Book Review | Native Son by Richard Wright (All the Spoilers!)

(they/them)
My book review of Native Son by Richard Wright, a book that is just as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1940.
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[@noormatar5137]

Palestinian lived in Qatar as a refugee, studying literature, words such (starving until death, discriminate...) have really deep painful meaning. Thank you for the summary!

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

Thanks for watching!

[@TH3F4LC0Nx]

Great review! Native Son was a life changing book for me! Incredibly enlightening, like you say. I do remember not really clicking so well with some of the political things that I thought Wright was kind of pushing in the book, but that didn't change the fact that Native Son was one of the most psychologically astute books I'd ever read. The way Bigger's character initially seems to conform with so many of the negative stereotypes of that era, and then how Wright breaks it down bit by bit to reveal how and why that is was just stunning to me. Native Son really is a book that needs to be read by more people. :)

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

Thank you. Yes, the explaining Bigger's behavior "choices" was well done, opening the reader's eyes and mind to the wider social structures and effects.

[@steventhomas729]

This was a very good review and analysis of this book. I read this book in 1973 when I was a freshman in high school. (Coincidentally, I'm from Chicago, i.e., the south side.) The teacher who gave us the assignment to read this book was Mr. Barnell Smith. During his class, he would lead us through an analytical discussion of the book. After the class had completed reading the book, we had to write a 1000-word essay about our thoughts regarding the book. I read this book over 50 years ago, and I'm glad to say that many of the social conditions that existed during Bigger Thomas' time no longer apply today. Conversely, and unfortunately, many of the negative social conditions in the United States regarding African Americans still exist. I applaud your review of this book and the way you briefly yet throughly informed everyone who viewed your video. Job well done! Sincerely, S.T.

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

Thanks. This is probably my most-viewed video. I'm not really sure why it has so many views, but I did my best to explain how I understood it.

[@CestKevvie]

OMG I just heard of Native Son last night! I'm currently reading Some Of Us Did Not Die, a collection of essays by June Jordan, and in one of the essays I read yesterday she discusses this book while exploring her thoughts about Mike Tyson's crimes.

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

What a coincidence!

[@BookwormAdventureGirl]

Excellent review AJ. I will read it based on your recommendation. It sounds like one I would really enjoy. And that cover! 😊💙

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

Ooh, let me know what you think of it.

[@rondastothers472]

Fabulous Review!!! I loved listening to this review. I need to read this book for sure.

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

Thanks, Rhonda! I hope you like it.

[@BookishTexan]

Great Review. I have recently been reading some essays by James Baldwin’s in which he is pretty critical of Wright.

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

Interesting. I'd be interested to know what his thoughts are.

[@fiberartsyreads]

Great review. I read this last year and it still sticks with me. I think Bigger is also such a sad character. He’s so defeated with the way his life is in the beginning of the book and I think if it his actions reflect that. Powerful story for sure.

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

💯 Defeated because he knows his life will never be what he dreams.

[@fiberartsyreads]

@@AJDunnReadsandWrites Exactly! He sees no point to anything and doesn’t think anything will change. 😢

[@EmsBookNookMI]

This sounds like an incredible read! Thank you for sharing. 🖤

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

😎

[@JessBookgirlTV]

You know, it's going to be a good morning when you watch one of AJ's videos.

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

😀

[@michaelk.vaughan8617]

Excellent review. I really should read this book.

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

You should!

[@sonjadevenney2524]

This book sounds like a good story. I will have to pick it up

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

I think you'd like it.

[@MsReadsAlot]

I am going to have to come back to this video! It is on my 1001 list and I haven’t read it yet. Spoilers! 😳

[@AJDunnReadsandWrites]

Yes, all of the spoilers. I say in the video that I have to talk about them in order to get the point of the book across to anyone who doesn't read it.

[@quddusquddus136]

“Unrealized potential.” Now a source of wonder in tackling with a book. Communism has to be a rude intrusion in an already racial tinderbox during the 1930s America. The review will stay in my head.