Fences

Rating:
Summary: Wilson's talent: conflicts and realistic characters
Review: Fences is the type of book you may pick up if you are interested in the US during the time where baseball was really our true pastime, or whenever you want an easy read. This short, but interesting play written by Wilson kept me interested, however not to the point where I could not put it down. I found myself taking frequent breaks. I enjoyed the truth which came along with each character. In the book, Troy and Cory (father and son) have an on-going conflict. If any of you have ever experienced the parent-child conflict, you definately will be able to relate. Troy has different ideas of Cory's future. He wants him to live a stable life in order to provide for a family. Cory, on the other hand, would like to persure a football career. Both have legit reasons for each life path. If you are looking for an easy, relatively quick read, Fences is ideal. I would read it again someday because I got to know the people in the play, eventhough it lacked action.

Rating:
Summary: Fences A book of Conflicts
Review: The play Fences by August Wilson was a interesting read. It had a captivating story line and the conflicts that the characters dealt with were real. One of the good qualities of a play is that it keeps making you want to hear more and more. If it did not have that kind of effort on a person than the play was not fulfilling its purpose. I personally did not find this as interesting or as captivating as some other books that I have read but it was not terrible dull. When a screen writer is writing a script that deals with such real issues as thoughts dealt with in this play, then he has to add a little action because just talking or having internal conflicts does not make for a excellent play. The arguments were very real and I liked the accent that all the charactershad. It made you feel more a part of them, which is very important because you are reading the play and not watching it. Troy was not the typical character that we normally read about so it made me adjust more to this book than to others I have read in the past. Forgiveness is a major player in the plot of this book. Cory and troy have to forgive each other for everything that had happened between them. Rose had to forgive Troy for having a affair and thus giving her another burden, because of the child that they produced. I think one of the things that makes this play great is the way that it portrays forgiveness. That any one can do it and that no matter how long it takes you, you still should try because it is not only better for you at heart but also the person that you are forgiving.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful book dealing with a black man's struggle.
Review: "Fences" is a wonderful book the not only deals with a black man's struggle with his relationships with his son, wife, brother, and friend, but deal with his struggle through life it self. "Fences" is written in play format, which normally doesn't appeal to me, but "Fences" is not as drawn out as other plays I have read. It was a quick and through-provoking read. It brought up many issues that were often occurrences in the 1950s and 60s and still are as we enter 2000. Issues such as responsibility and loyalty to your family, work ethic, respect, affairs, and race. "Fences" is a book well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Moving, Captivating and great
Review: In this book, August Wilson portrays Troy Maxson as a bitter former baseball player who is basically unhappy with his life. This book shows the amount racism blacks had to deal with in the 60/70's and how infuriated blacks were. Troy, a black from a small town runs away from his family at age fourteen, because he hates his father and everything he does. His father was abusive and unfaithful, and Troy wanted no part in that. Troy has become a product of his environment and feels like he must take his anger out on his family. Yet, when Troy grows up and his own family he deprives his wife and son of everything they want. His wife, Rosa, who is literally a slave to Troy, but she respects him in every way. Troy is so bitter about not getting the chance to play baseball, he refuses to let his son, Corey play high school or college football, for fear his son will live out his fathers dreams. Yet, the only thing he does is build a fence around the home, because Rosa wants him to. For Troy, this is a way to keep out all his fears, but most importantly, death. For Rosa, the fence is to keep her family in, because deep down inside she knows Troy is not happy, but she still wants to keep him in her life. This book is an excellent story of racism and prejudice and one mans struggle to find his place in the world. Troy Maxson, who needs something or someone to make him feel special, forgets all he has and affair fathers a child by another woman. Rosa does not know what to do, so she allows him to live with her, but she has lost all her love for him. Troy's son Corey has lost all his respect for his father, and has one last final confrontation with him, where he shows his disrespect. Troy's reasoning for his actions were selfish and he doesn't think of Rose. He explained to Rose that his mistress gave him a different idea and understanding about his self. Troy was taught to take responsibility for his actions, so he confessed, but his motives were weak. This is a must read for anyone, who wants to learn more about race relations decades ago. The enthralling story line along with the fast paced actions keeps any reader on the edge of their seat.

Rating:
Summary: Realistic, but broing
Review: Fences by August Wilson encompasses realistic thoughts and emotions most likely encountered by African-Americans in the late-1950's. The play takes place in 1957 in a big city, most likely in the south of the United States. The main character of this play is Troy Maxson, a fifty-three year old black man. His mind dwells on baseball and battling with death. He is stubborn, proud, and conservative. He believes that he is the head of his house and family, yet he expresses love and care for his wife and sons. The most moving statement of his love at the end of act two, scene two. Troy declares as he constructs a fence around his house, that death cannot pass the fence unless he is willing to fight. I interpreted this as Troy's way of protecting his family with his life. I suppose that this play's strengths lie in its realism. The themes range from racism, to infidelity, to father-son relationships. The dialog and themes are relatively are true to life but they are extremely simple; so they are difficult to appreciate unless one is placed in similar situations. I recommend this book only if you take interests in African-American history or life in general during the 1950's.

