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bookzealots's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
There are many characters the author shows us their story; it's not just Tom.
The story is about Christian faith.
The story is about Christian faith.
hawaiian_hedgehog's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
jencunn2024's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 Stars as I don’t think this is a great literary work. Uncle Tom’s Cabin is important to our history as Americans as a real time impetus to the Abolitionist Movement and the start of the Civil War, the greatest changers sate in the history of our still young country. It was published in 1852 and inspired many to join the movement to abolish slavery.
Stowe used the Christian faith to change minds by providing a renewed, uplifting view on why slavery should be abolished. The themes between Christianity, atheism, losing faith, and agnosticism is an important debate throughout the novel to define their differences as well as their values.
At that time and even today, faith and Christianity can both inspire and hinder progress in social policy. Stowe’s effort is a great example of how to turn the tables and use faith to view an issue from a different vantage point.
That being said this novel also still offers shock and awe in the way that minds thought about slavery and the slaves themselves. Parallels to other issues in modern American life can be drawn.
The characters are full of depth, perception and growth. It is a plausible tale of realistic fiction prior to the Civil War., dark and enraging due to injustices and treatment of human beings - both by the classic Southern enslaver but also the northern and kinder owners revealing complacency, indifference, and derogation. The plot is intriguing and tied together before the end. Uncle Tom is a hero of humbleness, meekness, and strength as he refuses to set aside his values to save himself from horrible trauma and tragedy.
There were many characters to live but my favorite characters were Topsy and Cassy —- Topsy for her desire to change and better herself and to find love; Cassy for her stubbornness and independence but also for her ultimate change.
Stowe used the Christian faith to change minds by providing a renewed, uplifting view on why slavery should be abolished. The themes between Christianity, atheism, losing faith, and agnosticism is an important debate throughout the novel to define their differences as well as their values.
At that time and even today, faith and Christianity can both inspire and hinder progress in social policy. Stowe’s effort is a great example of how to turn the tables and use faith to view an issue from a different vantage point.
That being said this novel also still offers shock and awe in the way that minds thought about slavery and the slaves themselves. Parallels to other issues in modern American life can be drawn.
The characters are full of depth, perception and growth. It is a plausible tale of realistic fiction prior to the Civil War., dark and enraging due to injustices and treatment of human beings - both by the classic Southern enslaver but also the northern and kinder owners revealing complacency, indifference, and derogation. The plot is intriguing and tied together before the end. Uncle Tom is a hero of humbleness, meekness, and strength as he refuses to set aside his values to save himself from horrible trauma and tragedy.
There were many characters to live but my favorite characters were Topsy and Cassy —- Topsy for her desire to change and better herself and to find love; Cassy for her stubbornness and independence but also for her ultimate change.
theag7's review against another edition
Second 500+-word book I've finished this year!!! (The edition I read had more pages than the one listed here xD).
I enjoyed this book; I think I can say that. I didn't really like the sentimentalist style Stowe employed, but she made very solid points throughout and gave me insight into the ways of thinking during the 1840s/50s and into the Civil War. Perhaps contrary to what Stowe hoped, I didn't fall in love with her characters. I felt for them in their numerous trials and unbearable moments of despair, but I didn't attach to them, partly, I think, because I was put off by Stowe's assertive attempts to *make* me love and feel for them. Overall, though, I'm glad of the insights and understanding I attained by reading this...and also that I can cross this classic off my list. ; )
I enjoyed this book; I think I can say that. I didn't really like the sentimentalist style Stowe employed, but she made very solid points throughout and gave me insight into the ways of thinking during the 1840s/50s and into the Civil War. Perhaps contrary to what Stowe hoped, I didn't fall in love with her characters. I felt for them in their numerous trials and unbearable moments of despair, but I didn't attach to them, partly, I think, because I was put off by Stowe's assertive attempts to *make* me love and feel for them. Overall, though, I'm glad of the insights and understanding I attained by reading this...and also that I can cross this classic off my list. ; )
frances_the_red's review against another edition
3.0
Was tu ich mich schwer mit dieser Bewertung. Es ist unbestreitbar, dass Onkel Toms Hütte eine Geschichte ist, die zu seiner Zeit die Sklavenbewegung aufgerüttelt hat. Jedoch ist die Opferrolle, in die Beecher Stowe den Sklaven Tom steckt einfach nicht tragbar. Zudem ist das Ende schon arg gekünstelt aufgesetzt.
