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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
This was a really good story. I didn't feel, however, that the storytelling was the best. I unfortunately might be comparing this too closely with Uncle Tom's Cabin which was full of emotion and character relationships. While Twelve Years a Slave clearly conveyed the emotion of the author/victim of kidnapping, there was little in regards to the relationships he built in his 12 years of captivity. He described the personalities and ordeals of others he met/lived with went through but little in regards to how their lives affected him personally- aside from the few that got him out of slavery. Part of that could be because he kept himself guarded and did not share any personal information with the other slaves. I just feel the best part of a story are the people you experience life with. He spent a great deal of time with a number of people who had no idea who he was. Because of that I felt a disconnect. I still enjoyed the story and waited in anticipation when he'd be proven a free man. I can't imagine being away from your family for 12 years and having the feeling of reconnecting with them. I would still recommend this book to others. Like I said, the overall story of events was really interesting. 3.5 Stars.
heartrending and incredible. why isn't this as well known as Douglass and Washington's narratives??
I'm satisfied by having listened to the book that I know the story and there for don't need to see the movie. the cruelty is horrid. I appreciate his paying down the facts of slavery with his eye witness account.
This is an astounding book. Throughout my years of learning about slavery in our country, I know I've read and been taught about African Americans being kidnapped from the north and taken south to be sold into slavery. But it never impacted me as much as when I read this book. I was in awe (in a horror-stricken way) throughout reading and was moved to tears by Solomon's prose. That he was able to write about his experiences in such a beautiful and heart-wrenching way must have taken much grace from God. He paid equal measure to both the "good" masters and the evil ones, describing the good as upstanding men and women of God, yet having been born into a system from which they knew no other way. The evil master was given plenty of attention by Solomon as well, in terms of their coming judgement. He knew not when or how, but he knew it would come even if it was just the judgement of God upon their death. I am very glad I read this, to pay honor to Solomon's experiences and life as well as for those hundreds of others who shared the same fate.
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
a frighteningly raw and meticulous account of slavey. upsetting and hard to read but mightily important
An amazing read. I didn't think it would be as good, seeing as I had seen the movie first, but this book really pulled on my heartstrings. It showed the struggles and hardships of slavery and one mans determination to never give up.
Wow - absolutely incredible! I’m so grateful that the author survived and was able to share his first-hand account of being enslaved and freed so that we can learn from the past.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence