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barry_x's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I quite enjoyed this short book, read it in a few days and it kept me coming back and engaged, but I am left at the conclusion of the novel to feeling that I wanted so much more.
MINOR PLOT POINTS IN REVIEW
'Middle Passage' is the story of a manumitted slave in around the 1860's who is generally up to no good in New Orleans. In order to escape a forced marriage he stows away on a ship leaving port which turns out to be a slaver ship heading to Africa. The story is of Rutherford Calhoun's journey as the only black man on this ship, learning to be a part of a crew of misfits and criminals, reaching Africa and filling their boat with slaves and their journey back to America.
The book is certainly interesting, and very readable. Calhoun doesn't come across quite as a lovable rogue but I was rooting for him throughout the novel, whilst recognising he didn't come across as particularly likeable. The cast of characters on the ship are interesting, from the slightly deranged captain, the failed son of wealth first mate and the drunken cook amongst others. All have stories which are varied and interesting and give depth to their characters.
When they reach Africa, the slaves they pick up are a fictional tribe called the Allmuseri who seem to have a clearly developed moral code and philosophical ethics that distinguishes them. Meanwhile the ship they are on is falling apart and there are rumblings of mutiny until the slaves revolt. Oh and you can add that amongst the treasures bought / stolen from Africa there is a god in the hold.
The book is rich in allegory and full of thought provoking ideas, particularly around the ideas of slavery, and racism dying and sinking into the sea, being held together by hierarchical constructs (well that's my reading). Likewise there are some interesting observations on race. Calhoun's liberty and his role from oppressed to oppressor is fluid. He is a freed slave, but still subject to early capitalism and tyranny via resources. He is effectively forced into a marriage, when he stows away he has to work for free and is given no cut of the trade. And yet, he takes an active part in enslaving others. His race is not a factor once he is on the ship, and at the same time he is like a conductor, or interpreter. The Allmuseri have a notion of what American black people are which the Americans would deem alien. He is a bridge between slave and slaver, being part of both groups. He is almost like a liminal human. Perhaps he represents the Atlantic crossing more than I think?
Sadly quite a few ideas or themes wrap up quickly. Often where there is a sense something tense is building the scene passes with, 'and then this happened'. The ending felt a little flat and disappointing.
A good weekend read but a book I will be less likely to remember in a year or two.
MINOR PLOT POINTS IN REVIEW
'Middle Passage' is the story of a manumitted slave in around the 1860's who is generally up to no good in New Orleans. In order to escape a forced marriage he stows away on a ship leaving port which turns out to be a slaver ship heading to Africa. The story is of Rutherford Calhoun's journey as the only black man on this ship, learning to be a part of a crew of misfits and criminals, reaching Africa and filling their boat with slaves and their journey back to America.
The book is certainly interesting, and very readable. Calhoun doesn't come across quite as a lovable rogue but I was rooting for him throughout the novel, whilst recognising he didn't come across as particularly likeable. The cast of characters on the ship are interesting, from the slightly deranged captain, the failed son of wealth first mate and the drunken cook amongst others. All have stories which are varied and interesting and give depth to their characters.
When they reach Africa, the slaves they pick up are a fictional tribe called the Allmuseri who seem to have a clearly developed moral code and philosophical ethics that distinguishes them. Meanwhile the ship they are on is falling apart and there are rumblings of mutiny until the slaves revolt. Oh and you can add that amongst the treasures bought / stolen from Africa there is a god in the hold.
The book is rich in allegory and full of thought provoking ideas, particularly around the ideas of slavery, and racism dying and sinking into the sea, being held together by hierarchical constructs (well that's my reading). Likewise there are some interesting observations on race. Calhoun's liberty and his role from oppressed to oppressor is fluid. He is a freed slave, but still subject to early capitalism and tyranny via resources. He is effectively forced into a marriage, when he stows away he has to work for free and is given no cut of the trade. And yet, he takes an active part in enslaving others. His race is not a factor once he is on the ship, and at the same time he is like a conductor, or interpreter. The Allmuseri have a notion of what American black people are which the Americans would deem alien. He is a bridge between slave and slaver, being part of both groups. He is almost like a liminal human. Perhaps he represents the Atlantic crossing more than I think?
Sadly quite a few ideas or themes wrap up quickly. Often where there is a sense something tense is building the scene passes with, 'and then this happened'. The ending felt a little flat and disappointing.
A good weekend read but a book I will be less likely to remember in a year or two.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
fmcculley's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pained_creations's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Unexpected and delightful read, but not words I expected to use for a book about a slave ship! The narrator and main character, Rutherford, has a delightfully optimistic and funny way of describing horrible circumstances. This short book is definitely worth a read.
katy_bee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I am still working out how I feel about this book. It was definitely interesting, it was definitely dark in its content. The main character was interesting- not necessarily hugely likeable at first but he changed over the course of the story. It made me think.
