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homosexual's review
5.0
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Link to the Reading Black Classics Vlog
TW/CW: slavery, n word usage
5/5 stars BUT: I will say that since this novel was never “finished” and was still in the process of being drafted I am much kinder to it and not nearly as critical. I did the same thing when I read The Canterbury Tales.
I will also say that I didn’t read the introductory bits or the back matter. I am literally only judging this based of the novel itself.
I really liked the usage of Gothic and Sentimental tropes in this! It did a good job of setting the tone for the rest of the novel early on. Even later on, when the Gothic elements are not as apparent, because she sets the tone so well early on it is enough to carry throughout the novel. My interest carried throughout the novel, and the end notes did help clarify a few things that were lost on me.
I liked Hannah as our MC as well as our cast of character that come along to join/leave us. On further re-reads I would like to make note of a few things to see if there are parallels to be drawn between a few of the characters.
Link to the Reading Black Classics Vlog
TW/CW: slavery, n word usage
5/5 stars BUT: I will say that since this novel was never “finished” and was still in the process of being drafted I am much kinder to it and not nearly as critical. I did the same thing when I read The Canterbury Tales.
I will also say that I didn’t read the introductory bits or the back matter. I am literally only judging this based of the novel itself.
I really liked the usage of Gothic and Sentimental tropes in this! It did a good job of setting the tone for the rest of the novel early on. Even later on, when the Gothic elements are not as apparent, because she sets the tone so well early on it is enough to carry throughout the novel. My interest carried throughout the novel, and the end notes did help clarify a few things that were lost on me.
I liked Hannah as our MC as well as our cast of character that come along to join/leave us. On further re-reads I would like to make note of a few things to see if there are parallels to be drawn between a few of the characters.
t2p's review
4.0
This was a fascinating read, which I would never have found if it weren't for my book club's challenge to read books set in Virginia this year. This is believed to be the first novel written by an African American woman, and is a fictionalized account of her own life in and escape from slavery. There are really two books in this--the story Hannah Crafts writes, and the story of how her manuscript and the details of her life came to be discovered. The actual novel is written in a distinctive gothic/sentimental style, and I'm not well-enough acquainted with Dickens' Bleak House to grasp all the allusions. But I can fully appreciate how singular and impressive the novel is and I am grateful to have had a chance to read it.
aubreyyy's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I did really enjoy this book and if you read this edition I would highly recommend the accompanying materials as well not just the actual narrative. This is a national treasure and a vital piece of literature written by a runaway slave woman who defies all odds and gains her freedom. It is narrated by an exceptional voice that fully accounts for the complexity of the slave narrative and the reality of slavery in the US. It does have very sensitive topics and the author does not spare anyones feelings, but this book is not all doom and gloom. The author encompasses the full range of human emotion including the hope and love that can be found anywhere. A truly wonderful story!
brookepalmer796's review
3.0
This book is fantastic mixture of history and mystery and will probably become a classic in African-American Literature.
kristendom's review
I don't feel like I can really rate this book because it's so many different types of books all in one. This is possibly the first novel written by an African-American woman and/or a female slave, and the work that Henry Louis Gates did to trace this book through history is easily as fascinating as the novel itself. Definitely do not skip the preface for this book - it's as vital to the story as anything.
The novel itself was captivating and probably one of the most accurate portrayals of slavery from a woman's point of view that we have - although it featured only the perspective of a house slave, and one who spent a good portion of time not serving a direct master in this book. That being said, it definitely explores the complicated relationship to freedom that slaves had (or didn't have, more accurately) in a way that most of the literature from that time period (obviously written by non-enslaved white authors) doesn't and can't. Definitely worth a read.
The novel itself was captivating and probably one of the most accurate portrayals of slavery from a woman's point of view that we have - although it featured only the perspective of a house slave, and one who spent a good portion of time not serving a direct master in this book. That being said, it definitely explores the complicated relationship to freedom that slaves had (or didn't have, more accurately) in a way that most of the literature from that time period (obviously written by non-enslaved white authors) doesn't and can't. Definitely worth a read.
maddiesbookbag's review
4.0
such a fascinating book and an even more fascinating piece of history thank you English class!!
italo_carlvino's review
4.0
The Bondwoman's Narrative is a fascinating novel. It has elements of gothic fiction, and is a harrowing view into slavery. To quote Maya Angelou in her blurb of the novel: "We learn the day-to-day experience of a bondwoman through her fiction." I believe this novel is an invaluable look into slavery in the United States.
thistlereads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
emily_britton's review
5.0
I concur with those who wrote that the lengthy introductions by Gates really make this novel. Once you understand the rarity of this novel's provenance and the goal of the author, it is simply a pleasure to read a great story in the style of some of my favorite authors. Her unique insight is fascinating, and the historical record she preserves is priceless.