Reviews

The Chaneysville Incident by David Bradley

sea_empty's review against another edition

4.0

 Fascinating as a meditation on how history informs the present, at times a bit plodding as a work f fiction. I don’t think enough was done with Judith’s character, especially when the second half of the book focuses on how she perceives the information John has uncovered and the ambiguity of whether she’s ever going to “get it.”

“A rich stew” -my mother

tony_t's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

"The Chaneysville Incident" by David Bradley was for me, a white guy, an eye-opening description of economic, moral, cultural and personal aspects of slavery in America. This can be a hard book to read but I found it worth the effort. These are the stories and events that I didn't learn in school. Highly recommended but with caveats.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Racial slurs, Racism, and Suicide

carollynnw's review against another edition

 An amazing history lesson wonderfully disguised as historical fiction 

taurus_horrorscope's review against another edition

challenging dark informative sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Dont be fooled by a low score, it’s very well written and I think it’s an important historical book to read. But it felt very longwinded and didn’t have enough of a plot payoff for me. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Rape, and Murder

ilaurin's review against another edition

4.0

Hard book to read about an angry black who has to find out what happened to his ancestors. I read this over 3 different stretches as I needed lighter reading in between. Very poignant but hard story about slavery and discrimination.

gina_hesketh's review against another edition

5.0

This one will stay with me a long time. As a white person, I will never comprehend what it's like to be black in America. This book, however, gives more insight than some may be comfortable with. The narrator's use of personal experience, historical study and storytelling provides a very powerful and emotional window into how deeply the scars of slavery and racism cut. Some find the history 'lessons' dull but I found them necessary to round out the story. Every event has an impact, large or small, and the story would have been weakened without the full historical context.

kellylynnthomas's review against another edition

4.0

Read for my Writing from History class. This is an incredibly textured and layered book.

gradyobrien's review against another edition

5.0

syllabus book, actually incredible. should be more mainstream that it is. excellent storytelling. i know this is a book that requires a second, third, and fourth reading 

zezee's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.5

kdempsey36's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0