Reviews - 12 Years a Slave

1.47k reviews for:

12 Years a Slave

Solomon Northup

4.23 AVERAGE

culkins's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

uhines's review against another edition

4.0

I read this book in anticipation of seeing the movie. This is the compelling story of a man born free who was sold into slavery. This story felt different than other slave narratives that I have read. It was almost too good to be true. I realized, and now I remind you, that however triumphant this story, it was not the norm. As the author stated in the book, many of those free that were sold into slavery were still there and would finish their lives there. While this story did include some dark pictures of slavery, it presents a milder side of slavery, even when tragic happenings are being discussed. I believe that this is due to the fact that Northrup never gave up hope. It was a good story to read, along with other tales of slavery to compare and see alternate views of how slaves from different backgrounds perceived and lived their experiences. It was also a good story to read if you want a story of realized hope. As of this writing, I have yet to see the movie. I do still plan to see the movie, though.

lboettcher's review against another edition

5.0

A "Must Read"

Well written, fast paced account of a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery. Written in such a manner that the reader feels the pain, discouragement, and heartaches, yet is not so overwhelmed they want to put the book down. This book puts a "face" to all the locations and dates one learns about in a textbook.