I had so many emotions reading this book. Aminata’s life as a slave in America is horrendous. I cried while reading all she went through. All she lostI had so many emotions reading this book. Aminata’s life as a slave in America is horrendous. I cried while reading all she went through. All she lost. All she lived without. All she endured! I can’t believe she had the strength to go on! What an amazing story.
Aminata is a fictional character but the horrors in book are true events. The Book of Names was and actual list of slaves who were “ freed “ by the British for their willingness to fight against the revolutionaries. I say “ Freed” because they were brought to Canada only to be recaptured by American slave owners and to be persecuted by the Canadians themselves.
I learned a lot about the African slave trade. It was disheartening to know that Africans betrayed and sold their own people simply because they were from another village. At the same time, some people were forced to capture others or be killed. It makes me sick to think that this ever happened.
After I read the book I did additional reading ( googling) about slaves ships, the Book of Names, abolitionists and the founding of Sierra Leon. It’s a lot of information but well worth looking into if you want to learn more about the history of slavery and black people.
Lawrence Hill has put a lot of research into this book and was able to fit loads of history into one life. It’s a very emotional and informative read. He’s done an outstanding job!!!
I absolutely loved this book! It is going on my favorites list. It makes me think that I need to rethink what a 5 ⭐️ book really means to me. I like mI absolutely loved this book! It is going on my favorites list. It makes me think that I need to rethink what a 5 ⭐️ book really means to me. I like most books and give them 4 or 5 stars but what does that mean? In my mind I don’t feel I can rate a thriller against a historical fiction book. I mean to say that if I have a favorite thriller and a favorite historical fiction book, do I have to choose which one is better? Or can I have a favorites in both genres? Then again, I don’t know what constitutes a well written novel. I just know, that for me, when a book moves me to strong emotion or conveys a subject so well that I feel I understand it to the best of my ability, it’s a 5 ...more
I absolutely did not anticipate the way this novel would stir up my emotions!
On the surface it is a very dry retelling of a butlers car drive across I absolutely did not anticipate the way this novel would stir up my emotions!
On the surface it is a very dry retelling of a butlers car drive across the country to visit a former colleague. It is infused with boring details like, where he sat, stood and what he looked at, interspersed with bits of memories from the past.
In reality it is a man looking at his life in retrospect and wondering if his life has been fulfilling.
The way Kazuo Ishiguro makes this known is truly brilliant. I listened to the audio and the narrator was amazing. At first, I listened with the plain intent of paying attention, then I became engrossed and finally ended up in tears! What seemed like a simple story was a thought provoking view of one man’s look at his innermost self....more
I found another favorite! Im so glad I gave it a chance.
Kudos to Markus Zusak for writing about such a sad, dark topic while adding humor and beauty. I found another favorite! Im so glad I gave it a chance.
Kudos to Markus Zusak for writing about such a sad, dark topic while adding humor and beauty.
The banter between the characters made me laugh out loud. The narration by Death was brilliant and the beautiful prose will forever by in my memory....more