1.46k reviews for:

Twelve Years a Slave: Including; Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Solomon Northup, Frederick Douglass

4.23 AVERAGE

alerimusblack's review against another edition

5.0

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Extremely powerful, I couldn't read a lot in a one sitting because of the frustration and the pity I was feeling.

soulkissed2003's review against another edition

1.0

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I'm not sure what prompted me to request this one from the library. Curiosity, I suppose, when some e-mail newsletter or another about books went and suggested it. In this particular edition, from Penguin books, there is a lot to sort through in the way of introductory material and commentary, before you even get to the start of Northup's own story.
His story itself, being in its original wording of the time it was written, was a little difficult to follow. I think part of the turn off for me, too, was that it has been a TOUGH year for everyone with COVID and quarantines and honestly reading something depressing just holds little appeal at this point.
I'm glad Northup was freed, and that he got to tell his story. I just don't feel up to slogging through a difficult read about upsetting subject matter right now.

books10's review against another edition

4.0

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The story of a man who knew freedom, but had it ripped away from him for twelve long years. To think that this sort of thing actually happened to this man, and countless others...just boggles the mind.

hadders88's review against another edition

3.75

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

bougainvillea's review against another edition

4.0

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I kept thinking of either studying or teaching this in class as I read it. It just offers so many possibilities for discussion and comparison with texts I work with. Great level of detail and interesting narrative strategies. It's interesting to me that Northup is listed as the only author since I feel like the "ghostwriter"'s presence is pretty palpable.

fletchergross's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced

juggernaut's review against another edition

5.0

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How cruel is slavery? How USA, which boasts itself as an upholder of democracy and human rights allowed this evil to exist this long?

spafferine's review against another edition

3.75

emotional informative sad medium-paced

mrscarlereads's review against another edition

5.0

emotional inspiring reflective sad tense slow-paced

rowangazdewich's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced