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A review by ink_andivy
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
5.0
“How easy it is, to waste a life…”
I was more absorbed in the plot of this novel than I have been in any for quite some time. I’m usually absorbed by some daring thing the author chose to write on, or more often by the daring way they chose to write it. Washington Black has these elements, but it also has an exciting and ever-changing set of characters and settings. I loved the stunning descriptions of everywhere Washington travelled to—it made me long to buy a plane ticket and experience a new place.
When I first saw this novel, I was immediately intrigued by the octopus on the front cover, and it did not disappoint. One of my favourite parts was the creation of the aquarium, and the descriptions of the sea creatures. I’ve always been fascinated by sea animals (probably because I’ve never lived near the ocean) and when I have experienced them, I’ve always found that other world under the sea to be so disturbing and illusory. I thought Edugyan did a wonderful job of portraying that.
The novel certainly shows the ways that people can sink into cruelty and self-centredness, therefore wasting away their intelligence and better qualities. It never fails to portray the twisted ways of humanness, but Washington’s experiences also highlight the beauty and hopefulness in discovery, whether this discovery was a scientific or artistic creation, being in a new place, or falling in love. This novel was wonderful as one of my first reads of the new year, as it has made me feel inspired to discover and create. I look forward to going back and reading Esi Edugyan’s other novels.
I was more absorbed in the plot of this novel than I have been in any for quite some time. I’m usually absorbed by some daring thing the author chose to write on, or more often by the daring way they chose to write it. Washington Black has these elements, but it also has an exciting and ever-changing set of characters and settings. I loved the stunning descriptions of everywhere Washington travelled to—it made me long to buy a plane ticket and experience a new place.
When I first saw this novel, I was immediately intrigued by the octopus on the front cover, and it did not disappoint. One of my favourite parts was the creation of the aquarium, and the descriptions of the sea creatures. I’ve always been fascinated by sea animals (probably because I’ve never lived near the ocean) and when I have experienced them, I’ve always found that other world under the sea to be so disturbing and illusory. I thought Edugyan did a wonderful job of portraying that.
The novel certainly shows the ways that people can sink into cruelty and self-centredness, therefore wasting away their intelligence and better qualities. It never fails to portray the twisted ways of humanness, but Washington’s experiences also highlight the beauty and hopefulness in discovery, whether this discovery was a scientific or artistic creation, being in a new place, or falling in love. This novel was wonderful as one of my first reads of the new year, as it has made me feel inspired to discover and create. I look forward to going back and reading Esi Edugyan’s other novels.