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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
This book was chosen for One Book, One Calgary otherwise I might not have been drawn to it. I learned a lot more than I had planned on, and about my own country too! Aminata is a strong-willed and resourceful heroine, her journey was both tragic and uplifting. In short, this was an epic adventure with a main character I really liked, that didn’t get bogged down in history. Recommended for people who like an adventure, are interested in African history, or enjoy it when girls kick butt.
A breathtaking account of a young woman's tale through slavery.
While I admit that I was slightly hesitant to read this book at first, because somebody told me it was horrible (how wrong they were...I should have known better anyways, they hate books like this), but I read it.
How glad am I that I have!
The writing is great, the plot (for the most part)fast paced as well as descriptive.
What could be missing in this book? Not much, that is for certain.
I would recommend this book for those that like history-like novels, but also to those who are ready for a combination of love, pain, as well as bitter action.
All I can say now, is read it, and enjoy great Canadian writing!!!
While I admit that I was slightly hesitant to read this book at first, because somebody told me it was horrible (how wrong they were...I should have known better anyways, they hate books like this), but I read it.
How glad am I that I have!
The writing is great, the plot (for the most part)fast paced as well as descriptive.
What could be missing in this book? Not much, that is for certain.
I would recommend this book for those that like history-like novels, but also to those who are ready for a combination of love, pain, as well as bitter action.
All I can say now, is read it, and enjoy great Canadian writing!!!
What an amazing book! From the first sentence, it had me enraptured. The story itself is compelling, the characters tug at your heartstrings, and it's difficult to put down. The tale is also educational. I regret that I didn't read it earlier, but sometimes a book finds you when you are ready to read it, and embrace it.
This is one of the most eloquent books I have read.
This is one of the most eloquent books I have read.
As an historical novel, it was excellent. The writing was at times, excellent, at other times it seemed rushed. There was a lot of territory to cover, and seemed a bit contrived. But on the whole it was a great read.
I liked this book, but I did not LOVE it as much as I expected to based on the rave reviews. The author clearly did extensive research and I learned a lot from reading this story (the indigo trade, the Book of Negros, the Freetown colony in Sierra Leone, etc), but it almost felt like the plot was a bit contrived at points to try to make all the historical facts "fit" into one fictional woman's life. Hill mentions at the end several real memoirs that inspired his writing, and I would be more interested to read these true accounts of the slave trade than this made-up version. While the main character, Aminata, had a very fascinating story, I never quite connected with her as a narrator. I felt she was a bit one-dimensional. She was smart and clever and strong-willed throughout her entire life, but never really changed as a character.
Question (spoiler) -
After Aminata escaped from Lindo, why didn't she use a fake name in New York and also while boarding the ship to Nova Scotia? If she had not used her real name, Lindo and (other guy - forget his name) would never have found her - right?
Question (spoiler) -
After Aminata escaped from Lindo, why didn't she use a fake name in New York and also while boarding the ship to Nova Scotia? If she had not used her real name, Lindo and (other guy - forget his name) would never have found her - right?
medium-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:
Complicated
This novel reads like a woman telling her story and it is very beautiful for that.
Heart-wrenching and beautiful. At times it will make you want to put it down and scream, but a very worth while read.
I was surprised how gripping this story was and it reminded me of the similarly themed movies like 12 Years A Slave and Django. However, the use of a strong female character really made this feel a different. The author was so vivid in his storytelling I felt I could see the horrendous experiences of the character in my mind. I'll definitely look for more works from this author in the near future.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes