46 pages • 1 hour read
Lynn NottageCrumbs From the Table of Joy
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1998A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Crumbs From the Table of Joy follows 17-year-old Ernestine Crump who, after her mother's death, relocates with her grieving father and younger sister from Florida to Brooklyn in 1950. Faced with their father's strict religious devotion and the unexpected arrival of their radical aunt, the family navigates challenges of race, class, and identity in America. The story includes depictions of racism, racial violence, and substance use.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Lynn Nottage's Crumbs From the Table of Joy is lauded for its poignant exploration of race, family, and identity within 1950s America. Critics praise its rich character development and lyrical prose. However, some find its pacing uneven and a few plot elements underdeveloped. Overall, the play provides a thought-provoking, emotional experience.
Who Should Read Crumbs From the Table of Joy?
Readers who appreciate Crumbs From the Table of Joy by Lynn Nottage enjoy poignant family dramas set against historical backdrops. Fans of A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry or The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams would find this play’s exploration of race, identity, and change equally compelling.