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2.01k reviews for:
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: A Library of America Paperback Classic
Frederick Douglass
4.14 AVERAGE
2.01k reviews for:
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave: A Library of America Paperback Classic
Frederick Douglass
4.14 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism
Minor: Rape
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
Does it even make sense to rate something like this?
It's strange because the things I most wanted to read were the things he left out of the narrative. I hadn't thought about it until he gets to the point of his escape and explains the reasons why he won't go into any detail there. It's something that makes so much sense and reminds me that this was a true account of a life lived, and not simply a book or something done for posterity. It's a completely political work, and it did much to help slaves in america.
Even so, I would have liked to hear the story of his escape.
It's a powerful book and Douglass is a very good writer. Better than I expected him to be.
But, yes, what can you say about a book like this that hasn't been said a thousand times in the last 150 years? Most people read this in school at some point, but I somehow never did which is why I finally read it now.
It's strange because the things I most wanted to read were the things he left out of the narrative. I hadn't thought about it until he gets to the point of his escape and explains the reasons why he won't go into any detail there. It's something that makes so much sense and reminds me that this was a true account of a life lived, and not simply a book or something done for posterity. It's a completely political work, and it did much to help slaves in america.
Even so, I would have liked to hear the story of his escape.
It's a powerful book and Douglass is a very good writer. Better than I expected him to be.
But, yes, what can you say about a book like this that hasn't been said a thousand times in the last 150 years? Most people read this in school at some point, but I somehow never did which is why I finally read it now.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Genocide, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
One of the few books I’m glad they assigned to me for summer reading in school.
3.5
An important history that brings up compelling conversations regarding the machinations of American slavery and the power of literacy. Some parts were painted so vividly that the brutality is just impossible to ignore—especially imagining from the perspective of a child, which Douglass was for most of his time enslaved.
My one complaint as a reader as that Douglass often gets bogged down by names and places, meaning a good portion of the book feels as though he is just giving a quick overview without much detail which is worsened by its short length.
An important history that brings up compelling conversations regarding the machinations of American slavery and the power of literacy. Some parts were painted so vividly that the brutality is just impossible to ignore—especially imagining from the perspective of a child, which Douglass was for most of his time enslaved.
My one complaint as a reader as that Douglass often gets bogged down by names and places, meaning a good portion of the book feels as though he is just giving a quick overview without much detail which is worsened by its short length.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
fast-paced