardships of African Americans. Those who do not agree with Hansberry's interpretation of the time period are seriously misinformed. After reading this triumph Hansberry will truly have your approbation.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
robert ryan
"A Raisin In The Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry is about a black family living on the South Side of Chicago in the 1950s. The head of the family is Mama because her husband died. Youngers are about to receive insurance check for ten thousand dollars. Each of the adult members of the family has an idea what they would like to do with this money. Mama wants to buy a house, Walter wants a liquor store and Beneatha wants to be a doctor. Ruth discovers that she is pregnant, but fears if she has the child, she will put more financial pressure on the members of the family. Ruth thinks about abortion, however Mama would not let her.
Mama puts a down payment on a house for the whole family. This house is in Claybourne Park and all white folks live there. White folks do not accept the Youngers and send Mr. Lindner to offer the Youngers money in return for staying away. Walter loses the rest of the money to Willy Harris who convinces Walter to invest in the liquor store and then runs off with his cash. Beneatha receives a marriage proposal from Joseph and he wants her to move to Africa with him. The Youngers move out of the apartment to a new house. They believe that they can suceed if they stick together as a family and overcome the racial discrimination.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
shaikha
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY HARPER LEE, about a white family having to deal with the problems of racism. A RAISIN IN THE SUN BY LORRAINE HASSNBERRY, about a black family having to deal with the problems of racism. Both books were read in my eighth grade English class and both books are related by one main idea, racism. Both books were based after World War 2, TKM in the South and ARITS in the North where racism was very alive and controlled by the white man. In ARITS the family wanted to move so they could have a comfortable life, but when they bought a house it turned out by being in an all white neighborhood. There is some discussion about not moving. In TKM if Tom Robinson and his family wanted to move into a white neighborhood there would be more than discussion there would be a decision that there would be no chance of them getting out of his black neighborhood because he would be hanged and tortured. In To Kill A Mockingbird there is a very powerful father, Atticus, who is like Mama in A Raisin In The Sun both have connections with powerless men who finally rise to the top, by becoming strong and believing in themselves. Walter Younger (ARITS) is a very stubborn black man trying to make a comfortable living for his family when Karl Linder, a representative from the white community, enters the families life and tells them that it is not a smart idea to move Walter gets very emotional and upset but finally stand up for his family. Tom Robinson has been accused of Rape of a white woman, at the time racism was very alive, even though there was not enough evidence to prove that he was guilty, and since there was an all white jury, Tom didn't stand a chance of being proven innocent. Harper Lee is a white woman writing about a white family having to struggle in a world dominated by the WHITE MAN. It seems as though Ms. Lee has hope for blacks, she shows that in the book by having Tom Robinson's trial. She knows that blacks have a chance and that they should never try to give up. Loraine Hasenberry is a black woman writing about a struggling black family who has given up hope in a world of white supremacists. In the book her characters reflected upon her thoughts by giving up hope of ever becoming anything. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who shows an interest in plays about segregation in the 1900's. I had a great time reading it and I hope you do too!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kait wallace
A Raisin in the Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry, is a book about the life of an African-American family, who was struggling to survive in a world dominated by whites. I am an eigth grade student who was assigned to choose a book to read from a selection of literature about African-American life in the mid 1900's. While we were reading our independent book, in class we were also reading and studying To Kill a Mockingibrd, by Harper Lee. Th pupose of reading two of the same types of boos at the same time was to compare points of view within each book. In A Raisin in the Sun, the point of view is tols by the author through the four main characters: Ruth, Walter, Mama and Beneatha. All of these characters are members of an African-American family. Where as in To Kill a Mockingbird, the point of view is told by the author through Scout, a six year old white girl. The amount of racism changes from book to book because even though Scout is not racist by any means (she was raised that way), she is young and does not fully understand all of the components of racism, and as compared to the characters in A Raisin in the Sun, she does not start to convey the feelings of this terrible thing, because the characters in A Raisin in the Sun a re victims of racism, therefore they can portray it in a much stronger sense. Overall I felty that this book told a very interesting story about people living in a segregated world. It was fun being able to read it in a play format as well because I was able to vividly imagine them in action in my mind. I definitely recommend this book to all people who are interested in points of views and stories about segregation in the earlier part of this century.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
shalma m
This story was one of the most fascinating plays I have ever read. In particular, whenever I watch old re-runs of "Good Times" I always think of Walter, and the Younger Family, living happily, albeit not necessarily comfortably in the "ghetto."
I definitely recommend watching these old re-runs to get a feel for the play. One has to piece together the references, allusions and collage-like nature of the material and situate the works historically and critically so that their difficulty is translated into effective meaning and feeling.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
rhonda offield
"A Raisin in the Sun" is a required read to anyone who wants to learn more about the true meaning of the American dream. It not only relates to African Americans, but it also can be related to by other minorities, the lower class society, and basically anyone who seeks the pursuit of happiness in America.

The play is about a hard-working lower class African American family who is trying to get out of their crumy little apartment. Lena Younger (Mama) is getting a ten thousand dollar check from an insurance company for her husband's death. She wants to use this money to buy a house for the family to live in and pay for her daughter's (Beneatha) college tuition, but Mama's son, Walter, has other plans with her money. Walter wants to open a liquer store with a couple of his no-good friends. The family's anticiapation of using Mama's money ends up tearing them apart. Everyone wants spend the money differently. The Younger family has to hit rock bottom before they notice the mistakes they have made and agree on a common goal.

I especially liked the character, Mama. She is the strong willed head of the household. While reading this play I often thought about the old saying, "mama knows best." Mama is the character who brings the family together and gives the play its life. Reading Mama's character was worth reading the play alone. I actually learned a great deal about life from reading this play and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in reading it.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
shimmerngspirit
A raisin in the sun is a good book for people to read, because you can learn more about African American drama, but this book not only talk about African America it also relates about class society, and it talk about different type of racism.

This play is about a group of character that want get out of a little apartment. Mama is a really good character, she adjusted to many things in life and overcome many more, and her face. Mama get ten thousands dollars check from a companies for her husbands death she want to use this to pay schools for her daughter, but mama's son name Walter want to set up a store liquor with his friends. Everybody in the family want to spend their money in different way, and the rest of the family anticipate of using Mama money for themselves. Another character that I like is Beneatha because she was talking to Asaigai like he never understand between men and woman there is more than one feelings can exits. I also like Asaigai because he is proud his African roots and is proud of the color differences.

The Character that I like especially is mama because she is strongest person in the Whole play, and she is the best.

I think with out no mama the play would not be interesting, Mama give the play life I learned a lot of stuff about life from reading it. I would suggest more people to read this book.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
diane keaveney
This book is about an African American family who is experiencing tough times as they fight a fight battles amongst themselves and those that they have to endure as an African American family in the late 1950s. I would recommend this book to people because it gives a perspective of what it would be like to live in those conditions. It also had many twist and turns which keeps the reader guessing what will happen next. Not only is this a good book it is also a very good play.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
per arne hoff
A Raisin in the Sun, written by Lorraine Hansberry ,is by far one of the best books have read yet. The setting is in the mid-1900's in the Southside of Chicago. The main focus of this book occurs around a poor black family in a poor black community, the Younger's. Hansberry does a great job of using dialect to make the scenes quite realistic and uses quite a bit of symbolism, irony, motifs, and situations that involve making decisions where you become stuck between a rock and a hard place. The book starts off with Walter Younger's obsession with his mother's insurance check so he can become a true entrepeneur and invest in his own liquor store. Since religion played a vital role in Mama's reaction to this sinful act it really damaged Walter's hopes and dreams. Later in the book Mama finally decides to give Walter the money and leaves him with the responsibility of taking care of the family, this is where the rising action begins. Then the climax hits when Walter finds out that the money he gave to his partner is gone. This leaves Walter and the rest of the family in a sudden feeling of disillusionment. Then as things cool down Walter and the rest of the family decide to go ahead and move into the all white neighborhood. The rest of the story is jam packed with racial, religious, economic, and even feministical motifs that aid in the release of all the true tensions in the novel, between characters, which Hansberry purposely relates to the reality of the way society really is. Her purpose for writing this book was to show the way society worked and to make it apparent how hard life was for a poor black family. Overall I really enjoyed this book. It had alot of realistic elements , enough to make the reader stay interested and more. The plot is dramatic and ends ironically. I gave this book 4 stars because it had all the elements of a good book it just did not have the ending I was expecting. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a easy reading book that contains alot of real life situations and the struggle of a poor black family just trying to "move on up", just like the Jefferson's just without all the funny jokes.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
crystal
"A Raisin in the Sun" portrays a black American family through real life struggles and financial burden. Ongoing generations of marital conflict and racism is witnessed through the eyes of the Younger household. Mama is the faithful and benign character who clearly ranks title as matriarch of the family. Mama's veracious spirit sets a tone of warmth and compassion which cannot be compared to her moronic and harebrained son Walter. Throughout the play you witness Walter complain to his wife about living a life absent of solitude and his get rich quick schemes of becoming rich.

