The Book of Negroes in Our Shared Shelf

Aug 09, 2012 Heather rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: adult, book-club, fiction

I've been a bit generous with my stars lately, but this was pretty amazing, primarily in its ability to cover a huge amount of interesting history with a really comprehensive research background (listed at the end of the book), and somewhat in its emotional poignancy.

The story follows the main character, Aminata, as she travels from (view spoiler) I've been a bit generous with my stars lately, but this was pretty amazing, primarily in its ability to cover a huge amount of interesting history with a really comprehensive research background (listed at the end of the book), and somewhat in its emotional poignancy.

The story follows the main character, Aminata, as she travels from (view spoiler)

I found the history fascinating. It was really clear the author did a ton of research and that while the characters were obviously fictional, it was essentially very true to the times. I didn't really know anything about Black Loyalists during the Revolutionary War. (Blacks were promised their freedom by the British if they worked for their side - and eventually some were sent to Nova Scotia and then some back to Africa).

I really liked how nuanced the characters and situations were. Some of the best characters, particularly Lindo, were neither all good nor all bad. They were truly human. I enjoyed the exploration of Lindo's struggle between his personal values but also being a product of his culture and time.

I think I felt most personally struck by the account of (view spoiler) I feel like I've thought a lot about what slavery may have been like in the U.S., and maybe even about what the travel on the ships may have been like, but extremely little about what their lives were actually like before slavery. I felt embarrassed and ashamed by that! In this book, Aminata lives in a vibrant, self-sufficient village, follows Muslim religion, lives with her family, etc. and then is violently kidnapped away from her life. It was really difficult to read even a fictional account of what that was like. I'm glad I did, though.

The story started out a bit slow for me, and I enjoyed it while I was reading it but didn't feel enough suspense to plow through it. That changed about halfway through, and for the rest of the time I was completely enthralled. Overall, I would call it amazing, if only for the sheer amount of political, social, and historical issues the author was able to cover and explore. I'm read glad I read it. ...more

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Apr 24, 2009 Angela rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: canadian-lit

I enjoyed learning about the Loyalist slaves who were freed by serving the British in the Revolutionary War and was disappointed, (but not really surprised), by the oppression they then faced in Nova Scotia.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The only complaints I have are issues I have with most historical fiction. First, the main character seemed to think way too much like someone from our culture, not from her culture. (Being appalled rather than flattered at being considered for one of village ch ...more

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Dec 08, 2009 Nina Chachu rated it liked it · review of another edition

ABC reading for February 2010. At times I felt I had to force myself to continue reading, as it is tragedy upon tragedy. Though in the end the heroine/main character does survive

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