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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
An admirable project. The writing is immersive, but it begs to be read as a novel and as such it feels a bit slow and drawn out, so after nearly a year of nibbling at it I finally set it aside for good, after reading about a third of it.
An important read to learn about what so many men and women were forced to endure. This book broke me. I think everyone should read at least once, and never forget.
Roots is a phenomenal testament to the strength of the human spirit; a brief review is not nearly enough to properly encompass all that this novel represents of Black American history.
The characters brought to life in Haley's writing are vivid and have richly defined lives; they feel real, and the reader empathizes profoundly with each of Kunta Kinte and his descendants. The American slavery and its horrors that can be hard to properly understand are brought to life before the reader and are not sugar-coated. The illustrated culture of the Mandinka people in Kunta's home village, Juffure, is particularly striking and shatters stereotypes that indigenous Africans were/are uncivilized or "backwards." Slave life in the States from the 1760s to the 1860s is also richly illustrated - every aspect of slavery itself that I can think of is tackled by Haley - and Kunta Kinte's descendants are all written, like I mentioned before, as actual, relatable people with both redeeming qualities and flaws. I consider the strong theme of family and Roots's diverse personalities to be the novel's strongest factors, as well as the theme of religion (Kunta is a devoted Muslim and many of his family members are equally-as-dedicated Christians, who use Allah/God's love as a means to persevere).
It is important to note the plagiarism controversies associated with this book (Haley has been accused of plagiarizing from Courlander's The African and M. Walker's Jubilee), as well as the question of actual faithfulness to the real lives of Haley's ancestors. However, I firmly believe that Roots's message and impact on American culture outweighs these flaws and cements it as a five-star novel instead of a four-star, like I considered giving, but do note I still took these factors into account while thinking about the read and writing my review.
Roots is by no means a perfect book, but Haley's impact on American society cannot be understated. His writing has shattered stereotypes associated with Africans and Black Americans, and created an image of American slavery that is far more "real" than what any history textbooks or lessons alone can do. He sparked a nationwide passion for genealogy that persists even to the current day, and started the beginnings of much-needed conversations across the West.
Strongly recommended for anyone. It's an unforgettable novel.
The characters brought to life in Haley's writing are vivid and have richly defined lives; they feel real, and the reader empathizes profoundly with each of Kunta Kinte and his descendants. The American slavery and its horrors that can be hard to properly understand are brought to life before the reader and are not sugar-coated. The illustrated culture of the Mandinka people in Kunta's home village, Juffure, is particularly striking and shatters stereotypes that indigenous Africans were/are uncivilized or "backwards." Slave life in the States from the 1760s to the 1860s is also richly illustrated - every aspect of slavery itself that I can think of is tackled by Haley - and Kunta Kinte's descendants are all written, like I mentioned before, as actual, relatable people with both redeeming qualities and flaws. I consider the strong theme of family and Roots's diverse personalities to be the novel's strongest factors, as well as the theme of religion (Kunta is a devoted Muslim and many of his family members are equally-as-dedicated Christians, who use Allah/God's love as a means to persevere).
It is important to note the plagiarism controversies associated with this book (Haley has been accused of plagiarizing from Courlander's The African and M. Walker's Jubilee), as well as the question of actual faithfulness to the real lives of Haley's ancestors. However, I firmly believe that Roots's message and impact on American culture outweighs these flaws and cements it as a five-star novel instead of a four-star, like I considered giving, but do note I still took these factors into account while thinking about the read and writing my review.
Roots is by no means a perfect book, but Haley's impact on American society cannot be understated. His writing has shattered stereotypes associated with Africans and Black Americans, and created an image of American slavery that is far more "real" than what any history textbooks or lessons alone can do. He sparked a nationwide passion for genealogy that persists even to the current day, and started the beginnings of much-needed conversations across the West.
Strongly recommended for anyone. It's an unforgettable novel.
This story is amazing. It is really a story about survival, and about keeping a record of your ancestry, even if that record is oral. Alex Haley's painstaking journey to find out his African roots is brilliant. I recommend Roots to anyone.