The Younger household all agrees that nobody will stop them from carrying out Mams's dreams for a better future for her kids despite the ongoing racism they are expected to endure. Mama continues to take pride in her family and her admirable spirit of hope will touch every reader and remind them of their own dreams and ongoing struggles of life.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
susan raines
By fruitfully symbolizing the objects in the Younger's living room and Mama's plant, Hansberry effectively exposes an African-American family's plight to triumph over racial prejudice and reach its ultimate dream: to own a house with a garden. The play begins by describing the setting of the tattered furniture and diminutive window, both symbolizing the Younger family and their sticky situation. The furniture's arrangement displays a since of "taste and pride", which the Younger family embodies. Although the furniture and the Younger family reveal pride, both "are tired". The description of the furniture clearly depicts the Younger family's ray of pride, and their exhaustion of "accommodating the living of too many people for too many years". Walter Younger chauffeurs a rich white man, resenting the fact that he, like the furniture, lived too long accommodating people when he could be fulfilling his own dream to own a business. Also, the soul window in the Younger's family represents their entrapment. The lack of natural light contributes to the Younger's feeling of despair. The thin beam of light that "fights its way" through the window illustrates a gleam of hope for the Younger's dream. Premonitions of hope, seen through the trickle of light from the window, prophesizes the possibility of the Youngers ability to achieve their goal. Mama's scrawny plant also represents the Younger family. Mama exclaims that if the "little old plant" never sees sunlight, it will not see spring again. Like the plant, the Youngers need light or hope to live. Both the plant and the Youngers experience darkness when living in the tight apartment. When the plant begins to fall apart, the Youngers undergo tribulation. The plant that "ain't never had no sunshine or nothing" applies also to the Younger family not having any hope or anything at all. As Mama fixes the plant so it will not get hurt along the way to the new house, Mama states that it expresses her. Mama, the matriarch of the family, strives to protect the family, which the plant symbolizes. The plant expresses her because it shows the family's fortitude to stay alive, even though faced with problems such as lack of sunlight. At the very end of the play, Mama does not fail to forget the plant, which shows the importance of the family, unified by overcoming obstacles of racial oppression. Now the plant can live in a garden filled with sunlight and the Youngers can live their dream.
Hansberry represents the Youngers through the setting and Mama's plant and shows how these entities correlate with the Younger's achievement of surpassing racial friction and obtaining the American dream.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
ian smith
This book is extrodinary. It is about a family the Younger's, how in their every day lives they face many obstacles, financially as well as them being African-American, and living in those "hard times". I believe that in every family there is a strong arm. The strong arm in the Younger family is Mama who does anything at her reach to make things right. As there is a strong arm there can also be a "weak" arm. Walter son of Mama seems to belive that money is everything but as Mama once told him, " Now money is life, once upon a time freedom use to be life". Indeed the Younger's are to be admired, for they strive to make every of their dreams come true.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
beth mcginley
I really enjoyed reading this story. It was filled with much meaning, and the emotional drama held my attention easily.

The story, a play written by Lorraine Hansberry, is centered on the Younger's, a poor African-American family living in a small apartment on Chicago's Southside sometime after World War II. The dynamic characters of the family, their relationships, and their conflicting ideas of what should be the fate of a ten-thousand dollar insurance check, combine to make a very rich, realistic, and unforgettable story.

From the first scene, the tension in the family is obvious. All of the adult characters want to use the money to help achieve their dreams. Walter, Lena's son, wants to use the check to open a liquor store which he believes will help him become a man of higher class. Beneatha, Lena's daughter, wants to use it to become a doctor which will help her overcome many of the racial and sexual stereotypes she experiences as a young black woman. Lena and Ruth, Walter's wife, want to use the check to buy a house so they can be free from their wretched apartment and so that Travis, Walter and Lena's son, can grow up in a rich environment. The eventual fate of the money, their dreams, and their relationship with one another at the end of the story is surprising and it gives the story a realistic value that makes it worth reading.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kassandra montgomery
So much has been written about this play, it's difficult to add anything else to the conversation. Suffice it to say that this is a play anyone interested in theater should be familiar with and anyone interested in being a human being MUST be familiar with. It contains so much humanity and wisdom and beauty, grafted on to the sorrow and anger love inherent in every line. Read it and see it both!
