Multigenerational saga of Alex Haley's father's family through his grandmother, Queen, the proud daughter born of a slave and a white slave owner.
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Jan 20, 2009
Kandice
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Haley's books are so real and heartwrenching! They make you proud of what we have become, but ashamed of what's in our past, at the same time. While not as large in scope as Roots, this book certainly shows us a slaves existance, complicated by a white father. There were times I wanted to smack Queen! She could be such a sassy brat. Her mother, Easter, however, could have applied for sainthood in my book!
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Sep 03, 2010
Amandalynn
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I was torn if I should post this book and then as to what to rate it. There are some rape/sex scenes not extremely graphic but there none the less. At the same time its a definite part of the US history that should not be overlooked. This is another book I acquired helping my Grandma with her bookshelves, she had 2 copies. I knew it was written by the author of Roots but it wasn't until the end of the book that I realized it was about his paternal grandmother. Alex Haley had past away in th
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Aug 01, 2009
Alease
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I have read this book and seen the movie at least a thousand times. I understand that a lot of people don't think that it measures up to Roots but if I'm not mistaken Alex Haley died before he got to finish it and the other co-author had to finish the book based on notes that Haley left behind. I found this book sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. I related to this character so much that I cried as I read it. I loved that it started with the family story in Ireland. I am a product of a
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Jan 13, 2012
Stea
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Mi era stato regalato anni fa e abbandonato sullo scaffale della libreria, costratta a casa con l'influenza e non potendo andare in biblioteca ho deciso di leggerlo....non riuscivo a smettere!
Sul trafiletto all'interno della copertina che riassume il libro parla principalmente di Quenn, in realtà la storia, se faccio bene i conti, inizia dalle "avventure" del nonno in Irlanda e Queen nasce verso pagina 350.
Parla della colonizzazione degli Stati Uniti (dando spazio anche ai More...
Sul trafiletto all'interno della copertina che riassume il libro parla principalmente di Quenn, in realtà la storia, se faccio bene i conti, inizia dalle "avventure" del nonno in Irlanda e Queen nasce verso pagina 350.
Parla della colonizzazione degli Stati Uniti (dando spazio anche ai More...
Jun 01, 2010
John
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I enjoyed this book as much as Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Roots tells the story of Alex Haley's ancestors through his maternal grandmother, Cynthia, while Queen is the story of Alex Haley's ancestors through his paternal grandmother, Queen. Alex Haley has white ancestors from both lines; Queen begins with his white ancestors in Ireland while Roots begins with his black ancestors in Africa. Queen tells the story of how Haley's white ancestors became slave holders in the South and pain
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Feb 22, 2011
Anna
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Queen is very similar to Roots in structure and content. It's generally a good read. Although you're aware of Haley's purpose (from reading Roots), you're able to forget and lose yourself in the story more often than not. You actually like the characters, who, I assume, are at least loosely based on actual people and/or family legend. You feel sorry for Queen, especially at the end.
Queen flows better than Roots, although Roots was by far the more compelling of the two. What I hadn't More...
Queen flows better than Roots, although Roots was by far the more compelling of the two. What I hadn't More...
Jun 15, 2011
Pawan
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“Queen” is Alex Haley’s second book after the very famous “Roots” in which he had traced his ancestry back to Africa. In “Queen”, he has written the story of his grandmother who was an illegitimate and un-acknowledged daughter of James Jass Jackson III and his slave Easter. This story is not as engaging as “Roots” was, but it really brings out the culture of that time when slavery was prevalent in America and many children were born out of relationships betwee More...
“Queen” is Alex Haley’s second book after the very famous “Roots” in which he had traced his ancestry back to Africa. In “Queen”, he has written the story of his grandmother who was an illegitimate and un-acknowledged daughter of James Jass Jackson III and his slave Easter. This story is not as engaging as “Roots” was, but it really brings out the culture of that time when slavery was prevalent in America and many children were born out of relationships betwee More...
Nov 07, 2010
Christina
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This historical book truly captivated my attention. The book is a rather long read (close to 800 pgs), but it was a page turner in many parts of the book. It was quite interesting to read how Alex Haley traced his family heritage back in a narrative manner, in which the historical details were not overwhelming or daunting to get through. This book made me question and wonder about my heritage, and how my family got started.
The book did take about 300+ pages to get to Queen, but in a More...
The book did take about 300+ pages to get to Queen, but in a More...
