Fences

Rating:
Summary: A powerful piece, you'll want to see the play.
Review: This book(play) is an apparent testament to August Wilson's talent to write and write so that people want to read other material by him. He combines a knack for humor, an ability to describe vividly the atmosphere in which the story takes place, and powerful portrayals to concoct a literary masterpiece worthy of being read(and seen) over and over. I am not a avid fan of reading and viewing plays but if there were more like this I'd be in a theater every chance I got. I recommend this book to anyone and every one looking for a good book to just settle down and relax with.

Rating:
Summary: A great read
Review: It doesn't take much time to read... try it on for size! I thought it was great, but don't waste your time listening to what everyone else has to say about it, just read it. Then if you have questions/comments, email me.

Rating:
Summary: Comment by Matthias Bauer ([e-mail])
Review: My name is Matthias and I read this book in Mr. Durnan's EFL1 class of St. Georges Summerschool 1999. In my personal opinion, this book isn't very easy to read. I say this because it isn't written like a normal novel. It is difficult not being confused by reading it, because you have to think in the view of the different caracters. All in all it's a good book. It presents a difficult marriage between Rose and Troy. Both have problems, but they don't want to talk about their problems to each other. Noone shows the other one what he really feels in his heart.

Rating:
Summary: This is a story about one black family in 1950`s.
Review: I read this book in my EFL class at St`Georges Summer School. I thought this play is about baseball but it`s not.This play is about one black family in 1950`s. This play is very interesting because each charactors have a different thought about their family,specially for Troy. I dont like his charactor because he thinks everyone in his house have to listen to him. He is a mean person. This play was a little bit hard for me because my English is not very good, but I liked this story a lot.

Rating:
Summary: One of the classics of American drama
Review: The plays of August Wilson afford us the rare opportunity to hear African American History from a unique perspective. In an engrossing manner, he takes a slice from the lives of ordinary people and tells the entire twentieth century history of the Black Experience in America. His greatness as a playwright is his ability to personally tell this history behind the masks of his many rich characters.

"Fences", his masterpiece, focuses on a conflicted man named Troy Maxson who is in the process of building a fence around his yard. With this backdrop, Wilson analogously depicts the numerous metaphorical fences which his protagonist builds around himself at the expense of his relationship with his family. Extending the parable, we see the fence that his wife, Rose, is trying to build around Troy and her family in an attempt to hold them all together.

"Fences" is a brilliant essay on the miscommunication and misunderstandings that inhabit most families and the corresponding regrets that inevitably exhist when it is too late to do anything about it.

Rating:
Summary: Perhaps brilliant if performed, but a boring read
Review: Fences centers around the tragically hubristic Troy, a man whose disappointments and pathologies form the nucleus around which all the other characters eventually interact. Although this element of Wilson's work is provocative and commendable, and although I can imagine that I would like this play significantly more if I were to see it performed, it is just not very exciting when read in a dramatic vacuum. The play contains complex dynamics of racism, loyalty, and control. If you need a book on which to write a character analysis paper, this might be it; if you want to be entertained, look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Poignant and somber but honest and admirable
Review: I read this play for a college drama course. I'm glad I took that course because I never would've known about this play. I've never seen the production, but I imagine it is great, especially with James Earl Jones playing the father. August Wilson has written some incredible dialogue for this play, and I believe anyone can relate to this story. It gives a strong depiction not only how it was to be black in the 1950s but the American dream in general and how a society's slow progress can hurt someone and those that follow. It is poignant and somber but honest and admirable. The fact Wilson won a Pulitzer for this play and "The Piano Lesson" says something about his status as one of the most talented contemporary American playwrights.

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Summary: This book relates to all races
Review: I really enjoyed this book becasue I could feel what it was saying. It really reached out to me and I instantly felt a connection. I could feel the pain that Rose felt in her heart. I did not just relate to this becasue I am black but because the book lured me in with his vivid language. I think that all races can relate to this book, becasue it is so realistic. Our school did a skit where Troy was telling Rose about his baby and again I felt the connection. This is a good book.

Rating:
Summary: I thought it had inappropriate language.
Review: It was very realistic in that it had a lot of father/son conflicts

Rating:
Summary: This book is an in depth look at a black family in the 50's
Review: This book is a great book to pick up and finish in the same session. It takes no more than 2 hours to read and the conversation makes it quick. The character development is the best I have ever seen in a play. This story gives great examples of honesty, friendship, and the value of family. I recommend this book to anyone who has an hour or two of their time to read a worthwhile play.