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A review by _askthebookbug
Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
5.0
Actual Rating - 4.5/5.
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| Book Review | Washington Black.
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"But human faces are so interesting,” said I. “Yes, to be sure. But when you are looking at one face, you are not looking at another. You are privileging that face. You are deciding who is worthy of observation and who is not. You are choosing who is worth preserving." - Esi Edugyan.
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Bits of this novel reminded me of Twelve Years a Slave (the movie), one that has remained my favourite over the years. The plight of black men and women back in the days when they were forced to work for the whites was one of the cruelest acts to be ever carried out. Even today as I get to read about real incidents that dates back to slavery, it never fails to infuriate me. Washington Black is one such book that talks about slavery in a less descriptive manner but manages to move the readers nevertheless. Little did I know that I would come to love Wash (as he is fondly referred) for not only was he an obedient child but also grew up to be a fine young man.
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Wash is left stunned when he is picked from the slave farm in Barbados to serve as an assistant/manservant to his master's unconventional younger brother, Christopher Wilde who is commonly known as Titch. From the very beginning Titch makes it clear that he feels strongly against slavery and showers Wash with respect and love. His mission of building a cloud cutter keeps him and Titch busy for weeks but Wash can't help but feel awful for the rest of the slaves being subjected to brutality while he lives in comfort. Due to unforeseen events, Wash's life ends up in grave danger when Titch decides to escape with the help of the cloud cutter. The two of them then visit many places like Atlantic, Amsterdam, Canada, England and even Morocco. A bounty hunter is hired to bring back Wash to the farm and he lives in fear for many years to come.
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Under Titch's guidance, Wash discovers his extraordinary gift for sketching and even learns how to read and write. This comes in handy when Titch parts ways with him after their escape. Wash finds himself utterly alone but builds a life for himself fairly well. He finds love, pursues his passion for science and art, lives a moderate life but realises his restlessness and sets out on a journey to find Titch to seek answers for abandoning him. His search takes him to places and in the process ends up learning few painful truths. Wash's life is complicated, his past always catching up with him and with the end of slavery years later, he still finds the stares of people who disapprove of him. His innocence, naivety and growing up years are portrayed in a very raw manner. I personally admired how Esi managed to bring together multiple facets of emotions and strong characters. It is fairly clear how powerful of a narrator she is, making me sit back and enjoy Wash's incredible journey. It imbibes a sense of excitement as one reads the vivid description of places and people. Readers will either love or dislike Washington Black and I, for one, enjoyed it immensely.
•
| Book Review | Washington Black.
•
"But human faces are so interesting,” said I. “Yes, to be sure. But when you are looking at one face, you are not looking at another. You are privileging that face. You are deciding who is worthy of observation and who is not. You are choosing who is worth preserving." - Esi Edugyan.
•
Bits of this novel reminded me of Twelve Years a Slave (the movie), one that has remained my favourite over the years. The plight of black men and women back in the days when they were forced to work for the whites was one of the cruelest acts to be ever carried out. Even today as I get to read about real incidents that dates back to slavery, it never fails to infuriate me. Washington Black is one such book that talks about slavery in a less descriptive manner but manages to move the readers nevertheless. Little did I know that I would come to love Wash (as he is fondly referred) for not only was he an obedient child but also grew up to be a fine young man.
•
Wash is left stunned when he is picked from the slave farm in Barbados to serve as an assistant/manservant to his master's unconventional younger brother, Christopher Wilde who is commonly known as Titch. From the very beginning Titch makes it clear that he feels strongly against slavery and showers Wash with respect and love. His mission of building a cloud cutter keeps him and Titch busy for weeks but Wash can't help but feel awful for the rest of the slaves being subjected to brutality while he lives in comfort. Due to unforeseen events, Wash's life ends up in grave danger when Titch decides to escape with the help of the cloud cutter. The two of them then visit many places like Atlantic, Amsterdam, Canada, England and even Morocco. A bounty hunter is hired to bring back Wash to the farm and he lives in fear for many years to come.
•
Under Titch's guidance, Wash discovers his extraordinary gift for sketching and even learns how to read and write. This comes in handy when Titch parts ways with him after their escape. Wash finds himself utterly alone but builds a life for himself fairly well. He finds love, pursues his passion for science and art, lives a moderate life but realises his restlessness and sets out on a journey to find Titch to seek answers for abandoning him. His search takes him to places and in the process ends up learning few painful truths. Wash's life is complicated, his past always catching up with him and with the end of slavery years later, he still finds the stares of people who disapprove of him. His innocence, naivety and growing up years are portrayed in a very raw manner. I personally admired how Esi managed to bring together multiple facets of emotions and strong characters. It is fairly clear how powerful of a narrator she is, making me sit back and enjoy Wash's incredible journey. It imbibes a sense of excitement as one reads the vivid description of places and people. Readers will either love or dislike Washington Black and I, for one, enjoyed it immensely.