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
pascha
I kept thinking something new and original would happen, but it didn't. The characters are very stereotpyical; the courage of moving into a white neighborhood (that an aspect of the book deals with) is no different than what one would expect from any work of fiction about Black America. One character relationship I did find interesting was Beneatha and Lena (Mama). They have several interesting interaction/ conflicts over religion and Beneatha's looking for her African identity. Perhaps novel in its time, this work is outdated.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
tom samjana
All in all, this book was a lot better than I thought it would be. Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun is an excellent story about the events of a black family in Chicago. It was originally a play, so the entire book is set in script form. I enjoyed this form because the book contained more talking and less description, thus allowing the book to move along a lot faster. The main event which occurs in the book is when the family of 5 (grandmother, mother, father, son, aunt) recieve a check worth $10,000 from their grandfather's life insurance. The author conveys to the reader how each character reacts to the money and what they want to do with it. Hansberry also describes the world that the family lives in. Their world is racist, hard to succed in and full of hate. The world, along with Hansberry's excellent writing, is comparible to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. While I was reading A Raisin in the Sun, my eighth grade class was also studying To Kill a Mockingbird. I found myself constantly comparing these two books. In A Raisin in the Sun, the point of view is that of a black person, Hansberry. Because of her ethnicity and of the time she wrote the book, her point of view is different from Lee's. Hansberry believes that black people do not have any hope in a white man's world. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the point of view is that of a white person, Lee. Lee wrote this book during the 50's, about when the civil rights movement was really starting to get strong. Lee was in support of the blacks, so she wrote a book which showed hope for them. If To Kill a Mockingbird were written by a black person, the point of view would be completely different and the message would be that of A Raisin in the Sun. Both of these books are extremely good and well written. A Raisin in the Sun is a great book about racism from a black person's point of view. I enjoyed this book a lot, and I recommend it to everybody.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
shayla
THIS WASNT A BAD BOOK AT ALL BUT IT'S DEFINTLY OVER RATED. Yeah it talks about racism and life in the 1950's, but it's not very entertaining as a book. I definitly do not agree it should be compared to "To Kill a Mockingbird" as one reviewer did. To Kill a Mockingbird did discuss racial issues but it was also very entertaining as a novel. A raisin in the sun is worth reading if you have nothing else to read, it is a quick read. However I think the whole story can be summed up by Langston Hugh's poem a DReam Deferred.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
corrine stephens
A Raisin in the Sun is a great book for all ages. The play is about a hard working family that does the best they can with what they have. This play shows that all choices come with consequences. When the mother comes across a large sum of money, everyone wants to use the money for something different. Mama wanted to buy a house, Walter wanted to invest in a liquor store, and Bennie wanted to use the money for her education to become a doctor. After Mama bought the house she gave the money to Walter to decide what to do with it. Walter made a choice that ruined everyone elses dreams. There are many choices that were made in this play that changed everyones lives. Reading this piece of writing changed the way that I think. Maybe it will change the way you do too.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kiki
I had to read this book for an english class, but I did like it! it was an amazing use of charachters and setting, and the way they were placed into the plot was amazing. Yet previously, I had read To Kill A Mockingbord. I loved that. It is definately the best book I ever read. They both covered the idea of racism with african-americans, yet TKAMB (To Kill A...) explained it from a white childs point of view, unlike ARITS (A Raisin...). While ARITS covered many issues expierenced by any and all families, TKAM was perfect. It was just a magnificent example of american literature. I'm only 13, but I don't think there is any book even comparable to TKAM except this one. It's defineately worth your time, yet, if you haven't already read it, To kill a mockingbird, by Harper Lee is brilliant.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
shaiya
I liked the book "A Raisin in the Sun", but not very much. The book dealt with religion, racism, and financial problems. This book is for every family who has gone through those things and they would know what the Younger family was going through. The reason why I didn't like the book a lot is because of the ending. I feel the ending could have been more dramatic; however, still end the way it did. I liked the way Walter had took the responsibility over the money and I thought he was going to do the right things,such as pay for Beneathas medical school, but he didn't and because of Walter not doing the right things it caused conflicts. There were several conflicts in the book and action is what made me want to read more of the book. If my teacher hadn't assigned me to read this book I don't think I would have read it.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lauren mckenna
A raisin in the sun is a greaat book, that is about a man named Walter that wanted the best for his family and son. his father have always tought him how to stay strong in a very wild life, but Wlater was weak, he never learned that he must do stuff the hard way if he wanted to succed in life. he has always wanted to get money the easy way, but he never makes it to the end because its not easy to make money. even thought Walter wanted to be really rich and be like white men at the time, he stile didnt try hard to be rich like what his dad told him before he passed out.
Also in the play Beneatha was Walter's sister that also had dreams of being a doctor. she wanted all people to like her and love her but she didn't learn how to do that and which way to get them to like her. Ruth was a woman who had seen many battles in life. She expected to live the good life with Walter and when that did not happen, she stood by his side anyway. They had one son that they could hardly take care of and when she found herself pregnant she became desperate looking for a solution. How were they going to take care of a child, they could hardly feed and clothe the one they had.
The mother of this family was Ruth, she was a great mama that have always cared about her family and she always try to pull them together to form a great strong family.
This story showed how much problems African American families had at that time and how much they strugled.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
pharr
A raisin in the sun is a really good book for people to read because you can learn more about African American drama but this book not only talk about African America it also relate about class society.

This play is about a group of character that want get out of a little apartment. Mama is a really good character, she adjusted many things in life and overcome many more, and her face is. Mama get ten thousands dollars check from a companies for her husbands death she want to use this to pay schools for her daughter, but mama's son name Walter want to set up a store liquor with his friends. Everybody in the family go spend their money in different way, and the family anticipate of using mama money to their staff.

