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2.84 AVERAGE
2.84 AVERAGE
2.5
I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.
The plot of this story was really quite interesting. I’m surprised this hasn’t been turned into a film.
I understand that this novel was one of the first of its kind, but I found it a bit difficult to get into. I enjoyed the plot, but the way it was being conveyed was not as enjoyable.
I don’t know what I expected, but it wasn’t this.
The plot of this story was really quite interesting. I’m surprised this hasn’t been turned into a film.
I understand that this novel was one of the first of its kind, but I found it a bit difficult to get into. I enjoyed the plot, but the way it was being conveyed was not as enjoyable.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
continuing my series of Books I Was Assigned In College But Never Actually Read
someone could have told aphra behn periods exist.
If you read it, you'll only read it once
I read this book as part of a Ph.D. level English course on travel narratives. It was highly recommended by several others students that had worked with the text before, thus I was quite excited to read it. However, it probably will be something that *if* you read it, you'll only read it once.
The story follows Oroonoko, an African prince that, through a love triangle, finds himself banished from his homeland and stuck in the middle of the slave trade. He is sold into slavery, which is a harrowing experience, but does eventually reunite with a love interest. During his misadventures, he even attempts to escape to freedom with several other slaves, but unfortunately the efforts are fruitless.
But the ending sequences are quite problematic for me, as they involve grotesque violence. When it becomes clear to Oroonoko that he will not get to live "happily ever after" with his beloved, he decides that killing her and then taking revenge upon their colonizers is the best idea. His wife, who has no agency as a character, just agrees to this. She is indeed murdered. But for some reason (which is never explained) Oroonoko also cuts off her face --a bit too much violence that has no real purpose. He then also fails to go Django Unchained on his captors. He just lets himself get cut up and served up as dead. This all was problematic because it seemed to have no relevance.
End of spoilers. Spoilers and personal preference aside, this book is somewhat "meh" even though it holds significance in American literature. It fits into a travel genre because a nice a white woman tells us these events.
I'm giving this three stars because it does have value as early American Literature, early African-American Lit, and Afra Behn is an author everyone should read at least once --and this is supposedly her most popular book. I suppose you could read this if you're interested in African-American lit, travel lit, or want to read all of the Penguin Classics, but you'll probably only read it once.
I read this book as part of a Ph.D. level English course on travel narratives. It was highly recommended by several others students that had worked with the text before, thus I was quite excited to read it. However, it probably will be something that *if* you read it, you'll only read it once.
The story follows Oroonoko, an African prince that, through a love triangle, finds himself banished from his homeland and stuck in the middle of the slave trade. He is sold into slavery, which is a harrowing experience, but does eventually reunite with a love interest. During his misadventures, he even attempts to escape to freedom with several other slaves, but unfortunately the efforts are fruitless.
Spoiler
But the ending sequences are quite problematic for me, as they involve grotesque violence. When it becomes clear to Oroonoko that he will not get to live "happily ever after" with his beloved, he decides that killing her and then taking revenge upon their colonizers is the best idea. His wife, who has no agency as a character, just agrees to this. She is indeed murdered. But for some reason (which is never explained) Oroonoko also cuts off her face --a bit too much violence that has no real purpose. He then also fails to go Django Unchained on his captors. He just lets himself get cut up and served up as dead. This all was problematic because it seemed to have no relevance.
End of spoilers. Spoilers and personal preference aside, this book is somewhat "meh" even though it holds significance in American literature. It fits into a travel genre because a nice a white woman tells us these events.
I'm giving this three stars because it does have value as early American Literature, early African-American Lit, and Afra Behn is an author everyone should read at least once --and this is supposedly her most popular book. I suppose you could read this if you're interested in African-American lit, travel lit, or want to read all of the Penguin Classics, but you'll probably only read it once.
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated