The Big Sea: An Autobiography (American Century Series)
by Langston Hughes
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 161)
Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
historians
From the time I was a little boy I knew of Langston Hughes. He was respected...he was almost 'revered'.
I didn't really know a lot about Langston, just that he was big during the Harlem Renaissance.
I remember reading a poem of his 'A Dream Deferred' as a child. It really stuck to me. I remember grabbing a piece of notebook paper and copying it down. Of course I had to add my non-artistic drawings to it in color, including clouds and trees and stars...I wish I had that piece of paper still.
W...more
I didn't really know a lot about Langston, just that he was big during the Harlem Renaissance.
I remember reading a poem of his 'A Dream Deferred' as a child. It really stuck to me. I remember grabbing a piece of notebook paper and copying it down. Of course I had to add my non-artistic drawings to it in color, including clouds and trees and stars...I wish I had that piece of paper still.
W...more
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I was disappointed not by the writing in the book. It was good. Not by the story. It was good as well. I was disappointed because such a talented poet spoke of writing poems as if it were painting a house. He speaks so matter of factly about the process. (I needed money, I wrote some poems, everybody loved them, I won some awards, I took out the trash.) Don't get me wrong the writing is a lot more complelling than my re-creation of it, but he doesn't speak of writing poetry as a beautiful...more
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This is my all-time most favorite book in the world. If I had to describe it in one word it would be elegant, or as the french say élégant. If I were Oprah, which I am often confused for, it would be my The Color Purple, and I would carry multiple copies of it around with me in a backpack and distribute it to people I meet on the streets of Chicago - whilst working my way up the ladder that is "journalism". But since I am not, I will just say - hey you should TOTALLY read this bec...more
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Read in January, 1996
recommends it for:
Everyone
Langston Hughes wrote an autobiography of his life. This book is the first half of his life. I learned so much about him that I did not know such as his time in the military traveling to Africa. His time at Lincoln University (a black college in Pennsylvania) and his time at Columbia University. He never goes into this personal relationships but his views from public transportation to his views on the every day rituals.
I love Langston Hughes!
I love Langston Hughes!
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I feel like Langston is a bit of a twin soul. Not sure why I relate to him so strongly other than our birthdays are one day apart. This book might explain it though. He has an interesting journey that's written both direct and painfully honest.
What an extraordinary life.
What an extraordinary life.
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This is one of my favorite books of all time. Langston Hughes had a remarkable life, and reading about it in his own unmistakeable prose is truly a treat for the soul. Pick this up and his other autobiographical masterpiece, I Wonder As I Wander.
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Read in May, 2008
love his voice in this, though i get tired of the laundry list of famous rich people he sees at parties. pretty scary observations about sailors' lives.
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This amazing poet traveled to the Soviet Union in its infancy and to Spain during the Spanish Civil War. A life well worth reading about.
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What a fascinating life Langston Hughes lived! You must read about this famous poet's life to understand his experience.
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early autobiography on Langston Hughes....learns the difference between color and race on a trip to Africa...
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Compelling biography of a two part testament to the life of Langston Hughes.
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Read in January, 2005
recommends it for:
anyone
life is a journey and you must take a chance
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 4.18 (124 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 4.18 (124 ratings) number of reviews: 13
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"...the only way to get a thing done is to start to do it, then keep on doing it, and finally you'll finish it,...."
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