A Raisin in the Sun vs Song of Solomon: Which Should You Read?

Both live on shelves: African American families, Afro-Americans, African Americans

A Raisin in the Sun Lorraine Hansberry · 1958 ★★★★☆ 3.9 146 pages · ≈ 2 h 42 m · Moderate

This groundbreaking play starred Sidney Poitier, Claudia McNeill, Ruby Dee and Diana Sands in the Broadway production which opened in 1959. Set on Chicago's South Side, the plot revolves around the divergent dreams and…

Motion picture plays 20th Century American Race Relations

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Song of Solomon Toni Morrison · 1634 ★★★★☆ 4.3 353 pages · ≈ 6 h 32 m · Demanding

Milkman Dead was born shortly after a neighborhood eccentric hurled himself off a rooftop in a vain attempt at flight. For the rest of his life he, too, will be trying to fly. With this brilliantly imagined novel, Toni…

Michigan Fictional works [publication type]National Book Critics Circle Award Winner Modern Literature

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Side by side

The verdict

Readers rate Song of Solomon highest: Song of Solomon 4.3 · A Raisin in the Sun 3.9.
A Raisin in the Sun is the quickest read — about 2 hours vs 6 for Song of Solomon.
A Raisin in the Sun has the widest readership — 114798 ratings behind its score.
A Raisin in the Sun runs the darker storyline; Song of Solomon stays the lighter read.

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How to choose

Want a one-evening read? A Raisin in the Sun ≈ 2h vs 6h for Song of Solomon Just want the better-reviewed one? Song of Solomon 4.3 vs 3.9 from readers New to the genre? A Raisin in the Sun Moderate vs Demanding for Song of Solomon In the mood for something dark? A Raisin in the Sun a darker storyline than Song of Solomon Want something lighter? Song of Solomon an easier tone than A Raisin in the Sun

Scores by source

	A Raisin in the Sun	Song of Solomon
Goodreads	3.9 (114798)	4.3 (283)
Hardcover	3.0 (1)	4.2 (183)
Google Books	—	3.5 (17)
Apple Books	4.0 (586)	4.5 (453)
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Reception

	A Raisin in the Sun	Song of Solomon
Ratings	114798	453
Editions	80	60
Film adaptations	1	1
Want to read	46189	750
Reading it now	2062	10
Written reviews	6580	13
Wikipedia attention	15794	11994
Pages	146	353
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Questions readers ask

Which is rated higher: A Raisin in the Sun or Song of Solomon?

Song of Solomon has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Song of Solomon 4.3/5, A Raisin in the Sun 3.9/5).

Which is shorter to read: A Raisin in the Sun or Song of Solomon?

A Raisin in the Sun is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: A Raisin in the Sun (146 pages, ≈ 2 h 42 m); Song of Solomon (353 pages, ≈ 6 h 32 m).

Which is harder to read: A Raisin in the Sun or Song of Solomon?

Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — A Raisin in the Sun: Moderate; Song of Solomon: Demanding.