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4.47 AVERAGE
4.47 AVERAGE
This book was an intriguing epic novel about one woman's journey from her village across Africa, her journey continues across the sea to America, to Nova Scotia and beyond. Aminata is an intelligent, brave and wondrous character. This novel should be mandatory reading for every human being. It was simply marvelous and I was so sad for it to end.
challenging
emotional
sad
I won't add to the mass amount of detailed reviews for this book, but rather just say that I was deeply moved by Aminata's story. Lawrence Hill did an amazing job of captivating one story of slavery among the many true accounts of the atrocities of such a trade. Story aside, what I enjoyed most of all was reading Hill's afterword regarding the many texts he consulted to shape Aminata's story. He consulted a number of types of books during his research: memoirs, diaries, historical documents, historical narratives, etc. He researched even the smallest aspects of the story, straight down to how slave women wore their hair when making the long journey to the coast of Africa where slave vessels were waiting to take them away to the United States. It overwhelms me to think about how Hill used all those bits of information to shape the story of one woman, one slave, one person who reclaimed her freedom.
4-1/2 stars. An historical tour d'force with a powerful protagonist. An excellent read and highly recommended for book clubs.
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Eye opening. Heart breaking. It read a little slow for me, but I'm glad I saw it through.
This is an excellent piece of historical fiction, despite sacrificing some character development in the large sweep of time it covers. This is a good example of how you can't read just one book, like Roots, and think that you understand the experience of slaves brought to the United States. Hill avoids placing whites into "good" and "bad" boxes -- even those who seem the best, the abolitionists with whom Aminata is working when the book opens, still manage to be condescending to Aminata and treat her like a child. Some aspects of the story are unbelievable (certain people are somehow able to track Aminata down no matter where she goes), but the historical aspects appear to be well-researched, particularly the story of the compilation of the Book of Negroes for which this book was originally named. I remember hearing that the British offered freedom to slaves who fought on their side during the Revolutionary War but never knew what actually happened to them after the British lost the war. The founding of Freetown, Sierra Leone, is something else I didn't know much about. Even though I didn't have a strong personal connection to Aminata or any of the other characters, I appreciate Hill's storytelling and am glad I read this book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Fantastic book! I would rate in in one of my top 10 picks. About an african woman sold into the beginning of the slave trade and her journey. EXCELLENT