Yesterday Will Make You Cry [a Novel]

I love chester CHESTER HIMES..b/m .. 7/29/1909 to 11/12/1984.Died of Parkinsons disease--75 yrs old in Spain. Himes was once in prison. America did him wrong! Prisoner JIMMY MONROE--tested to the limits of his sanity,capacity for suffering and defination of love. Racism, homosexuality and prison corruption. Melvin Van Peeples says it is A SARDONIC MASTER- PIECE OF DEBASEMENT and TRANSFIGURATION ! Raw honesty. Also says it is one of Himes most enduring literary achievements. RAW ! First published in 1953 as..CAST THE FIRST STONE. Totally restored. bbp okc ok 63 retired

Raw. Graphic. Lyrical. Packed with layers. The semi-autobiographical novel of Chester Hime's prison sentence, the story originally sanitized and published as _Cast the First Stone_, finally told as Himes intended.

Tommy Mason, Jr. English 11, 7th Period Mrs. Fason October 10, 2003 Yesterday Will Make You Cry: Why? *** "It was the first night..., convict no. 57232 had been in the dormitory." This starts the whole thing. The author's purpose is clear, to put you in the zone of this book, but does it? Chester Himes' Yesterday Will Make You Cry is a novel that brings to life the way of life in jail. Himes presents Jimmy Monroe, the protagonist into play with the realization of life in jail. He is hit with many obstacles, but doesn't know what to do. Himes present this story in a weird way. The setting is very realistic. The protagonist has a problem with coming to the realization of it, "Top range,...a ver cold block with small, grimy, and very cold cells." Jimmy Monroe is a very complex character. One may not understand fully what's going on in Himes' mind when he created this character, but one must also keep in mind the title when you read the book at all times! Himes present many flashbacks through Monroe, but fails to foreshadow at first. There is conflict between the whole story and the readers mind as well. One must not forget who the protagonist is because you will get lost. Himes dos use some "big words" but, most of them tie in with the story. Some parts of this novel are simple, like every-day life talking, but the narration parts are more complex. "Before the fire, despite the fact of it's submergence beneath the level, endless, monotonous, unvarying, unmovingly eternal stretch," is an example of how Himes' really wants you to think This novel is an alright novel. One must keep in mind the "deeper meaning" or the "big picture" of some things. Read "between the lines." If the reader doesn't pay attention in the beginning, they will get lost later on in the book. Read the novel a couple of times to get the full meaning. One will find something new every time.

I highly recommend this book, and the price could not be beat.

I give this book a 4 simply for the reason is well written and makes you think. I completed reading this book a few days ago, and it's still on my mind. That's a sign of good writing. I can't stay I like the book or the subject matter. I actually had to put the book down a couple time because the main character was an idiot and the prison life is too sad. However, I feel that the author deserved my completing this book. Interestingly enough, I have disliked all of his main characters in his serious works. Mr.Himes served 7 years, I believe, in the State Pen so he has a first hand knowledge of the workings of the prison and the mentalities of the inmates. I would highly recommend a reading of this book.

This book was awesome, I cry not only for yesterday, but today!! You have to read it from the beginning and keep reminding yourself what the title says, it goes beyond the hip hop,urban street,hard core books it tells a beautiful story,it's life education in itself.U have to understand, this book goes beyond racism,and prison life,it tells a story which goes deep in everyone heart and soul,because everyone have or will have some thoughts & feelings of this story. I cried almost all the way thru the book, this character went thru alot. Sometimes, u never know what u will do thru life struggles, so were no better than the next person, but thru it all soone or later we go thru struggles and we all cry for yesterday and today.

This is a well-written book that engages one in a cold world, a different perspective, in a non-judgmental, yet critical & analytical way, with a sympathetic overlay.

Himes is an excellent writer, but Yesterday was tedious. Pales in comparison to some of his other 'unfooled around with' works. Still a Himes fan, but Yesterday is not worth the eye strain.

it is quite autobiographical, though author assumes a white identity. autobiograhers lie or omit much