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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Hurston interviewed one of the last living former slaves from the last "black cargo" ship to arrive in the US. Cudjo Lewis was in his 80s when Hurston interviewed him in the late 1920s. Barracoon is Cudjo's biography. He recalls life in Africa, his capture, the sea voyage, his time as a slave, his freedom...
Powerful. It is important that we have these accounts of the actual experiences of slaves.
Powerful. It is important that we have these accounts of the actual experiences of slaves.
blairfrank's review against another edition
3.0
Although hard to understand at times- I appreciate Hurston's decision to keep Kossula/Cudjo's dialect in tact and true to his original voice.
nneka23's review against another edition
dark
informative
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Trafficking, Slavery, and Racism
asacco9642's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
barnesbookshelf's review
3.0
I think it's incredibly interesting that we have at least one "first-hand" account from someone who was brought over from Africa to be a slave in the United States. I applaud Hurston's choice to record it as accurately as possible to what Cudjo Lewis said.
The actual, physical book was okay. I loved reading the main narrative, i.e. the interviews with Cudjo. But the forward and the afterward are almost as long as the main narrative and are often repetitive of each other and the narrative. I do appreciate that it is a relatively quick read.
The actual, physical book was okay. I loved reading the main narrative, i.e. the interviews with Cudjo. But the forward and the afterward are almost as long as the main narrative and are often repetitive of each other and the narrative. I do appreciate that it is a relatively quick read.
mollymoll44's review against another edition
fast-paced
4.0
A tough short read. The vernacular is interesting and challenging.