classiccarissa's review against another edition
3.0
I tried to finish but six hours into the twenty-two-hour audiobook I just sort of...gave up. it is so heavy to read. for me, the knowledge that the fourth wall breaks AND several conversations were meant to appeal to the sympathies of white women, which pushed abolition to the forefront of American politics during that period, fell so flat for me. I kept trying to put myself in the headspace of that time, but the references to African-Americans as "creatures" and seeing them constantly stereotyped and othered made that an impossible task. I think this book would be best read (at least for me) in excerpts, accompanied by some kind of annotations, like first-person memoirs of slavery. Have read parts of slave narratives, or accounts from Frederick Douglass and Harriet Jacobs who were enslaved in America, those stories felt so much richer than this one. I tried reading this book as part of due diligence I felt I owed the author since I did a project on her when I was much too young to read the book or possibly understand the concepts within, but I just can't bring myself to finish it.
gailbird's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
lyakimov's review against another edition
3.0
This book's writing was very difficult to read consecutively. I found it so hard to want to pick this up, knowing it will take me hours to get through 30 pages.
However, the message of the book was very important and I think people should read this to fully understand the types of lives and experiences real people had and real situations people had to deal with, as many of the dialogue and events were based off real stories.
Uncle Tom is the highlight of the book, the way he affects everyone he meets, from the Shelby plantation to Legree's and all the places in between. Although he refuses to hurt anyone, his non violence does not make him a fearful, cowardly slave; in fact, it makes him even more courageous and brave. He was very inspiring, not letting go of his beliefs or his faith even when he was receiving beating after beating from Legree.
I also loved Evangeline, her devotion to Tom and the other slaves that her father owned was so touching. She was so pure-hearted and, like Tom, touched the lives of everyone she met. I see many similarities between Tom and Eva, specifically the fact that both are martyrs, both too good and too pure for their surroundings and there was no place for them to go but Heaven. Eva and Tom were by far the best and most well-written characters in the novel.
I think the book should have just ended at Master George freeing his slaves and telling them to remember Uncle Tom's cabin, without the entire 'Cassy is Eliza's mother and George's sister is alive too and everything is all fine and dandy,' there should be some things left to the imagination, like George and Eliza having free life and Cassy starting life over with Emmeline. The connected ending was weird.
It took me forever to finish this book because of the frustrating prose and my disconnection to most of the characters for a long part of the book. The ending, though, was amazing and it interested me a lot, with Tom's last stand and Cassy and Emmeline's escape plan. (I'm just going to pretend it ended at George freeing his slaves) It was super enthralling and so touching to read, because by the end I finally had emotion for the characters (at least some; only Tom and Eva and Master George). Overall, I give this book a 3.5 for not very good prose but an important message and an amazing ending for Uncle Tom and Eva.
However, the message of the book was very important and I think people should read this to fully understand the types of lives and experiences real people had and real situations people had to deal with, as many of the dialogue and events were based off real stories.
Uncle Tom is the highlight of the book, the way he affects everyone he meets, from the Shelby plantation to Legree's and all the places in between. Although he refuses to hurt anyone, his non violence does not make him a fearful, cowardly slave; in fact, it makes him even more courageous and brave. He was very inspiring, not letting go of his beliefs or his faith even when he was receiving beating after beating from Legree.
I also loved Evangeline, her devotion to Tom and the other slaves that her father owned was so touching. She was so pure-hearted and, like Tom, touched the lives of everyone she met. I see many similarities between Tom and Eva, specifically the fact that both are martyrs, both too good and too pure for their surroundings and there was no place for them to go but Heaven. Eva and Tom were by far the best and most well-written characters in the novel.
I think the book should have just ended at Master George freeing his slaves and telling them to remember Uncle Tom's cabin, without the entire 'Cassy is Eliza's mother and George's sister is alive too and everything is all fine and dandy,' there should be some things left to the imagination, like George and Eliza having free life and Cassy starting life over with Emmeline. The connected ending was weird.
It took me forever to finish this book because of the frustrating prose and my disconnection to most of the characters for a long part of the book. The ending, though, was amazing and it interested me a lot, with Tom's last stand and Cassy and Emmeline's escape plan. (I'm just going to pretend it ended at George freeing his slaves) It was super enthralling and so touching to read, because by the end I finally had emotion for the characters (at least some; only Tom and Eva and Master George). Overall, I give this book a 3.5 for not very good prose but an important message and an amazing ending for Uncle Tom and Eva.
kyop14's review against another edition
5.0
A voice on the realities of slavery, a reality ingrained mind, body, and soul. It is an undeniably thought-provoking read of the expectations of man and country. It is not what we believe, but that we believed in the first place. Stowe a Christian and abolitionist points out the contradiction of how it is unchristian to seek your freedom. It is unchristian to seek your justice. Stowe exemplifies, that even the best of Christianity under slavery leads to disadvantage and discouragement.
clariceh's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0