I was interested to hear the story of an emancipated slave and his experiences of living in America in the early part of the book. The historical details of the voyage were also interesting.
I was trying to pick apart how much of the supernatural part of the story was a factor of the nutrition deficiency and general trauma.
The ending felt a little contrived but I wanted to see it through and I didn't dislike it.
I think I need to mull on it a bit more
I was interested to hear the story of an emancipated slave and his experiences of living in America in the early part of the book. The historical details of the voyage were also interesting.
I was trying to pick apart how much of the supernatural part of the story was a factor of the nutrition deficiency and general trauma.
The ending felt a little contrived but I wanted to see it through and I didn't dislike it.
I think I need to mull on it a bit more
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Racism, Trafficking, Confinement, Death, and Slavery
Moderate: Rape, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
fawnponzar's review against another edition
1.0
One of the worst and hardest to read books I've ever attempted. I was so confused by the language choices- from highly-elevated to weird, crass and modern-sounding. Story line was interesting at first and got really boring and at the same time gruesome. I skimmed the last 40 pages because I no longer cared and wanted to get to something I enjoyed. And I really hate not finishing a book. I do it so rarely. What made this an award-winning title I will never know.
anoblesoul's review
4.0
What an amazing book. It has been a while since I've read a book where the writing itself was so delectable. In describing an unsavory character: "You have seen, perhaps, sketches of Piltdown man? Cover him with coal dust, add deerskin leggings and a cutaway coat tight as wet leather, and you shall have Santos's younger, undernourished sister."
This was not what I was expecting, as I'd gone in with little research on the book itself. It was not a fictionalized historical re-enactment of a Middle Passage journey. It was more akin to Lovecraft Country in that it was set against a historical backdrop and introduced just a bit of supernatural flavor. The main character, "Rutherford Calhoun from Illinois" is not quite protagonist, not quite anti-hero, not a stereotype, but fully three dimensional and his character arc is believable and satisfying. Nobody in the cast of characters is fully played to trope. They are for the most part rich and surprising, complex, and very human. Though many do not spend a lot of time on the page, their actions speak volumes and you feel you get to know and understand many of them.
Though written in 1998 it does indeed evoke Moby Dick in flavor and context. There were some prescient passages that take you out of the 1800's, but only serve to add to the import of the commentary. The books comes with a reading group guide, and the whole structure feels like layers within layers. It is composed as a sequence of journal entries, with the journal itself both a key plot device in the story and representing the book you hold in your hands.
I'll refrain from a description of the plot that you can find elsewhere, or a discussion of themes. I will simply whole-heartedly recommend the book as immensely enjoyable and worthy of the National Book Award.
This was not what I was expecting, as I'd gone in with little research on the book itself. It was not a fictionalized historical re-enactment of a Middle Passage journey. It was more akin to Lovecraft Country in that it was set against a historical backdrop and introduced just a bit of supernatural flavor. The main character, "Rutherford Calhoun from Illinois" is not quite protagonist, not quite anti-hero, not a stereotype, but fully three dimensional and his character arc is believable and satisfying. Nobody in the cast of characters is fully played to trope. They are for the most part rich and surprising, complex, and very human. Though many do not spend a lot of time on the page, their actions speak volumes and you feel you get to know and understand many of them.
Though written in 1998 it does indeed evoke Moby Dick in flavor and context. There were some prescient passages that take you out of the 1800's, but only serve to add to the import of the commentary. The books comes with a reading group guide, and the whole structure feels like layers within layers. It is composed as a sequence of journal entries, with the journal itself both a key plot device in the story and representing the book you hold in your hands.
I'll refrain from a description of the plot that you can find elsewhere, or a discussion of themes. I will simply whole-heartedly recommend the book as immensely enjoyable and worthy of the National Book Award.
lolgappa's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
manoushp109's review against another edition
5.0
absolutely incredible - read for class and there was so much to say about the role of literacy, mythology, race/gender/sexuality, desire and suppression of it, indulgence, empire and aristocracy, surveillance etc. very impressive work and i’m shocked i haven’t read it or heard ab it until now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Cannibalism, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail
bread_mountain's review against another edition
5.0
This was great. Descriptions of this book tend to undersell how fun and funny it is despite its grim subject.
But as a Smash Bros. and F-Zero fan, it’s kind of amusing that the villain’s name is Captain Falcon. This Captain Falcon kicks. He doesn’t punch. Yeah, Ebenezer Falcon is one of my favorite characters I’ve read recently. Sort of an imperialistic Sunday from The Man Who was Thursday.
But as a Smash Bros. and F-Zero fan, it’s kind of amusing that the villain’s name is Captain Falcon. This Captain Falcon kicks. He doesn’t punch. Yeah, Ebenezer Falcon is one of my favorite characters I’ve read recently. Sort of an imperialistic Sunday from The Man Who was Thursday.