birdybird's reviews
16 reviews

The Life and Adventures of Henry Bibb: An American Slave by Henry Bibb

challenging dark sad slow-paced

5.0

Bibb is a very moral man dedicated to his faith; which is seen in his fervent (and justified) disapproval of the supposedly-pious slave owners throughout the text. The focus on the narrative is not only freeing himself from enslavement - but also saving his family. The only part of the book that was more surprising than the amount of escapes/attempted escapes Bibb makes was the ending. This made me see the narrative in a new light as the entire text becomes outlined with a sense of nostalgia for his marriage and the attempts he made to bring his family together only for his marriage to fail. Bibb himself points out his ex-wife was not responsibly per-say, but at the same time he condemns Malinda regardless. 

12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

challenging emotional medium-paced

4.5

Northup’s narrative is interesting as he is writing from the perspective of a once freeman who was betrayed, kidnapped, and forced into enslavement.  Couple this with the fact he was a slave driver (for 8 years - fact not revealed until later in the narrative) provides an interesting perspective. The scene where he says his goodbyes is particularly heartbreaking - especially Patsy’s final worlds to him. 

Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Ann Jacobs

challenging emotional medium-paced

5.0

This was a difficult read - but is an important one that delves into the physical and emotional brutality of slavery. The scenes where Jacob’s describes how she must remain physically distant from her children in such a cramped space, hearing their questions and cries for their mother is heartbreaking.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

An essential text in understanding U.S. history.

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

challenging dark reflective tense slow-paced

4.75

While some would (understandably) be put off by the violence in this book, I disagree that the violence is unneeded - it is senseless. Sudden. The purpose of consistently detailing the gore aftermath is to reinforce the senselessness of such. Many of the deaths and desecration of bodies are described in the same heaviness of the changing landscapes. It certainly gets a little *too* slow at times, but I found the slow pace often matches the events that occur throughout the book. McCarthy describes a bloody history that was often ignored in the favor of the romantic ideal of Manifest Destiny. Highlighting that everyone is capable of violence. To me, it wasn’t a coincidence that the most gruesome character in the text was the most intelligent - and his paleness repeatedly described throughout. The ending is haunting. One of the few times where a violent death is not described in so much detail yet it’s because of that is what makes it (and the final scene that follows) leave a pit in my stomach. 

Raven of the Inner Palace, Vol. 1 by Kouko Shirakawa

dark mysterious medium-paced

3.75

I enjoyed the episodic aspect of the book, although at times (especially in the first part) there are several instances of “telling” rather than showing, such as when the empress dowager is sentenced to death… I was expecting more weight placed in that moment, but it happened and passed quickly. This does improve as the book continues, and I am interested in how Jusetsu’s relationships with other characters will develop in future novels. 
There are also some rather beautiful descriptions - especially of Jusetsu’s powers. However, I feel like more explanation on the nature and limits of her powers would have been nice. I look forward to reading more of this series.