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Peter's Reviews > Native Son
Native Son
by
by
What a powerful book. In narrative, theme, character and motifs, Wright uses his whole arsenal to show us the horrors of racism. He seems to be able to reflect back the experience of racism—how it's created and it's cycle of destruction. I've read other Black writers before, but this book is probably the one that has taken on and embodied racism more so than any other book for me.
For a novel written in 1940, the book holds up quite well. Unfortunately, while our nation has made progress, especially some legal and institutional progress, this book and the picture it paints is still quite relevant today.
The book is very accessible. Wright's prose, while rhythmic and artful, is quite straightforward and easy to read. I can't recommend this book enough, and not just as a means to understand racism from more angles, shine a light on our own behaviors, but also as a gripping literary thriller that has stood the test of time. Put it on your to-read list.
******** Movie adaptation comment below*******
Update April 8th, 2019: Last night I watched the excellent adaptation of Native Son on HBO. While not strictly true to the source material, especially in some sections, and lacking in some ways that made the book exceptionally powerful, I would still recommend watching the movie of the same name. I won't say much more because this isn't a movie review and I want to be careful of spoilers which I know is something people care deeply about. If you've read the book the only thing to spoil is how the adaptation deviates from the source material. I won't say anymore on that topic.
For a novel written in 1940, the book holds up quite well. Unfortunately, while our nation has made progress, especially some legal and institutional progress, this book and the picture it paints is still quite relevant today.
The book is very accessible. Wright's prose, while rhythmic and artful, is quite straightforward and easy to read. I can't recommend this book enough, and not just as a means to understand racism from more angles, shine a light on our own behaviors, but also as a gripping literary thriller that has stood the test of time. Put it on your to-read list.
******** Movie adaptation comment below*******
Update April 8th, 2019: Last night I watched the excellent adaptation of Native Son on HBO. While not strictly true to the source material, especially in some sections, and lacking in some ways that made the book exceptionally powerful, I would still recommend watching the movie of the same name. I won't say much more because this isn't a movie review and I want to be careful of spoilers which I know is something people care deeply about. If you've read the book the only thing to spoil is how the adaptation deviates from the source material. I won't say anymore on that topic.
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Reading Progress
October 21, 2016
– Shelved
October 21, 2016
– Shelved as:
to-read
March 17, 2017
–
Started Reading
March 17, 2017
– Shelved as:
literary
March 17, 2017
–
Finished Reading
March 30, 2017
– Shelved as:
african-american-writers
April 4, 2017
– Shelved as:
favorites
May 13, 2018
– Shelved as:
five-stars
Comments Showing 1-12 of 12 (12 new)
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Enjoyed your review. Reminded me how much I liked his.
I'll never forget the main character and the abject fear Wright expressed through him, enough fear to kill a person. And then the instant transformation that occurred a moment later. Thanks for the comment Ned.
Exactly - everything you said!
I read this a couple of months ago and agree with your comments. It's such a memorable, powerful, thought provoking read. By coincidence I have just started reading James Baldwin's, "Notes of a Native Son'. So far it's a very good collection of essays. Baldwin makes some interesting comments on Wright's novel, 'Native Son'. Baldwin, in commenting on Native Son states, " What the novel reflects-and at no point interprets-is the isolation of the Negro within his own group and the resulting fury of impatient scorn.....and it is this climate common to most Negro protest novels, which has led us all to believe that in Negro life there exists no tradition, no field of manners, no possibility of ritual or intercourse, such as may, for example, sustain the Jew even after he has left his father's house." page 28, Corgi edition.
On illuminating and reflecting generational trauma might be another title of the Baldwin essay, I suspect. I am going to put that book on my to be read list. Reading about generational trauma and people isolated within a society is something I read a lot about. "Native Son" and "Invisible Man" stand out as two that have had a meaningful impact on me in the last five years. The only books that have rivaled these in their power, for me, have been some of the books about people's experience in the Holocaust, like Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning," which makes it interesting that Baldwin notes the Jews in his essays.
Frankl’s book looks interesting. I have never come across it. I will definitely look to read it. Thanks.
Frankl was a psychiatrist so the book is two parts. The first his memoir from his time in a concentration camp, the second is his attempt to rival Jung and Freud. Only the first part is worthwhile, I think. But it’s something you’ll likely never forget.
Like I have never forgotten Elie Wiesel's "Night'. A must read but so so tragic and sad.
Yeah, like that. So be prepared if you only want to live that or read that once.
Excellent review, Peter. I found this book extremely powerful and impactful. I was planning on seeing the movie. Glad you found it worthwhile.
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