Non-Fiction Group Read (Mar 2014) - Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

[Holly, That Geeky One]

There are two versions of this: Twelve Years a Slave, and then Twelve Years a Slave and Other Slave Narratives. You can read either!

This is our first non-fiction group read. I'm definitely interested in seeing how popular this is!

[Aitziber]

I voted for this, but I have no idea whether I'll have time to fit it in. Regardless, I look forward to any and all discussions. :)

[Holly, That Geeky One]

I'm the same. I'm not sure whether or not I want to read it, but I know I'll try and fit it in after I've done all my reading for the month. I will definitely keep up with the discussion though!

[Kassandra]

I'm really looking forward to reading this one.

[A]

I'm waiting to read this one!!

[[deleted user]]

I really need to go get a copy if this. I really want to read it!

[Lauren]

I started reading this last month and found it really hard to get into (then sent my tablet away for repair), I might give it another go x

[Faye, The Dickens Junkie]

How's everybody doing with this?

[Kassandra]

I started this a couple of days ago and I've found it difficult to get into. Northrup went to great lengths to make this as accurate as possible and to put as many specific details into it as possible. This was such a brave thing to do and it has brought a lot of credibility to the story for those non-believers. I have found though that it also makes it a little hard to get into as it doesn't flow as well as it would have with less detail. The story is heartbreaking and now that I'm nearing the end of the book, I can say that I'm grateful to have read it and learned from it.

[Julie]

I just started this one, looks like it is going to be heartbreaking but important, you know?

Have any if you seen the film? Do you plan to once you've read the book?

[Kassandra]

I will definitely be checking the movie out. I know quite a few people that have seen it and every single one of them has said it's a fantastic and important movie.

[Aitziber]

Julie wrote: "I just started this one, looks like it is going to be heartbreaking but important, you know?

Have any if you seen the film? Do you plan to once you've read the book?"

I have watched the film. The awards are absolutely deserved. It doesn't pull any punches, and I normally would say the film is not for the faint of heart -- but honestly, it has to be watched. Because I feel like a lot of people really don't comprehend the scale of the atrocities committed, that it was all legal, and if not legal, startintly easy to get away with. (The men who kidnapped Northup got away with it, among other reasons, because Northup, as a black man, couldn't give testimony!!! Horrific.)