I want to say that I was enamoured by this book, but am cautious due to the controversies surrounding the accuracy of the accounts.
It is a hugely captivating book, wanting you to get further into the story and also wondering what happened to Kunta Kinte and the village he left behind.
It really should be a story that people look up to - hard work and belief that things can get better despite the hardship.
The letdown is the controversy on the accuracy of the line of descendants. Really wish it were more or less a truthful and accurate version of life of the slaves.
It is a hugely captivating book, wanting you to get further into the story and also wondering what happened to Kunta Kinte and the village he left behind.
It really should be a story that people look up to - hard work and belief that things can get better despite the hardship.
The letdown is the controversy on the accuracy of the line of descendants. Really wish it were more or less a truthful and accurate version of life of the slaves.
This remarkable book starts with the childhood of Kunta Kinte, born in a small village in Gambia in 1750, and ends with his great-great-great-great-grandson, the author, who set out to find his ancestral home. Few books are quite so effective at putting the reader in the shoes of their protagonists. We associate the horrors of slavery with the loss of freedom and dignity and equity, but these are just words. Haley takes us through the trip across the Atlantic in graphic detail, and the book is the greater for it.
On the plantations in the new United States, we feel along with Kunta Kinte the urge to run, and years later we feel his rage as his new family is torn apart, just as his old one had been when he was snatched by the slave-catchers. The hopes, dreams and challenges of the future generations mirror the historical setting, about which there are few better ways to learn than to read this book. If history books are too often devoid of emotion, this is a story with plenty of both. No reader will ever forget reading it.
If I had any criticism it would be that Haley does such a fine job of bringing us into the character experience of Kunta and the first three generations below him that the last few pages, with the exception of the memorable moment in which he writes in the first person for the first time, are a little sterile. We don’t know him or his parents quite so well. But this is not a book centered in the twentieth century, and perhaps it would have been an indulgence to add more. It does not dampen the five-star experience of the book.
On the plantations in the new United States, we feel along with Kunta Kinte the urge to run, and years later we feel his rage as his new family is torn apart, just as his old one had been when he was snatched by the slave-catchers. The hopes, dreams and challenges of the future generations mirror the historical setting, about which there are few better ways to learn than to read this book. If history books are too often devoid of emotion, this is a story with plenty of both. No reader will ever forget reading it.
If I had any criticism it would be that Haley does such a fine job of bringing us into the character experience of Kunta and the first three generations below him that the last few pages, with the exception of the memorable moment in which he writes in the first person for the first time, are a little sterile. We don’t know him or his parents quite so well. But this is not a book centered in the twentieth century, and perhaps it would have been an indulgence to add more. It does not dampen the five-star experience of the book.
Long, but what did I expect with the retelling of Haley’s family lineage. It was an amazing story! I got to know all the characters so well, I began to feel like they were my own family by the end.
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Violence
Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley is one of those books that will haunt you long after you’ve turned the final page. It’s a deep, soul-shaking exploration of identity, family, and the traumatic impact of slavery. The book starts with Kunta Kinte, a proud Gambian man from the village of Juffure, in 1750. While Juffure is portrayed as this quaint, almost magical place with a somewhat unbelievable level of literacy and spiritual sophistication for its time, it sets the stage for the truly staggering journey that Kunta Kinte and his descendants will take. The early part of the story paints an almost fairytale-like picture of Kunta Kinte’s world, where the villagers are so enlightened that they have bookshelves and schools, even though their actual lifestyle seems much more in line with the stone-age tech level. But hey, it’s a narrative device, and it does the job of establishing a foundation for the eventual brutal clash with the world beyond their borders—the world of slavery.
Now, the characters in Roots are unforgettable, particularly Kunta Kinte. His determination to hold on to his African roots in the face of such unimaginable trauma is truly powerful. Kunta Kinte is subjected to the harshest realities of slavery—kidnapped, disfigured, and forced to live a life as property rather than as a free man. But even with all that, his spirit remains unbroken, and that persistence makes him a figure worth rooting for. And the generational struggles in his family—like the complicated relationship between Chicken George and his father, Tom Lea—are so raw and layered, revealing the deeply tangled emotions that arise from slavery, both for the oppressed and the oppressor.