Jan 05, 2010
Ana
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This books gives the other isde of Alex Haley's family. The first of his family tree "Roots" tells of the African Slave Trade and his mother's side of the family; this side of his story tells about how his father's side of the family came to be and how they survived the Civil War, how his grandmother who was 1/2 white, 1/4 black and 1/4 Native American had difficulties with her 'ethnicity' and how she prevailed.
Very good read! Excellent, actually and much more enjoyable t
Very good read! Excellent, actually and much more enjoyable t
Nov 27, 2011
Rhina M.
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I remember first seeing this movie when I was eight years old. When I was teenager I read the book, and loved the story. A biracial beauty that struggles all her life to be loved by both races, and to learn that she was rejected by both because of her skin color. The book was deep, capturing race relations, a love affair, a time so far back. Alex Haley a classic author and never, never forgotten.
Apr 28, 2009
Ruth
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This book was good but not nearly as good as Roots. Where Roots focused more on the families involved and their relationships, this one seemed to focus more on the history of the time period in which the story took place. Still very good book, though.
May 15, 2009
Kelsha
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A sequal to Roots. Though also a good story, this book was only co-authored by Alex Haley and the writing is different. I don't like it nearly as well as the first one, which has a lot to do with the influence of the second author.
Jan 08, 2011
B.
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I liked the book more than the movie because of course it was more detailed. However it took at least 300 pages for Queen to be born and once she was at age, it seem like they did a brief account of her life. Also I did not like the way it ended, like they were in a rush. While reading the book it made me want to know about American history and the reason why our country was founded and the various reasons why ethnic groups (races) decided to come to this country. So now I am currently resea
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Dec 31, 2011
Sophie
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Very interesting, especially as I read it before reading Roots by the same writer; I am fascinated by this period in history and both books go into a lot of details which make them really engrossing.
May 08, 2010
Se
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Long book, but really digs deep into Queen's father's Irish Heritage. Learned a lot about Andrew Jackson's presidency. Good read and a tribute to Mr. Haley's paternal grandmother.
Jan 25, 2009
Linda
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Such a great book I did not want to put it down, read every chance I could to finish it but not wanting the story to end. Any one of you that would like to borrow it let me know.
Mar 20, 2008
Meowy
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"Roots", the story of one man's search for his family's origins, through six generations, was read by millions across the world. Now, almost twenty years later, comes this sequel, completing the moving family saga. "Roots" was the story of Alex Haley's mother's family. In "Queen", he unveils the rich and varied story of his father's family, which begins in 18th century Ireland.
I read this book before I watched the movie. True stories like this always h More...
I read this book before I watched the movie. True stories like this always h More...
Sep 22, 2010
Nina
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Loved this. I have always wanted to read this. I only wonder how much was embellished and how much was actual accounts from the family.
Feb 01, 2012
Rosie
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very wordy but a very good book
off topic alot of the time in my opinion but it does add to the book
off topic alot of the time in my opinion but it does add to the book
May 26, 2010
Kris
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Not as good as roots, but I was trying to read it so I could watch the movie starring Halle Berry. Eh.
Feb 28, 2010
Daisha
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Love this story, old romance moves me. Love the intensity of the characters.
Aug 21, 2008
Since I am pack-rat, I kept the VCR recording of the Queen mini-series from 1992. It's been so long since I saw it that I had completely forgotten most of the story, including that it was based on the North Alabama plantation, The Forks of Cypress in Florence. The Forks have always facinated me and I remember when the house was hit by lightning and burned on 6-6-1966. All that is left now are the massive pillars....so sad! Now I want to go back and read the book and see if it mentions more a
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Oct 17, 2008
Anna
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Took me forever to get through this one. I read Roots, so I thought I would give this one a try. Not bad. I find it strange that the title character does not even exist until almost half way into the book. The authors spend a long time telling the story of Queen's white grandfather and father, before even getting to her birth. I can't decide if all that backstory is necessary or not, but ultimately I enjoyed the book. Not as good as Roots, but another interesting piece of Alex Haley's herit
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Apr 12, 2011
Susanne
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I did not enjoy this as much as I enjoyed Roots. If Alex Haley had lived to finish it, maybe it would have been better. The history was very interesting, but the writing bothered me. And the fact that everything was about sex/desire. Too much (sex/rape) detail for me. Maybe this is the author's own personality coming out..?
