Reviews

The Book Of Negroes by Lawrence Hill

saskiamenu's review against another edition

challenging sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

nikischmidt's review against another edition

emotional informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

I am grateful for all I learned from this book.  It reads like a biography that can be a bit distant from the reader and therefore hard to connect with characters despite a strong desire to do so.  

novabird's review against another edition

4.0

“I concluded that no place in the world was entirely safe for an African, and that for many of us, survival depended on perpetual migration.”

In Canada this book is titled, “The Book of Negroes,” after the actual ’Register of over 6,000 names of Blacks recorded as being brought away from New York by the English when they lost the war. Many of them went to Nova Scotia, Canada and indeed, also on to Sierra Leone.

An amazingly well written and researched book about, Aminata, a girl taken from the interior of Africa, her hardships, struggle for freedom, her travels, her achievement of literacy and the beginning of the Abolitionist movement.

The most revealing fact for me was the reference to inadequate maps of Africa. It proved that non Blacks had not traveled this continent early on and colonized it. Instead, they trafficked in
slaves from the shores, and the shoreline and ports were the most notable features of any early maps.

Fascinating, broad overlook of Black slavery and a focused and well-rounded portrayal of the life of one Black woman.

abbywebb's review against another edition

5.0

If I ever get a book published (that is, if I ever put pen to paper), I can only hope that my characters would come to life the way that Lawrence Hill has done to his protagonist, Aminata, and all the other characters in The Book of Negroes. His story was not only captivating but heartfelt. Although this was a work of fiction, it was based on history and I felt that this story could have been true in many ways. He documented some definite hardships that occurred to slaves as they were taken from Africa and forced to work in America as well as those who were born in the U.S. I admit that I learned a lot about the slave trade by reading this book (for example, I had no idea that they developed a colony in Nova Scotia and then eventually in Sierra Leone, among other places).

I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a stimulating read with an honest, heartfelt story about a different era in history. Once this book has been devoured by the reader in its entirety, it will be obvious as to why The Book of Negroes won the Canada Reads 2009 competition. I am looking forward to reading more works by Lawrence Hill.

paytonfelder28's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

marijkoe's review against another edition

3.5

For my taste, both the plot and characters seemed too ‘fabricated’. And some of the details in storytelling didn’t make sense to me. 

The matter-of-fact writing style was a smart way to tell about the horrible things that happen in this book, otherwise it could be very hard to digest. On the other hand, at first it made it difficult for me to connect with the characters. 

Yet sometimes, Hill knew how to suddenly write just the right sentence to make me cry instantly. Also, there were some thought-provoking scenes that will stay with me for quite some time. 

Before deciding to read it I wanted to know who Hill was and why he made certain choices as an author. I may not agree with every choice, but I certainly do appreciate it a lot that his book is heavily based on many historical documents and research. 

xandrarama's review against another edition

adventurous dark informative sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Harrowing, as expected, but also a fascinating glimpse into pieces of history I knew almost nothing about (the Black Loyalists of Nova Scotia, Freetown in Sierra Leone). Perhaps due to the scope of the book (the protagonist's entire life) and its framing (as a fictional autobiography), the character development wasn't strong and this meant that my engagement remained more cognitive than emotional. Still a worthwhile read. 

dhoofwijk's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

joypouros's review against another edition

informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

The book follows an African born former slave who, now near the end of her life, is telling her life story to help the abolitionists. 

She was born in Bayo Africa, kidnapped at age 11, forced to march for three months to the harbor where she is sent via slave ship to the Americas. 

There, she is sold to an indigo plantation, then to a Jewish indigo inspector. On a trip to New York with her owner, she runs away. During the American Revolution, she aligns with the loyalists who promise freedom, but when Britain loses she must join the exodus to other British territories and ends up in Nova Scotia.

When promises go unfulfilled there, she takes an opportunity to go back to Africa as a free community in Sierra Leon. 

Throughout, she tries to reunite with her husband and the children who are stolen from her. It is a heartbreaking life, yet she is among the more fortunate slaves because she came into bondage with useful skills that make her valuable and easy to trade with. 

The book offers an educating and fascinating perspective of the slave trade and American Revolution. It has a pleasant writing style. 

lmhoylman's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.5