Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Never too Late to Read Classics

May 30, 2012 midnightfaerie rated it it was ok

Shelves: classics, rory-gilmore

I've read some reviews on this book and there's one in particular that I agreed with, especially the first paragraph. Here's the review if you'd like to read it: Click here for Stephen’s Review

In the first paragraph he says that he was glad he read it due to its historical significance, however he didn't think it would be considered a classic or much remembered if it hadn't this historical significance. (For those who aren't aware, many historians site the impact of this book as what triggered I've read some reviews on this book and there's one in particular that I agreed with, especially the first paragraph. Here's the review if you'd like to read it: Click here for Stephen’s Review

In the first paragraph he says that he was glad he read it due to its historical significance, however he didn't think it would be considered a classic or much remembered if it hadn't this historical significance. (For those who aren't aware, many historians site the impact of this book as what triggered the Civil War) I completely agree with this statement. The writing wasn't anything spectacular or memorable and honestly I had a difficult time getting through it.

I won't go through the plot, it's popular enough that it's been reiterated numerous times before and easy to find. I had trouble from the first, when I realized the baby was going to be sold. As a mom, I have a very hard time with anything hurting children. It's probably what put me in a bad mood from the beginning. I knew the tone of the book would be all about slavery and how horrible it was, and that already put me off. I know slavery is awful. I've read lots of books and learned about it in school. It sounds terrible but I'm tired of hearing how awful it was for blacks, Jews, women, etc. Perhaps it stems from my German heritage. My mother was born and raised in Germany, and so the whole Hitler debacle is close to my heart. Yes he was evil and killed lots of people, but he also did good. And how do these people get into power if others don't let them? Eventually he was very powerful and could do what he wanted, but he had to start somewhere. People had to start following him when he was a nobody. The economy was a wreck and he had great plans to revive the nation. I knew someone who met Hitler and he said the first thing he noticed was how charismatic he was. In the end, Hitler and slavery were truly evil things, but there are always two sides to every story, and not everyone opposed to the "evil" side is completely innocent.

Also, I'd like to think the best of human nature. We abolished slavery right? It's over, right? I know some would say no, there is still so much mistreatment going on. Yes, sure. Most women today still don't make as much money as men do. We see it everywhere. But change takes time. And we've seen huge changes to this effect, look at our president. I never thought I'd see an African American president in my lifetime. I often wonder if we'll ever have a woman president.

That being said, I can see how this book could be considered a classic with the impact that it made. It's had substantial influence on society and a lasting impact on politics. It's withstood the test of time and has a huge following. It's been considered controversial over and over again and has underlying themes relating to the human condition. So I concede it's a classic, I just don't like it very much. ...more

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Jan 27, 2019 Library Nymph rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: classics, rory-gilmore-challenge

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. First off, I want to say I couldn't put this down. Second I'd like to get what I didn't like about this book out of the way so I can move on to what I did like.
The first thing I didn't care for was that this book was a little heavy handed in religion. The author stresses Uncle Tom finding religion at a "camp-meetin'", and made it seem that this is the only reason he is such a good man. I didn't like that it seemed the only reason he became "good" was because he found religion. You can be a good First off, I want to say I couldn't put this down. Second I'd like to get what I didn't like about this book out of the way so I can move on to what I did like.
The first thing I didn't care for was that this book was a little heavy handed in religion. The author stresses Uncle Tom finding religion at a "camp-meetin'", and made it seem that this is the only reason he is such a good man. I didn't like that it seemed the only reason he became "good" was because he found religion. You can be a good person and NOT belong to a religion, just as you can be a horrid person and BELONG to a religion. I just felt it was too stressed that the reason all the good people were good was because they were living up to a religious belief.
The second thing I didn't like was there were some spots were the dialogue was a little patronizing. Also--a loooooottt of the "n" word, I really felt like I was slapped in the face with that word way to many time only by page two or three. I understand it was published in a different era, but it still was a little hard to read that so much.

Now what I did like. I like what the author was trying to do with this book. Not only did what she was saying go against the grain of society of her day, she was also a woman saying everything out loud in a time when women were taught to say practically nothing at all. Stowe must have really had some balls to go out and not just tell her opinion, but tell an opinion that was so controversial, much less right a book about it.
As I read I was moved by how people were treated just because of their race. I knew slavery was awful, but this just really drove the point home. Splitting up families, treating humans like property, name calling, beating. So much injustice, it was once again a hard thing to read. This book made you feel for Eliza, I know it's called Uncle Tom's Cabin, but it was Eliza's story that really had me hooked. I couldn't imagine someone taking my child away from me to sell to complete strangers states away and never seeing them again. Not to mention never seeing your husband because he "belonged" to someone else. I read and read, afraid this would all end poorly. But I was glad when I saw that Stowe gave Eliza's story a happy ending--or at least an ending that was happy for the content of the book.
I don't know if I'll read this again, but I am glad I read it once. ...more

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Feb 22, 2012 Nancy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-fire, historical-fiction, harriet-beecher-stowe

I have thought about reading this book for many years, and have had a hard cover book on my shelf since 1991. I downloaded a Kindle version, and finally finished reading this wonderful book. Apparently this book had a big influence on the country going to war against the south, over slavery. The authur wrote that the characters came from casess that she or friends had witnessed. Harriet really touches the souls of her readers. I have long heard people called "Uncle Tom's." In my mind Uncle Tom w ...more

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