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Langston Hughes

Not Without Laughter

Langston HughesFiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1930

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Book Brief

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Langston Hughes

Not Without Laughter

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1930
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Kansas • 1930s

Publication Year

1930

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

1000

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Super Short Summary

Published in 1930, near the end of the Harlem Renaissance, Langston Hughes's Not Without Laughter is a coming-of-age narrative about James "Sandy" Rogers, an African-American boy from the small Kansas town of Stanton. Loosely based on Hughes's own childhood in Kansas, the novel traces the challenges of African-American life in the Midwest during the years leading up to World War I. Sensitive topics include racism and experiences of poverty within the African-American community.

Bittersweet

Contemplative

Melancholic

Nostalgic

Emotional

Reviews & Readership

4.4

4,696 ratings

85%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Langston Hughes's Not Without Laughter beautifully captures African American life during the early 20th century, showcasing rich, emotional storytelling and compelling character development. However, some readers find its pacing slow and plot somewhat meandering. Hughes’s poetic prose and cultural insights remain praised, making it a vital read despite minor flaws.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Not Without Laughter?

A reader who enjoys Not Without Laughter by Langston Hughes would appreciate rich, culturally insightful narratives focusing on African American life during the early 20th century. Fans of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God and James Baldwin's Go Tell It on the Mountain will find this novel equally compelling for its poetic prose and social themes.

4.4

4,696 ratings

85%

Loved it

12%

Mixed feelings

3%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Kansas • 1930s

Publication Year

1930

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14-18 years

Lexile Level

1000

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