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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book. It’s beautifully written, bu=t the ending...
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Stalking, Murder
Minor: Rape
Edugyan's writing is flawless and fascinating, making every scene come alive in all is brutality or beauty. Washington Black is an incredible main character, one that you are rooting for while dreading his possible demise. The novel is a bit long, and the writing makes it a novel you really have to focus on while reading (not for beach reading), so it does feel like slow going. However, the beauty of the language and the winding story make the journey enjoyable. There are many parallels and metaphors throughout the novel regarding life, liberty, slavery, and race-- all the more reason to pay attention.
Some of my favorite bits:
"In any case, it was then that I recognized that my own values- the tenets I hold dear as an Englishman- they are not the only, nor the best values in existence. I understood there were many different ways of being in the world, that to privilege one rigid set of beliefs over another was to lose something. Everything is bizarre, everything has value. Or if not value, at least merits investigation" (209).
"You took me on because I was helpful in your political cause. Because I could aid in your experiments. Beyond that I was of no use to you, and so you abandoned me... You never saw me as equal. You were more concerned that slavery should be a moral stain upon white men than by the actual damage it wreaks on black men" (324).
"I thought of my existence before Titch's arrival, the brutal hours in the field under the crushing sun, the screams, the casual finality edging every slave's life, as though each day could very easily be the last. And that, it seemed to me clearly, was the more obvious anguish- that life had never belonged to any of us, even when we'd sought to reclaim it by ending it. We had been estranged from the potential of our own bodies, from the revelation of everything our minds and bodies could accomplish" (332).
Some of my favorite bits:
"In any case, it was then that I recognized that my own values- the tenets I hold dear as an Englishman- they are not the only, nor the best values in existence. I understood there were many different ways of being in the world, that to privilege one rigid set of beliefs over another was to lose something. Everything is bizarre, everything has value. Or if not value, at least merits investigation" (209).
"You took me on because I was helpful in your political cause. Because I could aid in your experiments. Beyond that I was of no use to you, and so you abandoned me... You never saw me as equal. You were more concerned that slavery should be a moral stain upon white men than by the actual damage it wreaks on black men" (324).
"I thought of my existence before Titch's arrival, the brutal hours in the field under the crushing sun, the screams, the casual finality edging every slave's life, as though each day could very easily be the last. And that, it seemed to me clearly, was the more obvious anguish- that life had never belonged to any of us, even when we'd sought to reclaim it by ending it. We had been estranged from the potential of our own bodies, from the revelation of everything our minds and bodies could accomplish" (332).
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
I really liked the first 1/3 of this book. Also, Dion Graham's voice is kind of wow!!!
Esi Edugyan is clearly a master of the written word. Washington Black is a moving, gut wrenching, all too real, story of one man and his journey of life. She paints images and scenes with her words that pulled me into the story in a vibrant, often painful, way. Black is a dynamic character who changes and grows, makes choices, makes mistakes all as we see him come of age from a boy of eleven to a man of 18 (ish).
Following the story of Black as he leaves the plantation where he was born a slave to enter a world of science that only partially accepts him. This tale is woven beautifully even amongst the pain and the pain is what makes it so real. I hope to read more by Edugyan soon!
Following the story of Black as he leaves the plantation where he was born a slave to enter a world of science that only partially accepts him. This tale is woven beautifully even amongst the pain and the pain is what makes it so real. I hope to read more by Edugyan soon!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
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:
Yes