As for the writing, Alex Haley’s goal is clear: he wants us to understand the profound loss that slavery represents. It’s not just the physical torment or the loss of life and liberty; it’s the eradication of identity. The Africans brought to America were stripped of everything that made them who they were—their language, culture, history, and family connections. And then, forced to live in a world where they didn’t belong, they were alienated from their own people, who were born into slavery. That’s a loss that transcends generations. What’s powerful here is that Alex Haley doesn’t just tell us this—it’s felt in every chapter. The painful isolation of Kunta Kinte and the alienation he feels from other slaves who never knew freedom is heartbreaking. It’s like being caught between two worlds, neither of which you’re allowed to fully inhabit.
Roots: The Saga of an American Family is undeniably a work of immense emotional power, a testimony to the enduring strength of the human spirit. Alex Haley, through tireless research and family stories passed down through generations, brings his ancestors’ legacy to life. And while the historical accuracy of certain parts may be in question (and some parts may feel a little too romanticised or convenient), it doesn’t take away from the book's emotional impact. The beauty of this book is in the lessons it imparts—whether or not every fact is true, the overall narrative of resilience, the importance of knowing who you are, and the way trauma is passed down through generations is something that transcends history. It’s something we can all learn from and carry with us.
It’s one of those books that sticks with you. It’s heavy, emotionally taxing, and at times difficult to read, but it’s also profoundly moving. It spans generations, showing how time changes people and societies, and it gives you a front-row seat to the lives of those who lived through one of the darkest chapters in human history. The weight of it all might make you want to put the book down and take a breather, but the journey is worth every page. Alex Haley’s story isn’t just his family’s—it’s everyone’s, and that’s what makes it truly timeless.
Now, the characters in Roots are unforgettable, particularly Kunta Kinte. His determination to hold on to his African roots in the face of such unimaginable trauma is truly powerful. Kunta Kinte is subjected to the harshest realities of slavery—kidnapped, disfigured, and forced to live a life as property rather than as a free man. But even with all that, his spirit remains unbroken, and that persistence makes him a figure worth rooting for. And the generational struggles in his family—like the complicated relationship between Chicken George and his father, Tom Lea—are so raw and layered, revealing the deeply tangled emotions that arise from slavery, both for the oppressed and the oppressor.
As for the writing, Alex Haley’s goal is clear: he wants us to understand the profound loss that slavery represents. It’s not just the physical torment or the loss of life and liberty; it’s the eradication of identity. The Africans brought to America were stripped of everything that made them who they were—their language, culture, history, and family connections. And then, forced to live in a world where they didn’t belong, they were alienated from their own people, who were born into slavery. That’s a loss that transcends generations. What’s powerful here is that Alex Haley doesn’t just tell us this—it’s felt in every chapter. The painful isolation of Kunta Kinte and the alienation he feels from other slaves who never knew freedom is heartbreaking. It’s like being caught between two worlds, neither of which you’re allowed to fully inhabit.
Roots: The Saga of an American Family is undeniably a work of immense emotional power, a testimony to the enduring strength of the human spirit. Alex Haley, through tireless research and family stories passed down through generations, brings his ancestors’ legacy to life. And while the historical accuracy of certain parts may be in question (and some parts may feel a little too romanticised or convenient), it doesn’t take away from the book's emotional impact. The beauty of this book is in the lessons it imparts—whether or not every fact is true, the overall narrative of resilience, the importance of knowing who you are, and the way trauma is passed down through generations is something that transcends history. It’s something we can all learn from and carry with us.
It’s one of those books that sticks with you. It’s heavy, emotionally taxing, and at times difficult to read, but it’s also profoundly moving. It spans generations, showing how time changes people and societies, and it gives you a front-row seat to the lives of those who lived through one of the darkest chapters in human history. The weight of it all might make you want to put the book down and take a breather, but the journey is worth every page. Alex Haley’s story isn’t just his family’s—it’s everyone’s, and that’s what makes it truly timeless.