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A review by themink
The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox
4.0
I read this as a kid once, a few years back, and I remember I hadn't liked it. I had found the writing to be dry and boring, and I couldn't understand much of what was happening, yet somehow it was particularly memorable. Thus, I decided to pick it up again.
It was a much better experience this time round. The author clearly did her research, and put in effort in to give us a glimpse of the horrors of slave trade through the eyes of Jessie. The writing was good, and it set the atmosphere for the story, a kind of realness and sadness that lasted throughout the book.
What I liked about The Slave Dancer was that it was shown through the eyes of a white boy. We saw the struggles he had as he tried to understand the sailors' conflicting nature of their actions, and as he saw the horrors of what happened on slave ships. It amplified the gruesomeness felt by the reader, in a way, to be a spectator like he was.
It was interesting, though no less depressing, how the sailors continued to follow the Captain's orders, despite their misgivings about him and the whole trade.
It left me confused as to what I should feel for some of the characters, probably much like how Jessie had felt. I keep hoping for a kind of clarity for their actions and words, but there was never really one.
Nevertheless, these strange actions made them seem human, or at least, become more than just characters in a book. And I liked that, for some inexplicable reason. It made me continue to be glued to the book, and it didn't cross my mind once to give up reading it.
However, there were times where I couldn't really picture what the protagonist was describing. I know I would've been very confused over the point of the slaves dancing, had I not watched Twelve Years A Slave before and had an idea of what it was like. It was only with some prior knowledge of the circumstances and setting of the story - that I hadn't had when I first read the book - did I fully manage to appreciate the story.
So yes, The Slave Dancer was enjoyable, memorable, and worth rereading. I'd recommend it to anyone, though it might be more suited to young adults instead of children, based on my previous experience. And I'll definitely be on the lookout for Ms Fox's other works.
It was a much better experience this time round. The author clearly did her research, and put in effort in to give us a glimpse of the horrors of slave trade through the eyes of Jessie. The writing was good, and it set the atmosphere for the story, a kind of realness and sadness that lasted throughout the book.
What I liked about The Slave Dancer was that it was shown through the eyes of a white boy. We saw the struggles he had as he tried to understand the sailors' conflicting nature of their actions, and as he saw the horrors of what happened on slave ships. It amplified the gruesomeness felt by the reader, in a way, to be a spectator like he was.
It was interesting, though no less depressing, how the sailors continued to follow the Captain's orders, despite their misgivings about him and the whole trade.
Spoiler
They'd give the African children portions of their own rationed water and make toys to play with them, yet when their ship was being pursued by the Americans and the Captain yelled at them to toss the Africans overboard, they didn't hesitate to do so.It left me confused as to what I should feel for some of the characters, probably much like how Jessie had felt. I keep hoping for a kind of clarity for their actions and words, but there was never really one.
Spoiler
Especially for Ben Stout. I'd known he'd be getting what he deserved in the end, but I'd been so sure that there'd be a moment when Jessie saw a reason for his cruelty, and why he always spoke so seemingly kindly to him at the start. And the Captain. Why the hell did he give Jessie those biscuits? What was the point of showing us that? It feels like there's supposed to be one, but I can't get it.Nevertheless, these strange actions made them seem human, or at least, become more than just characters in a book. And I liked that, for some inexplicable reason. It made me continue to be glued to the book, and it didn't cross my mind once to give up reading it.
However, there were times where I couldn't really picture what the protagonist was describing. I know I would've been very confused over the point of the slaves dancing, had I not watched Twelve Years A Slave before and had an idea of what it was like. It was only with some prior knowledge of the circumstances and setting of the story - that I hadn't had when I first read the book - did I fully manage to appreciate the story.
So yes, The Slave Dancer was enjoyable, memorable, and worth rereading. I'd recommend it to anyone, though it might be more suited to young adults instead of children, based on my previous experience. And I'll definitely be on the lookout for Ms Fox's other works.