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1.49k reviews for:
Twelve Years a Slave: The Autobiography of Solomon Northup
Louis Gossett Jr., Solomon Northup
4.23 AVERAGE
1.49k reviews for:
Twelve Years a Slave: The Autobiography of Solomon Northup
Louis Gossett Jr., Solomon Northup
4.23 AVERAGE
There are very few books that I say that I loved or that I'm willing to read more than once, but this book is one of them. The eloquence with which Solomon Northup tells this narrative is so beautiful though painful. This is a book, I will go on to cherish for all my years.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
Though I enjoyed this book I found it hard to follow the tone.
Even though it's a man's life story and account of his experience as a slave. Some aspects felt glossed over and more "story" than real events.
It was also interesting as his perspective is coming from someone free going into slavery. Who knows how different his life would be coming from someone who was born into it etc.
Overall it was good
Even though it's a man's life story and account of his experience as a slave. Some aspects felt glossed over and more "story" than real events.
It was also interesting as his perspective is coming from someone free going into slavery. Who knows how different his life would be coming from someone who was born into it etc.
Overall it was good
challenging
dark
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence
Excellent read. You can feel the emotional strain and the stresses of Solomon. You know this happened, and you know it wasn't just him that it happened to which makes it even more sad.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Police brutality, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This was one of those books I had been looking forward to reading for an incredibly long time, especially as I was adamant I was going to read it before watching the movie
Solomon Northup tells his harrowing story of how, despite being a free man in New York, he was kidnapped in Washington and then sold as a slave where he would continue to work for 12 years, under the slave name Platt Hamilton. Solomon describes some of the shocking and sad events that he was witness to, and how events unfolded that allowed him to finally come back home.
I really enjoyed this (as much as one can given the topic). I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Hugh Quarshie, which was wonderful. Some of the dramatic moments really came to life even more so than had I just read the book and I found myself in tears often. It’s such a sad recounting of the events in his life, and his detailed descriptions are extremely powerful.
My only slight reservation with the book was that sometimes it can be a little hard going; and not just because of the subject matter. As Solomon states at the beginning, it was recommended to him that he writes his story in a book, and I believe you can tell. It’s written at times like a school history book. It’s very much one note throughout, and while some parts are overly detailed, there are then significant periods of time that are just glossed over, to a certain extent. There’s very few of the other characters you get chance to connect with as they come and go rather quickly in the narrative.
Regardless of this though, I absolutely would recommend this book and I am looking forward to seeing the movie. A solid 4 stars from me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Solomon Northup tells his harrowing story of how, despite being a free man in New York, he was kidnapped in Washington and then sold as a slave where he would continue to work for 12 years, under the slave name Platt Hamilton. Solomon describes some of the shocking and sad events that he was witness to, and how events unfolded that allowed him to finally come back home.
I really enjoyed this (as much as one can given the topic). I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Hugh Quarshie, which was wonderful. Some of the dramatic moments really came to life even more so than had I just read the book and I found myself in tears often. It’s such a sad recounting of the events in his life, and his detailed descriptions are extremely powerful.
My only slight reservation with the book was that sometimes it can be a little hard going; and not just because of the subject matter. As Solomon states at the beginning, it was recommended to him that he writes his story in a book, and I believe you can tell. It’s written at times like a school history book. It’s very much one note throughout, and while some parts are overly detailed, there are then significant periods of time that are just glossed over, to a certain extent. There’s very few of the other characters you get chance to connect with as they come and go rather quickly in the narrative.
Regardless of this though, I absolutely would recommend this book and I am looking forward to seeing the movie. A solid 4 stars from me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
It is remarkable how easy of a read this is & how well Northup’s prose translates to the modern day.
However, the graphic details & harrowing recounts will simply require you put the book down at points.
Portions like Northup explaining how cotton & sugar cane cropping functioned can be slow, yet it is incredibly the vivid details he recounts. It certainly challenges the notion that slaves were just sitting on their hands.
This book basically debunks any argument centered around slavery being a dark necessity in American history & it is disgusting to consider that the barbaric treatment of Northup was perhaps relatively tame compared to millions of other slaves.
As a Louisiana resident, I certainly see how this good ole’ boy culture & the ramifications of white supremacy are still ever present.
However, the graphic details & harrowing recounts will simply require you put the book down at points.
Portions like Northup explaining how cotton & sugar cane cropping functioned can be slow, yet it is incredibly the vivid details he recounts. It certainly challenges the notion that slaves were just sitting on their hands.
This book basically debunks any argument centered around slavery being a dark necessity in American history & it is disgusting to consider that the barbaric treatment of Northup was perhaps relatively tame compared to millions of other slaves.
As a Louisiana resident, I certainly see how this good ole’ boy culture & the ramifications of white supremacy are still ever present.