Roots, by Alex Haley

[Carol]

Just started this as my book you meantf to read in 2015 but didn't

[MJ]

I read this when I was a teen (or maybe younger than that?) and I loved it. If goodreads had existed back then, I would have given it six stars. It was compelling, powerful and I could not put it down.

What I remember most about this book was that I was always under the impression that this was non-fiction and then was angry when I found out this wasn't true… or something like that. The genre information doesn't call this non-fiction, so I don't know where I got that from. Does it say something about it on the cover or was I so young when I read it that I believed the narrator's voice as true?

This is a book I'd like to read again, to see whether if I'd find it so gripping now that I'm older. Looking forward to what others have to say about it.

[Carol]

Hi MJ,

Like you I always thought this was non fiction and was surprised that it wasn't. There's nothing on the book itself that says it's non fiction.

I'm really enjoying it so far and still im my head think it is non fiction

[Carol]

Finished this book on 11/01/16

[Maple]

I am starting this one today for week 41, a book about a major world event. I'm starting this one way early because I realize it's going to take me some time to get through it. I'm excited to read it though because I've heard such great things about the writing and powerful feelings about the content.

[Maple]

I finished this one last night. I loved it and cannot believe how long I had put it off. The story is just so powerful and heartbreaking. I had troubles getting into the story, but once I passed about the 10% point, it was quick and smooth reading for me.

4/5

From what I gather, the book for the most part is nonfiction (these were real people from Haley's family tree), but the events for the most part are fictionalized, because they cannot for sure what did/did not happen. Haley was able to track down some records of birth, death, and when people were sold (that feels so wrong to type/say), so he could track when people moved, but it's the in between stuff that are completely unknown.