A review by anarchist_al
Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An absolutely gorgeous, yet incredibly difficult story. This has been on my list for such a long time—Roots so clearly defines the black history of the United States, and it looms so largely in the memory of every black person of a certain age I’ve ever spoken to. That Haley’s family story was passed through so many generations is remarkable, and despite the questions about the griot potentially being influenced to “remember” Kunta Kinte’s origins, the stunning amount of research, time, and care that was taken to corroborate so many generations’ stories is astounding. Haley’s novelization of his ancestors’ lives, thoughts, and conversations was beautiful, heartbreaking writing. Despite feeling very well informed about the horrific institution of American slavery, this book taught me so much, and added brutal detail to what I already knew. This should be required reading, or listening. The narrator was fantastic. I am looking forward to watching the TV series next. 
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