The Character that I like is especially mama because she is strong person in the in the

Whole play I think with out no mama the play will not be interesting, and it give the play life I learned a lot of staff about life from reading it I will suggest more people to read this book
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
melody radford
For my ninth grade summer reading I was assigned to read A Raisin In The Sun. I found it funny, amusing,and very suprisingly realistic. Of all the characters, I found that Beneatha amused me the most with her willingness to try new things and make the best out of hard situations. She does not have as many lines as Mama, Ruth, or Walter, but you can tell that the storyline of the play revolves around her. This book is touching, but certainly never borring. If you have'nt read it or you want to read a play for the first time then this is a good book for you!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jes s
Its incredible how this play, A Raisin in the Sun is capable of getting the reader's mind thinking of reality just as it has with mine. The way Lorraine Hansberry portrays the struggle those who live with colored skin vs. non-colored have gone through, maybe even right at this moment, establishes realization at the thought. The harsh racism being shown through this dramatic piece leaves a moral well said and awareness of cruel reality. In scene three, as Linder, the "Welcoming Committee" representative tries to explain his point, going out of his way to talk to the Younger family, he stammers out, "...It is a matter of people of Clybourne Park believing, rightly or wrong, as I say, that for the happiness of all concerned that our Negro families are happier when they live in their own communities" (Hansberry pg. 117-118). Although Linder lays the point down soft, the point he's tries to get out is so unreasonable and candid as someone out there might have relatively experienced. The fact of being a Negro family mustn't have anything to do with happiness of any American family. The color of a human being mustn't even be recognized as classifications in the first place. Going further along the lines, as Mama is being informed by Benetha, Walter, and Ruth of what the welcoming committee representative came for, Ruth comments, "Well - that's the way the crackers crumble" (Hansberry pg. 121). This derogatory statement, "cracker" towards Americans demonstrates that it's not only the Negros that receive the discrimination. A great deal of a hate bases somewhat equally on both sides resembling real-life situations. The veracity of hate in the world just needs to stop.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
partygurl287
"A Raisin in the Sun" reads more like a novel than a play. With a multitude of dialogue, and lenient stage direction, you'll finish reading this play in no time at all. The characters are strong, liable, and intriguing. I'm not sure I'd want to see it performed, but it is poignant to read. I recommend.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
poj216
This is a book that almost everyone would enjoy reading. It's a play with things that really happen in real life. This is a play that can actually let you see and read about some of the frequent situations and problems that many fmilies go through everyday. This play also talks and deals a lot with the many decisions that a person has to make in life in order to succeed or to fail in life. I really enjoyed reading this play a lot and I would recommend this book to anyone but especially to the people who enjoy reading books about the problems or some of the situations that happen in real life.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
mindy
I thought "A Raisin In The Sun" was a great book. It was easy to get into and even harder to put down. The book was about an African-American family, the Youngers, sometime during World War II on Chicago's southside. As the book progresses, more and more about the families financial problems are discovered and their futuere depends on their mother's check of ten-thousand dollars. As bad decisions are made by the Youngers, good things happen to them and racial issues occur to try to hinder them from their dreams."A Raisin In The Sun" is a great book. I recommend this book to young adults ranging from ages 14 and up.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
javier de obeso
I think this book was good.This book deals with some real life issues that happen in the world today.The family in this book has to make a lot of choices but they dont think of the consequences that come with the choices they make.At the begining of the book we learned a little about the characters and their life styles.As we go further in the story we learn what kind of choices the characters have to make.Some were bad and some were good.But most of all the choices were bad and had some drastic consequences.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
maria ryan
I read this play as a required reading book for my 10th-grade English class. Boring, right? WRONG! I found the story to be inspiring and emotional, and the characters realistic, multi-faceted and down-to-earth. Beneatha's loftiness, spontaneity and charming flightiness reminded me very much of my younger sister, which enhanced the realism of the book. The character of Mama was someone I would have liked to meet in real life; simple and ignorant but conventionally wise and hardworking. The story dealt with both the characters' internal and external conflicts, conflicts with money, lovers and family, which in my mind made it very interesting reading. The author writes with passionate but realistic emotion and the problems of the Younger family could easily have struck a lower middle class black family in the 1940's. A definite must-read!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
palak
For those wanting to understand the influence of this great American author, I strongly recommend this edition of Raisin and Sign. The commentaries and introductions are priceless. Not to mention that the plays themselves are fascinating. Speaking as a white, Irish female, one would wonder why I'd have such a high opinion, well, doing Ms. Hansberry as a research subject for my entire junior year, I didn't have much interest at first. But reading these plays made me realize that Hansberry holds a great power for writing about universal concepts and ideas, whether the reader is black or not. Especially The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
camille broadway
A "Raisin in the Sun",is an exciting book to read. The book shows certain problems that certain families go through in their every day life. I mostly thought the book was exciting because it was written as a play,and helped me understand the book better. I mostly enjoyed the book because the Younger family never gave up on their dreams,and the family always looked at life in a positive manner. I recommend the book for all ages because no matter what age,you would see what certain families go through everyday to succeed in life.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
yaser akram
This play does capture the African American History in America after World War II, however the characters are a bit extreme. The story ends in a bit of a tangent with Walters character completely changing. There should have been more to it. The character went from a money hungry poor black man who has no respect towards others, to a completely changed respectable smart caring and loving man, back to a money throbbing individual, back to a respectable loving character. That just made no sense to me.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
cameo rogers
This play helps to remind all people where we came from and gives us more reason to appreciate where we are. Beautifully written, and heartfelt. I love the independence and strength of the female characters, especially Mama. I applaud Beneatha's need for more, and Ruth's strength to deal with her husband and any misfortune that is thrown her way. Truly a movable classic. I loved it!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
arci
Allison Leigh has written a book of powerful love, packed with emotion, humor & down to earth grit. Matthew Clay, of the Double-C Ranch, gives new meaning to the "strong-silent" type of man the West is famous for. However, he is not so silent when it comes to his sassy housekeeper, Jaimie Green. The inter-action of Matt & Jaimie definetly sizzles like water drops on a hot skillet. I will be looking for the first of the series, STAY... as soon as possible and can't wait to get to know the other brothers and their loves on the Double-C. GIVE US MORE ALLISON LEIGH. YOU'VE GOT IT GIRL!!!
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
grumpy72
Rasin In The Sun was a well written story. Lorraine Hansberry really captured the reader, by using vivid details and her way of giving a character life in the story. The book was about a normal black family who tried to make their life better for their son and themselves. The family faced struggles just like any other family. This was during a time where there still was strong racism. But just like any other if they try hard enough they can overcome anything. I would recommend this to any reader that I would meet.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kokona
"A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry is an excellent book to read. The story shows common problems that families go through in everyday life. The Younger family struggles with money problems but still they don't let their obstacles interfere with their dreams. Another thing that this book relates to is racism. The family has to make an important decision which would change their lives completely. This book is written like a play which makes it more easier to read and understand. I recommend this book to anyone because it may relate to their own family.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
lajuan
The book "A Rasin in the Sun" deals with a lot of conflicts including money, racism, love, and trust. The story is about the Youngers, a black family living on the South Side of Chicago. It details the family's different views on what should be done with the ten thousand dollar check. The character Mama wants to buy a house. Her son Walter Lee wants to open a liquor store, and the daughter Beneatha wants to finish her schooling. In each scene, a character is faced with a different decision. The story is written as a play. I personally thought "A Rasin in the Sun" was on okay book, and I would tell anybody who loves to read plays to read this story.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
alecsa
Indeed "A Raisin in the Sun" is very good. I really like the way Lorraine Hansberry expresses this story, it seems so real. She gives a strong personality to each character especially Mama, whom is described as an outstanding women "husky of voice stout of step, with fists as well as hands". I recommend this book to anyone who loves reading.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
rebekah hand
The story "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry was interesting and very easy to read. I liked the way they wrote the book as a play, that helped me get pictures of the characters and what they were doing. This book is showing the hard times many families have to go through and how they got through them by talking to one another. Many people can relate to this book because of financial problems or just trying to fit in.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jason kormes
The story "A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry was interesting and very easy to read. I liked the way they wrote the book as a play, that helped me get pictures of the characters and what they were doing. This book is showing the hard times many families have to go through and how they got through them by talking to one another. Many people can relate to this book because of financial problems or just trying to fit in.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
pamm bahuriak
"A Raisin in the Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry
A Black family is united in love and pride as they struggle to overcome poverty and harsh living condition."A Raisin in the Sun" shows the strength of a Black family; the values and ability to stick together. The Younger family were struggling financially but they still managed to succeed of the obstacles in their way.This play symbolizes "Endurance, Hope and Survival," and that no matter what a family has they could stay together and bond in love.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lea patrick
"This is one of my favorite playwrights off all time. It's story takes you back to the mid 1900s when times were tough and the segregation faced by black families were surreal. Filled with drama, love and family struggles, this timeless playwright is one of the best in its genre."--Jamil Clayton, author
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
alicia j
A Raisin In The Sun, by Lorraine Hansberry is a very
interesting book.It gives you alot of detail on the many
different family problems the Youngers had. It also shows
many examples of how many family members have arguements and
fights, and were able to talk about them. I would recommend
this book to many people because the author captures the readers
attention from the beginning to the end.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
anitra
While reading this play, each character is filled with so much human intensity that you hope all will succeed. Such is the essence of this play. It flows very well, and the descriptions place a stage in your hands. I recommend this to anyone who seeks a spiritually inspiring piece.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
izabela
The book "A Raisin in The Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry is a very fascinating and interesting book for people to read. Its an easy book to read of what conflicts families go through. It made me imagine as if I was there with the characters,dealing with their family conflicts of everyday life. Reading this book made me realize that all families go through the same thing all of the time. I recomend this book for all people to read
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
hadil
This is an important play which is still relevant despite the fact that it takes place in the 1950s. The basic issues are still the same in America, unfortunately. It is written beautifully, and each character is masterfully created.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
sharon k
A Rasin in the Sun was a very good book. It shows a lot about how important family is and what money can do to people. A lot of people can relate to this book. I like the way Walter handled Mr. Linder in the end. The book shows how important pride is over money. The Younger family did not let the people in Clybourne Park scare them. They knew how important it was for them to move out of the apartment and into a place of their own.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
laurie thompson
The book "A Raisin In The Sun" is a very good book. The story deals with a lot of real life issues. It has problems that families go through everyday in real life. Some of the problems in the book are financial, religion,and racism. The family shows how to overcome problems without breaking up. I would recommend this book to every family that dea lwith these kind of issues.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
vicki brown
A Rasin In The Sun was a very good book. In fact the book was so good that it only took me two days to read it. The book was about an African American family going throgh some things but still sticking together. They did not let anything get between them, not even money.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
michele rosenthal
"A Raisen in the Sun" is a very dramatic play and one of a kind. That book deals with a lot of everyday issues. Those issues would be, financial, racial and religious. The family in this book has to make a lot of choices but they dont think of the consequences that come with the choices they make. It was amusing in representing the lifestyle of that particular family.
