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1.45k reviews for:
Twelve Years a Slave: Including; Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Solomon Northup, Frederick Douglass
4.23 AVERAGE
1.45k reviews for:
Twelve Years a Slave: Including; Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
Solomon Northup, Frederick Douglass
4.23 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
12 Years a Slave is the memoir of a free Black man named Solomon Northrup from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in the 1840's. He spends twelve years as a slave in Louisiana before he is rescued. Solomon's depiction of the darkest aspects of slavery in the deep South is very moving and beautifully written, lacking in the melodramatic writing style that is often common to other narratives of the time. His factual account of the horrific conditions of slavery combine with poignant insight about human nature, portraying the destructive nature of the institution of slavery on both the enslaved and the society that is dependent upon it. This is a must read.
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
informative
inspiring
I learned more about slavery during the reading of this book then all of my formal education in the subject. I was captivated by Solomon’s story and compelled to do further reading.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
This was my 26th book finished in 2023.
I read this on my Caribbean cruise between stops in Puerto Rico, Turks And Caicos Islands, the Dominican Republic and Florida. I left it in a hostel in Miami Beach, FL.
Such a well-written and interesting narrative. After reading Olaudah Equiano's book, this book seemed so much more engaging and streamlined. I'd say this is the ultimate book in reading about the horrors of slavery in an emotive and empathetic way. It really makes you question time and time again how human beings could do this to others.
Absolute essential reading. Sometimes it makes for a tough and upsetting read, but well-worth keeping with it. Thank you Solomon for writing this book.
I read this on my Caribbean cruise between stops in Puerto Rico, Turks And Caicos Islands, the Dominican Republic and Florida. I left it in a hostel in Miami Beach, FL.
Such a well-written and interesting narrative. After reading Olaudah Equiano's book, this book seemed so much more engaging and streamlined. I'd say this is the ultimate book in reading about the horrors of slavery in an emotive and empathetic way. It really makes you question time and time again how human beings could do this to others.
Absolute essential reading. Sometimes it makes for a tough and upsetting read, but well-worth keeping with it. Thank you Solomon for writing this book.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
This book should absolutely be required reading in this country.
I hit the 20% mark in this book, got lazy and watched the movie. I read enough of the book to know it would have been worth the effort. But the film took away the need to persevere. (With a few nit-picky exceptions the film was excellent BTW). I feel kind of guilty. But there are a lot of awesome books out there. I need to move on.
I feel bad for giving this book only three stars, but rest assured the rating is for the writing itself, NOT the story. I've read many, many books regarding slavery and there are many that mention slaves that have been stolen from freedom and then sold into slavery, but this is the first I've read told from that point of view by someone that lived it.
The story was, of course, heartbreaking. I always cringe with guilt as I read this sort of thing, or anything about the plight of the American Indian. I am a white American after all. How many generations until I we are absolved of guilt? Undoubtedly more than separate me form this tale.
I had to plod through this. I put it aside after every few pages and it took me much, much longer than usual to go through the paltry number of pages. The story was compelling, but the way in which it was written simply was not. I'm sure if this was my first book regarding slavery I would have rushed through the pages as fast as I could swipe the screen (I read the e-book). Since I've read Roots, and Queen, Beloved and many, many others I craved writing skill in addition to story. Solomon Northup deserves praise for all he endured and his ability to unflinchingly record it, but to earn the five stars I wish I could give it, he needed much more narrative skill.
Having said all that, I do believe everyone should read this. I heard that there were those that felt it should be required History reading in America and I agree. Slavery was abominable, and there was no excuse for it, but to steal a FREE man and make him a slave was worse to the nth degree and we, as Americans, should know what our ancestors were willing to do. Those who dealt in this trade could not plead ignorance, could not use the law as defense. They took free people from the North where slavery was illegal and spirited them away to the South. To make a buck. It was the spiriting away that was against the law, and they knew no matter how they might have protested. Disgusting.
The story was, of course, heartbreaking. I always cringe with guilt as I read this sort of thing, or anything about the plight of the American Indian. I am a white American after all. How many generations until I we are absolved of guilt? Undoubtedly more than separate me form this tale.
I had to plod through this. I put it aside after every few pages and it took me much, much longer than usual to go through the paltry number of pages. The story was compelling, but the way in which it was written simply was not. I'm sure if this was my first book regarding slavery I would have rushed through the pages as fast as I could swipe the screen (I read the e-book). Since I've read Roots, and Queen, Beloved and many, many others I craved writing skill in addition to story. Solomon Northup deserves praise for all he endured and his ability to unflinchingly record it, but to earn the five stars I wish I could give it, he needed much more narrative skill.
Having said all that, I do believe everyone should read this. I heard that there were those that felt it should be required History reading in America and I agree. Slavery was abominable, and there was no excuse for it, but to steal a FREE man and make him a slave was worse to the nth degree and we, as Americans, should know what our ancestors were willing to do. Those who dealt in this trade could not plead ignorance, could not use the law as defense. They took free people from the North where slavery was illegal and spirited them away to the South. To make a buck. It was the spiriting away that was against the law, and they knew no matter how they might have protested. Disgusting.