borumi's review
4.0
요즘 최고 이슈가 되는 나이지리아 여중생들 납치사건 아시죠..
이것이야말로 정말 법도 천벌도 무서워하지 않고 인권을 대놓고 무시하는 극악무도한 놈들이죠..
이렇게 인간이 인간 취급을 받지 못하고 상품처럼 대하는 세상..
비단 이 책처럼 옛날 이야기만으로 남아 있는 게 아니죠..
전 이 책이 처음에 소설인 줄 알았는데 true story였고
아마도 이런 일이 비일비재했을 거라는 게 슬퍼지더라구요.
솔로몬은 탈출했지만..
여전히 사회의 악은 충분히 벌받지 않았고
탈출하지 못한 자유인도 그리고 평생 노예였을 사람들도 이런 목소리조차 내지 못하고
그들의 삶보다 평화로운 죽음으로밖에 탈출하지 못했겠지요..
목화 및 사탕수수 농장 등 그 당시 남부의 생활풍경 및 관습들도 잘 배울 수 있었지만
무엇보다 노예제도에 대한 생생한 리포트를 본 느낌이었어요.
어서 영화도 봐야겠군요.
이것이야말로 정말 법도 천벌도 무서워하지 않고 인권을 대놓고 무시하는 극악무도한 놈들이죠..
이렇게 인간이 인간 취급을 받지 못하고 상품처럼 대하는 세상..
비단 이 책처럼 옛날 이야기만으로 남아 있는 게 아니죠..
전 이 책이 처음에 소설인 줄 알았는데 true story였고
아마도 이런 일이 비일비재했을 거라는 게 슬퍼지더라구요.
솔로몬은 탈출했지만..
여전히 사회의 악은 충분히 벌받지 않았고
탈출하지 못한 자유인도 그리고 평생 노예였을 사람들도 이런 목소리조차 내지 못하고
그들의 삶보다 평화로운 죽음으로밖에 탈출하지 못했겠지요..
목화 및 사탕수수 농장 등 그 당시 남부의 생활풍경 및 관습들도 잘 배울 수 있었지만
무엇보다 노예제도에 대한 생생한 리포트를 본 느낌이었어요.
어서 영화도 봐야겠군요.
veritygrahams's review
5.0
This, I read via an Audiobook, and I have noticed that the delivery of an audiobook directly impacts my opinion. This one was delivered brilliantly.
Firstly, it’s a heavy story. If you’re not up for something like that, this isn’t for you. I found it heartfelt and engaging, despite it being very much told by the protagonist. This is something I rarely enjoy. The voice is strong though, and this probably due to the kind of story it is, the impact it had on the author (who lived through this), and you can feel that in every word.
One thing I really didn’t like was the chapter headings, or opening lines. They basically listed everything that happened within a given chapter, which I felt lessened the tension at times.
Firstly, it’s a heavy story. If you’re not up for something like that, this isn’t for you. I found it heartfelt and engaging, despite it being very much told by the protagonist. This is something I rarely enjoy. The voice is strong though, and this probably due to the kind of story it is, the impact it had on the author (who lived through this), and you can feel that in every word.
One thing I really didn’t like was the chapter headings, or opening lines. They basically listed everything that happened within a given chapter, which I felt lessened the tension at times.
bren3126's review against another edition
4.0
While the vernacular does not make an easy read for some, the story is thought provoking, gut wrenching, and ultimately heartwarming.
luellabenkess's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book, for me it was a slow read, due to the older style language, but a worthy read anyway.
persnickety9's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like a jerk only giving it 3 stars, but the writing style was not for me. It’s a sad, uncomfortable read nevertheless.
tatiana70's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
annaleblanc316's review
5.0
Hard to rate 5 stars after reading about so much main and suffering, however this book is an amazing piece of U.S. history that should not be forgotten. I urge everyone to read this.
drsdon's review
5.0
Knowing what I know about this book now, I am amazed that I have not read this book before. Simply, I found this book as important as the writings Frederick Douglass. The first hand perspective it provides, and Northup's writing is amazingly accessible, to the point that this reads almost as fiction (and in a way, there's that part of us that wishes it was really fiction).
Solomon Northup's tale is remarkable, both in the tragedy and sadness, the pain and despair that he experiences, along with the elation of homecoming at the end. The story is a reminder of the cruelty of slavery in so many ways that cannot adequately be expressed in a simple review. Yet, I cannot imagine too many other books that are worthwhile and as important to read.
Its poignant, heartbreaking, memorable. A truly worthy read.
Solomon Northup's tale is remarkable, both in the tragedy and sadness, the pain and despair that he experiences, along with the elation of homecoming at the end. The story is a reminder of the cruelty of slavery in so many ways that cannot adequately be expressed in a simple review. Yet, I cannot imagine too many other books that are worthwhile and as important to read.
Its poignant, heartbreaking, memorable. A truly worthy read.
luana420's review
5.0
A very well-formatted e-book collection of three slave narratives the most well-known abolitionist novel of all time. Well worth the price for a dark slice of American history. The titular tale of Solomon Northup can provide an interesting counterpart to the film's version of events (a version the majority of readers will no doubt be familiar with nowadays), showing readers a decidedly less visceral -- though no less harrowing -- take on the life of the kidnapped freeman. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, while mostly free from physical violence, is a chilling look at the particularly gendered terror female slaves had to endure. While perhaps a bit rosy-tinted and prone to repetition near the end, Up from Slavery by Booker T. Washington is an inspiring read, and a good choice to close out the anthology on. Lest ye deem me insensitive, let me trigger warn you right now: lulz coming up. Uncle Tom's Cabin is an often unintentionally hilarious, sometimes (surprisingly) gripping novel written with the finest of intentions, but unfortunately somewhat oversentimental and melodramatic at times.
I'm glad I went with Maplewood's collection of these narratives, as the file was very easy to navigate and contained very few editing mistakes. Worth the buck!
I'm glad I went with Maplewood's collection of these narratives, as the file was very easy to navigate and contained very few editing mistakes. Worth the buck!