Scan barcode
blueflatfoot's review against another edition
5.0
Stowe brilliantly concretizes the culture and the ideas surrounding slavery in America leading up to the war. Having just read and listened to lectures on the history and arguments surrounding this institution, I am impressed by her ability to weave the arguments prevalent in the culture of that period into moving fiction. Her dialog is intelligent and well written. The events of the story illustrate the ideas. This is an emotionally moving and intellectual novel.
book_nerd_1's review against another edition
5.0
To me it gets a little too bogged down in religion and I would have liked more of George and Eliza but still a great book everybody should read.
thehairyit's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
delina2983's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
The southern dialect was a bit hard to follow in the beginning, but.. I’m stumped for words. I want to say amazing book (but with the horrific subject matter), not sure it feels right. Certainly one of the most riveting books I’ve read in a while. The strength of faith amidst the hardships of the American slavery is probably the main theme, and is what keeps you pinned to this book. Just when there’s a glimmer of hope, something happens to turn it around. One of the most important books from that time period, or ever. Just wow.
nmars's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
memybooksandi's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
lsparrow's review against another edition
3.0
The writing is definitely set in it's own particular time and setting. The author attempts to present a breadth of experiences around slavery and for the attempt does justice to a wide range of experiences and view points - however it is not as strong or as personal as if from a lived experience. Even the popularity/acclaim that this book has speaks to the issues of systemic racism - other accounts by those who had lived experiences are at best unknown if not unpublished. It feels that much of the strengths of the novel relies on the stories of others. The final section of the book drags as Stowe gets distracted by needing to clearly reiterate her political views (which in my mind the story clearly speaks for).
Overall I found it helpful to read it in light of period it was written - and to see how this has shaped today - and how even many of the themes are still relevant.
Overall I found it helpful to read it in light of period it was written - and to see how this has shaped today - and how even many of the themes are still relevant.