Manchild in the Promised Land

A boys book

Manchild in the promise land is a well written book, however, I just could not bring myself to be interested in reading it completely. I've read other books such as Down These Mean Streets, Bodega Dreams and many more and have not been able to put these books down, however, reading Manchild in the promise land was just grueling to get through to the point that I just put it down. The acknowledgement of the life of an innercity child raised in poverty, the childs exposure to the products of it's environment and then triumph are amazing. I just could not brace myself to follow the story through to the end. If my fiance read this book, he would most likely enjoy it more than I did. It just seems as a male's book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Loved it

I was introduded to this book when i was a little girl growing up in north philly. Very good reading.

Highly Recommended-Must read!

Manchild in the Promised Land is an autobiography about Claude Brown in which he discusses the actualities of life, how life in the ghetto was not an easy task at hand. As Claude grows up all the odds were against him, saying he is going to do drugs and be in and out of prison his whole life. When he realizes that being a junkie is not what he wants to do, he goes back to school to get an education and pursues a love in playing the Piano.
Manchild in the Promised Land also has a lot of critical themes such as racism. Being that they were in Harlem, New York in the 50's all the racism is direct towards the residents of Harlem. If they had kids, the kids were just expected to cut school and do drugs because they were colored and that's how Harlem life was. When Claude starts interacting with white people it is frowned upon.
This is a truly inspiring novel. It was a fantastic book to read. It shows how people, no matter how bad their past is, can have a great future. This book installs hope into individuals who feel as if there life has taken a turn for the worst. I strongly recommend this book to those who are down and need an uplifting story to hear in their time of need.
I enjoyed this book very much, it had the perfect balance between action and heartfelt moments where you connected to the character on and emotional level where they were your friend and not like you were on the outside looking in. While reading this book I was found myself not wanting to put it down because I always had to know if Claude beat the odds or not. From that point he wasn't a character, he was my family and I had to see if he was going to make it or not.
All in all, this book was a fantastic read and I strongly recommend it for anyone who needs inspiration or for anyone who likes a good read. This is one of the best books I have ever read!

Highly Recommended!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Manchild in the Promise Land," a classically written autobiography by author Claude Brown in which he significantly discusses to each viewer the actualities of life, furthermore; nicely detailing how life is lived in the ghetto communities in America. As I began reading, I found myself emotionally attached to his literature because of his injection of factuality in which was nicely vaccinated into the body of his composition. The author truly and compositionally poured every inch and ounce of experiences that he had encountered during his lifespan on God's green earth into the cup of veracious literacy. Claude Brown openly reveals to each reader life experiences, furthermore, the book begins to inform initially readers about his life as an adolescent. Nevertheless, the author informs each reader about the destruction of his community in which was caused by poverties, inebriations (drugs and alcohols), illegal organization and performances (crimes). The author basically reveals to his audience the ups and downturns of living in ghetto. Furthermore, after my completion of reading the entire book, I would like to say finally that this is a book for all ages. Nevertheless, this book that is based on real life experiences. "Manchild in the Promise Land" is a classic book!

Love it!

I read this book in my African American Literature class. I have read this book 4 times and plan to have my sons read it once they get older. I love this book! It is definitely a must have for anyone's library.

Stands The Test Of Time

I love this book...it's still relevant in 2010. I love the way the author didn't hold anything back when describing his frends and situations that they were in. You could literally imagine a day in Sonny's shoes.

relevant in 2009

"An excellent book that has withstood time. It is just as relevant in 2009 as it was in 1965 when it was first published."


Hargie

Amazing

I read this book for my high school senior english class. I love the book. Changed my whole prespective of reading.

over coming the hard knock life

This is the best book I have ever read and I read a lot of books. I read this book when I was 13 and I have read it at least 4 more times after that. This book is all about a man who over came the odds and refused to live with excuses.

WOW

This book is the most fluentual book that I have read that makes me see that some people had harder lives then me.

I love this book

I first read this book when I was around 12 years old and never forgot it. I am now 42 and just read it again. It is such a powerful book and I was really disappointed to hear that Claude Brown died. I wish that I could write to him and let him know what an impact he has had.

Manchild has all the makings of an excellent read!

