Feb
18
Fast paced and engrossing, I can understand why Lawrence Hill’s The Book of Negros is a favourite among many. I found myself staying up way too late to read this book, with the repeated broken promise of going to sleep as soon as I finished whatever chapter I was on. Aminata Diallo’s story, that of an 11-year old girl who is stolen from her village in Africa and taken away to America to become a slave, is amazing.
Aminata’s journey starts when she is ambushed walking back to her village after helping her mother deliver a baby. Young, smart, and precocious, she saves her life over and over again by proving herself useful and making herself valuable - when she is thought of as nothing more than property by others. Aminata never gives up her believe that she is a free person - not during her life as an indigo plantation slave, nor as a servant/slave in a household where her Master furthers her education, nor when the white world looks at her as nothing but a black person. The historical detail in this novel seemed rather flawless and Aminata is an amazing character. So why did I feel something was lacking when I finished?
As much as I enjoyed reading this novel and learning about Aminata, I finished the novel with the feeling that there was still something missing. A novel can be engrossing during the reading without really taking hold of you and that is how I felt about The Book of Negros. I have been having a hard time pinpointing what it is that I think was missing but I think it is because even though I was interested in the story I had a hard time becoming emotionally involved in Aminata herself. Yes, the research behind the story is amazing (of course, I don’t know the history so I am making assumptions here) but sometimes the narrative seemed almost pedantic. I also didn’t like how whole years would pass within one sentence with little more than the wave of her hand. Don’t get me wrong - it is a great novel and well worth the read, but it isn’t going to stay with me in the same way as some of the other Canada Reads novels.
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5 Responses to “The Book of Negros ~ Canada Reads Challenge Review”
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Well, one of the cool things about reading and then talking about books is that each of us can experience a book differently. It’s one of the things I love about being part of a book club.
It’s in that spirit that I say that I completely disagree with your criticisms of this book. I read it more than a year ago and still remember it vividly. It was sad and haunting yet engaging and ultimately hopeful. I loved it.
Very occasionally (maybe once a year, at most) I read a book that I love so much that I almost can’t bear to hear it crticized. The Book of Negroes was such a book for me. My book club will be discussing it this week end and I am bracing myself. Bracing myself, too, for the Canada Reads discussions.
Thanks, Melanie for the thoughtful review.
I just finished reading this book for an english class assignment. What a wonderful book, although some parts were very disturbing to think that people actually did that back in those days. But wow, Aminata amazed me througout the whole book, and Chekura was one of my favorite characters. He continued to wow me every time in the book when years passed, but yet he still managed to find Aminata to visit her. Part of my assignment is to write a speech to defend the novel and convince people it’s a good book to read, so instead of sitting here typing this comment up, I should go and get to it.
-Bye
This book was quite easily the best book I have EVER read. It takes you to the time and place of Aminata Diallo, and makes you feel like you are right there with her living that life. I read of a VERY courageous and brave child ,who grew into a strong and solid young lady, then onto a wise and level headed woman. I think more people should read these stories as to enrich thier minds with happenings in our world. I am so VERY pround that slavery is somewhat over and that we had people of the courage and strength I read in this book who helped to start the movement. AWESOME BOOK ♥
I just finished the book, and did like it a lot but I don’t think it had the depth it could have had. The story was far greater than the character development….particularly with Aminata Diallo. I also started reading this book right after reading The Heretic’s Daughter which in my view did a far superior in telling its story.
hanks for sharing your blog with all of us, very imformative.