Rating:
Summary: Critiques the diferent emotions shown from the characters.
Review: Book Review: Fences The play Fences, by August Wilson, is about a man named Troy Maxson in his fifties, who is struggling with the relationships between himself and his family and friends. The main conflicts that occur during the book are among Troy and his wife Ruth, son Cory, friend Bono, and Death. The story line of the play was suprisingly good. The beginning was basically just an introduction to each of the characters. The pace of it went on pretty steadily. The characters seemed to react to one another in the same calm manner. Troy told people to do things and they obeyed for quite awhile. This part was quite boring because you didn't really get to feel any of the characters personalities because they were blocked off by Troy, a strong, over bearing, and demanding man. One of the real turning points of the whole entourage of the play was when Troy went in on his past. You got a sense of feeling where this man was coming from and saw a little bit deeper into his brain. From this point forward all the characters seemed to be exposed. New situations being thrust into their peaceful existence cause them to react strongly. Rose, the wife's highpoint was her anger and hurt due to Troy's exposed adulterous life. All the feelings that she feels are expressed in her anguish and pain. This is much easier to perceive rather than her happiness from before. Cory, the son is finally able to release his emotions in a great burst, towards the middle and end of the story. His repeated confrontations with his father always reveal a little more of the inner distress that Cory feels. Nothing really is expected to happen to Bono, Troy's best friend. Originally he is simply Troy's follower, who supports most everything that Troy says. As their friendship dies down gradually, you find Bono to have a bit more of a mind of his own. Over all, the play got off to a slow start but gradually my interest was caught and I found myself lured in to the book. I eagerly anticipated the next theme up to the ending of the book. The characters and actions were realistic and could be related to. Altogether the book was satisfying.

Rating:
Summary: I gave "Fences" 4 stars because it was so real.
Review: I rated "Fences" as one of the most compelling, truly related books I've read this year. I found it interesting and captivating. I enjoy the fact that Troy was taught to take responsibility for his actions. Troy's negative perception of his father is that he doesn't really care about his kids and his only concern is delivering the cotton to his boss. Troy's father is poor sharecropper. Troy learns the same method from his father that responsibility comes first; therefore he teaches his son schoolwork and his after school job comes first. The father doesn't want Cory to become recruited by a college football team. He seems to think there's no life in football and opportunities for him especially being a black man. Another good point is made when Troy stands against the union concerning whites being the only ones driving the garbage truck. It was tough for blacks back then to get a decent job and still be treated fairly. But the world is slowing changing before Troy's eyes Troy has another obstacle he has encountered which deal with the fact that death is approaching and it comes in a form a spirit. He puts up a continuing struggle that doesn't let death overtake him; well, not yet anyway. Troy learns how to overcome death and realize that he can't leave now. Troy is happily married to Rose, his wife, for eighteen blissful years. He takes it for granted and he fools around and produces another child. At this point, I feel that Troy becomes selfish, he doesn't think of Rose. His excuses that he provided to Rose were poor and selfish. He explained to Rose that his mistress gave him a different idea and understanding about his self. Rose was very heartbroken that he fooled around on her and produced another child. My understanding of this activity occurred frequently in relationships in the south. This book brings a kind of black comedy that tells and relates back in the old days. As far as how difficult it was for blacks trying to make a decent living plus the upbringing of their children. It also focus on how some men are still having outside families and relationships being married. This type of behavioral of men makes it very difficult for women to trust men in today's society. So in essence nothing has changed for females, but it has gotten better for human rights.

Rating:
Summary: A moving, enjoyable dramatic writing
Review: Fences is a strong, truthful novel that takes place in the 50's and 60's. It moved me because it was so realstic. It kept me reading because I was always curious to know what was going to happen next. The ending was somewhat suspenseful in that I really didnt't think Cory would go to his father's funeral. It came as a great shock to me when he finally decided to go. Overall, I think this is a good book for all.

Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable and Vivid in language
Review: FENCES is a book many audiences will be able to read from now and untill years to come. It shows vividly how it was to raise a family in the 50's and 60's. All in all it was a good book. I also loved the way August Wilson had Troy us baseball as an anology to the problems in his life.

Rating:
Summary: Mixed
Review: "Fences" starts out as a very boring play. The first act almost made me not want to read it. At first Troy Maxson seems like your average guy, but as the story moves along you really start to strongly dislike him. By the end I had the impresssion that he was a greedy, old, money-grubbing man who didn't want anyone to succeed, and was unfaithful to everyone important to him. There is no way that this man should have been, or should ever be trusted. But overall it is a good book.