I would really recommend to read this book.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
carrie blair
A Raisin In The Sun is a very inspirational play focusing on issues that occur within everyday families. This play shows that even though people can't always achieve their dreams because of the difficulities and obstacles, when the family comes together, the dreams can come true. I really like this play and I think that it has a very characteristic setting reflecting on pride, courage, and confidence.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
renato
A Raisin in the Sun was a very good book. It was about a Chicago family that had issues that range from family, generational clashes, and women movement. The author posed question about identity, justice, and moral responsibility. This book was the interplay of the past and present, of wisdom and passion. This book was a good example of how family stick together even through hard times.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
marthe
"A Raisin In The Sun" is a excellent play . I learned a lot from this play and I would recommand the book or movie to anyone. The play is about an African-American family who have slight finicial problems and family dissagreements. Overall I really enjoyed reading the play and learned ever to trust anyone with valuable items.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
michael huber
"A Raisin In The Sun" is a excellent play. I learned a lot from this play and I would recommand the book or movie to anyone. The play is about an African-American family who have slight financial problems and family disagreements. Overall I really enjoyed reading the play and learned never to trust anyone with valuable items.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
tori preast
A raisin in the sun was a confusing book. This book has an interisting story that describes how the families go through different situations in life. The family Younger had many problems but managed to stay together. The family members had to make different decisions and some brought consequences to the entire family. The same problems that were in the book could be the same problems others may have.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
alissa hankinson
It is a nice book. The characters personalities made the book good. If the characters were changed the book wouldn't be as good. The story shows the life of a black family in Chicago and their struggles through the years they lived there.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kjersti johanne
"A Raisin In The Sun" is a very good book. This book delt with every day family issues. It showed problems that families go through in real life. Some problems that the family faced were with religion, racism, and finances. This family would overcome any obstacles, and they would stick together no matter what life threw at them.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
kim hansen
This is a very real and raw look into what it would have been like for families in the era looking to branch out to nicer areas. The difficulties are very apparent, and despite everything, the family sticks together and is able to push through. I loved Mama!
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
adel al harthi
This is a great story of stuggles. Themes such as searching for ones self, sexism, identity, racism, greed, and many others. The man character Walter Lee is the father of Travis and brother to Benathea, and son to mama younger. They get a 10,000 check and the family is thinking how to spend it. Throught white and both black racism and many things.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
rick blasing
"A Raisin In The Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry was a very interesting book that I enjoyed reading. It was a play about a family who has financial problems and deals with every day life situations. This book is all about making decisions and how to deal with the consequences that come after. I reccomend this book for teenagers and adults.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
karen moody
This book was very interesting. It got all my focus . It was very good .I finished the book in three days. The author clearly shows that family love is more valuable than money. The book was also about an African American family going through some things and still sticking together. The family had to deal with hate, violence, and racism.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
barbara crisp
I have read some good books in my life, but this is like one of the best books I have ever read! This book was so real life, showing and giving great descriptions. The author expressed the message very clearly. The charaters in this book were so real life. The tone of the characters were great for this book. I recommend people to read this book if they like reading about the past, during where families were poor.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
kim walsh
The book "A Raisin In The Sun" by Lorraine Hansberry was an outsatanding book to read. The author showed one issue that families go through eveyday. Which that issue was money. All the characters had thier own idea of the way the money should be spent.It showed what problems it cause, which teached a lesson.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
elliot sneider
This book is a good book. This book talks about a family having different goals and dreams. It also talks about the family having different kinds of situations such as financial problems. We saw how some bad decions can bring a problem to another member of the family. There is different motions such as love passion frustration and sadness.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
jen wrenn
I had to read this book for my college class--history of the women's movement. It is a play and very easy to read. Very interesting and I probably read it in 2 days (but it could easily be read in 1 day). It has a powerful ending.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
randoll
This a wonderful story about The Younger family who lives in the 1960's Chicago area. It gives us a glimpse of the discrimination the family faced, as well as, a look into family dynamics. It is a great story of love, hope, and family.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
short reviews
The novel a raisin in the sun is a very interesting,and exciting.
