Jan/Feb '12 Group Read: Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill

[Becky, Moddess]

I don't usually read author's notes, but I read this one, because I was curious to find out if that was real.

[Sara]

This was a fabulous read. I checked it out from the library, but now I want to buy it for my shelf to read again. It's a very important period of history that all Americans should learn more about.

[Belles]

Enjoyed the book immensely! A few observations to share: first, I think the original title was better, because one thing this does is show conditions for blacks, slaves, ex-slaves, etc., in many different places. So we get a much richer idea of what the situation was like for these people – it was The Book of Negroes – many different Negroes. Second, although some have objected to the heroine’s going off with the slave traders, it was the dream to which she had clung for decades – at least she was realistic to take precautions. Finally, her negative attitude towards two semi-good whites in the book – I rather liked that she was not so saintly to forgive them everything. I get tired of protagonists who are so ideal that they are ridiculous. On the other hand, I will agree that the happy ending was a bit of a stretch, but perhaps dictated by audiences who need happy endings. If I were to rate this book I’d probably give it 4.5, but as that’s not an option and I tend to round up, I guess I’d have to give it 5 stars.

[Millenniumdawn]

I am curious to know what everyone thinks is Aminata's most empathetic moment. To me this is what really made the character feel authentic to me. The most emotional moment involving empathy that I found was when she joined the group of weeping mothers, mourning for the loss of a child. I loved how she could relate to this on so many levels. What does everyone else think?

[Julie]

I know I am about....6 months behind, but I figured I'd post my comments. Even if I am taking to myself now. :-)

I loved this book. With some books I feel detached but with this one, I felt all the emotion and I love that. Even if it is mostly sadness. Someone mentioned that it was stupid and naive for her to go off with the african slave traders. Yes it was, but everyone does stupid things sometimes. Aminata was so smart and so strong, it was kind of nice to see a flaw in her regarding her extreme stubborness in getting "home". Regarding the appearance of her daughter at the end...I don't know that I would have chosen that ending myself, but I didn't mind too much because after all the bad things that happened, SOMETHING needed to go right! Someone mentioned it was a huge coincidence, but not really if her daughter had made it to the same country. Aminata was becoming rather well known because of the abolitionists and it would have been fairly easy for her daughter to hear of her and realize who it was. The fact the the Witherspoons took her did bother me though. That didn't seem to fit with my impression of them at all. Regarding her opportunities (ie learning to read) that she may never have had if she stayed in africa, that is one of the things I loved about the book. It showed "the other side" and showed how complicated an issue slavery was, even when we all know that it is totally wrong to enslave someone that way. Lastly, the name of the book: they were probably right in changing the name of it to avoid turning people away. I never knew there was a real Book of Negros either. I like the new name better anyway. There was so much to the story before the Book of Negros and the new name says something about her struggle to be her own person.

[Jackie]

Thank you Julie for your thoughts. Even though it's been a few months since I've read it the story still has stayed with me. I think you may have a point about her daughter being able to easily find her because of her status with the abolitionists. I don't think I had thought of it that way when I first read it. I agree with you regarding the Witherspoons...it seemed like the author was stretching in this one as it didn't fit in well with their personalities.

I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[Jalilah]

I consider this book one of the best historical novels I've read in a long time. It was both informative and deeply moving. I had no idea about Canada's role in all of this! I know the authors spent a lot of time researching so I believe most of the information is accurate. I liked the ending too. I gave this book 5 stars.

[Pat]

I really enjoyed reading this at the start but then it sadly became much too contrived to be believable.

[Charlene]

I read this last year. Fabulous book. A 5 star for me.

[Nell]

I'm glad that recent comments have revived this thread. I was not a member when this was a group read and had missed the previous discussion.

I found this an enthralling read but was also annoyed with how the author glossed over the scenes that would have conveyed more directly the brutalities of slavery. I would give this book 3 1/2 *.

I prefer the US title, Someone Knows My Name, because it speaks to the complete loss of identity and choice for enslaved people. Nothing is more fundamental to identity than your name. Having that stolen means one has been stripped of everything.

The author did a good job of conveying a little known aspect of African-American history. I knew there were slaves & former slaves who supported the British in return for the promise of freedom and that, for the most part, that trust had been betrayed. I did not know about The Book of Negroes or about the Canadian experience.

Here's what I didn't like. The author consistently removed Aminata from situations so that she either experienced them second-hand or not at all. I understand that he used this tactic to make the story more palatable and readable for a general audience but in every instance he veered sharply away as if he didn't trust the reader to deal with historical accuracy. I found myself shouting at the book to TELL THE STORY!! Stop sugar-coating this for readers and tell the whole story. Slavery in America was a brutal industry. If you're taking us on this journey, don't try to deceive me into believing that it wasn't really all that bad. It's because of that tactic that others can debate whether Aminata was better off as the slave trader claimed.

I read this book over a year ago but here are three instances I can recall where the author does this:
(view spoiler)[ on the slave ship where Aminata is spared from rape by the benevolent chaplain(?); when the British officer for whom Amainata is working finds housing for her & her husband within the army barracks so she is protected from the slave catchers nightly terrorizing raids on the encampment kidnapping free Blacks and sending them back into slavery; and when the massacre occurs at the settlement in Canada, Aminata is hiding in a white couple's home and can only describe the aftermath not the attack. (hide spoiler)]

The author tells an important story and kept readers engaged in Aminata's story, but allowing Aminata to directly experience or be a first-person witness to some of these events would strengthen the story.

[Jackie]

I didn't realize this was made into a mini-series on BET until I was flipping channels this evening:
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainm...

Did anyone watch?

[Maggie the Muskoka Library Mouse]

Consistently listed as one of my favourite novels, I found it interesting how Lawrence Hill could write so convincingly as a female narrator. I love it when authors can completely lose themselves in their work like that. Aminata was a great heroine, and her story was so compelling. This one earned a spot on my Keepers Shelf easily.