When I first purchased this book I did not know what to expect..... yrs later it is one of the best reads in my library. Being an African American male Brown's book took me back to my own childhood. Manchild is filled with colorful yet truthful characters, some you'll love, some you will hate and even some you may fear!! From drug dealers, prostitutes, police and life in the ghetto, Brown mixes them all together and the result is a beautifully written novel of life in the ghetto! If you were raised in the ghettos of America then this book will take you back and if you wasn't then let Brown show you how the other side lives. A masterpiece!!!!!

nice book but chapter to long

this book is great book. From first page to thge last but a chapter is l,ike 50 page long. which make peple fall a sleep. this book should be re-writen in shorter chapters.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

LIFE UNABASHED TRUE AND HONEST, GRITTY.

AMAZINGLY, GRITTY, AND RAW AND A FORTUNATE ROUGH LIFE THAT PROVED THROUGH HARD WORK AND TENACITY THAT YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT IN LIFE. A MUST READ FOR EVERY YOUNG BLACK MALE IN AMERICA. JUST PLAIN AND SIMPLE THE BEST BOOK I'VE EVER READ ON BLACK LIFE THAT MIRRORS YOUNG BLACK MALES EVEN IN TODAY'S HIP HOP AGE. MUST READ.......EVERY MALE, WHITE BLACK AND ANYONE ELSE.......GET IT...

truly a man and a child...

this book was beautiful; it wasn't some fabrication by someone who wanted to write good fiction and portray such realism... it was a raw picture of reality as a manchild, written by one who lived life north of the mason-dixie line, yet still lived in perils as a black man in northern north america. the ending was so fitting; a complete circle paralleling the journey from 'fours in the morning; twos in the daytime and threes by the evening'... as one grows from child to man to childlike demeanor. this was simply a beautiful chronicle of life that though written of the forties and fifties, is still applicable to today.

The realist there is out there you know!

this book is so realistic closely related to my life but instead i was raised in Georgia. Deep within the West Savanah. I thank Sonny for giving me an inspiration in proceeding in my own dreams in being a pro star. I can't stay in the ghetto much longer. All my life living in worries about who gonkill me or a set up by so-caled friends of mine. This book I would recommend others to read it because you'll learn something out of it

"Manchild" well worth the wait

I read Nathan McCall's "Makes Me Wanna Holler" and "Pryor Convictions" by Richard Pryor a few years ago and both mentioned Mr. Brown's autobiography as sources of inspiration. After searching for this book for I couple of years, I finally picked it up two weeks ago. I was not disappointed! Mr. Brown's account of growing up poor in the ghetto in the 40's and 50's transcends time. I've seen a lot of similar "characters" while growing up in the late 80's and early 90's. I am the father of three young boys. When I feel the time is right, I will make sure that each and every one of them adds "Manchild in the Promised Land" to their reading collection. There are too many lessons on life and the potential each one of us has - good and bad- in this book to avoid sharing with them. I'm certain that they will love this book as much as I do.

A Timeless Classic

I have always been an avid reader and I must say that there is no question that Manchild in the Promised Land is by far the best book I've ever read. This book changed the way that I look at life...forever. Brutally honest. Truthfully written. It speaks to the perils of coming of age which all must face. Brown's views on life, love, and responsibility are priceless; his imagery superb. I cannot say enough good things about this timeless masterpiece. I laughed, I cried, I learned a lot about me through this piece. No one should leave the earth without reading Manchild in the Promised Land. When I was a child, my mother always said that Manchild were her favorite book. Now I know why and I share her enthusiasm. Cheers, kudos, and all praise to Brown for this brilliant work.

Had my son to read it

My brother was assigned Manchild in the Promise Land when he was in high school. I got ahold of it and couldn't put it down. For some reason latly I had been thinking about it. I usaually read courtroom dramas 'To kill a mockingbird and The Green Mile' is two of my favorites. I wanted my son to begin reading novels and I decided that this one would be a great book to start with.

Man Child - Speaks the Truth

When I first read this book I felt like I could relate to it. Not so much the fact that he was poor or at one point was an under acheiver but the fact that he survived. Thats why it can be related to. That is the reason that people can see his life through their eyes when they read it and say 'I've been through that too.' Therefore it is a book that should be in every home library but every middle school as well. Youth today can relate to this book because they are rebellious and are on the threshold of a time that their decisions count. Let them read this book and put some substance back in the educational system of today.