The novel is based on a family who struggles
with money prolbems.Even though they have money
prolbems,they never let their obstacle's get in their way.
I would recommemd this wonderful novel to anyone who
is willing to read.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
v in lepp nen
A Raisin in the Sun is a very interesting book. It deals with real-life situations. it gives you an idea of how hard life was back in the 1950's or 60's. It deals with problems such as financial problems, family problems, and even racism. Read and find out how the family overcomes the problems.
sco/4th per
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
harrison
A Raisin in the Sun is a great book.The novel dealt with a great deal of problems that a family would probably go through.This novel also showed that even though familes go through a great deal of problems,they will always stick together.I give this book two thumbs up because this book was great.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
dinesh
Few books are as captivating and heart wrenching as this one. The book depicts the struggles and hardships of a black family in the 1930's with amazing grace and truthfulness. My idea of great literature was altered after I read this masterpiece. (P.S. Get the tissues; its a tear jerker!)
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
holyn jacobson
I found that this play was somewhat easy to read but definitely fits into the realism genre which I'm not really into so much. The story in mainly one about race relations but also has a large amount of insight on family dynamics. If someone is particularly interested in either topic they may very well enjoy this play much more than I did. The writing itself and character building was excellent, I just wasn't much for the topic.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
rupak ghosh
I purchased this audio tape for my daughter for a summer reading assignment for school. It was easy to listen to and follow. We listened to it in the car each time we had to go somewhere. It kept our interest and was a great way to complete the assignment. I wish more book were available on audio.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
ann aka iftcan
I enjoyed this book. It was substantial material and it was fulfilling to the soul. I think it was very well written and is something I would definetly read agian. I saw the movie and it was very good too. I would give this book 5 stars all the way.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
erica b
It was about an African-American family. The father died and left a hanesome amount of money. The oldest son was trusted with the money, but hr tries to do something that he thought was good for the family, and gives the money to his friend to buy a liquor store. The liquor store never came. So they struggle with no money.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
rebecca riggan
This book deals with everyday life situations such as racisim and trying to get out of poverty. It's complex adversity taught me about the real world and how hard it can be. I am sure that you will enjoy reading this book just as well as I did.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
rdbarrett
it was good.
at first i didnt want to read it, because i wanted to enjoy each and everyday of my last days before torture camp, but when i read it, i found out that it was really interesting and just because it's for school it doesnt mean it's bad.
i highly recommend it
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
christian
this book is a breathtaking drama that really touches your heart. it shows love between a family through tough times and how they worked together. i think that this is a really good book and that everyone should read it sometime in their lives.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
michael lufkin
This is the second book of this series written by Allison Leigh. It is a wonderful story of a ranching family in Wyoming, can't wait for the other books to come out. Sherryl Woods is a good author too but she did not write this book.
★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
traci
Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" is a social realism drama depicting the inter-family and social struggles of an African American family living in Chicago during the early Civil Rights movement. It follows the life of Walter Younger, his family, and his mother who is forced to make a decision about what to do with the $10,000 she inherited from her late husband--a decision that will dramatically effect the lives of the entire family.
★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
jcentra
JUAN SCO 4TH PER.
LORRAINE HANSBERRY WROTE A BOOK ABOUT
A RSISIN IN THE SUN.THIS BOOK WAS REALLY
INTERESTING TO READ. EVERYBODY SHOULD
READ THIS BECAUSE ALL THE PEOPLE WILL LIKE THE STORY...
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
adina
I have literally tried to read this book 6 different times and have only ever gotten to the second scene in the first act. It is the worst put together thing I have ever attempted to read. I do not understand how people actually enjoy this story. I think the big problem about this story is that it falls into the American literature category, and all American literature is trash compared to British and world literature.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
lynnette
How this family is Struggling to make it in the society we live. How we should get along as a family as being black americans in the society. And to make our society a better place to live in as black american.
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
marilyn anderson
I found this a pretty boring book to read. Not particularly well written, but the overall story isn't bad. I really would recommend that you don't buy this book (get it from the library if you have to), but instead watch the dvd/video of the play (Danny Glover is hilarious in the lead role).
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
marlene lee
This is one of the worst books I have ever read. It is boring, nothing interesting hapens in it. If you have to chose a book don't buy it. And if you have to read it buy the cliff's notes it wil make it less painful to read. If there had been an option to give this book zero stars I would have chozen it.
★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
donna levin
The play "A Raisin in the Sun" was a very boring book. There wasn't anything interesting about it. It was about a struggling black family that lost all the money they had. Chances are you won't be able to relate to anything in this book. The book ended before it even started.
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