erynelle's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Slavery, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Racism, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, and Suicide
thenonbinaryc's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Injury/injury detail, Violence, Abandonment, Blood, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Slavery, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Rape, Racism, Sexual assault, Classism, Colonisation, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Murder, and Suicide
kelly_e's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Author: Edi Edugyan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: August 2 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Cinematic • Imaginative • Lengthy
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Wash is an 11-year-old orphan slave working the fields in Barbados. His owner, Erasmus, is a mean spirited racist who mistreats everyone. When Erasmus' brother, Titch, selects Wash to be his sidekick - helping with his experiments,- what follows is an escape and adventure spanning many years and continents.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Rating this book is complicated! On the one hand we have an adventurous historical narrative focusing on slavery and freedom. Through great attention to historical detail and language, as well as thoughtful writing, the author offers a unique perspective on identity and what makes a meaningful life. And yet on the other hand, I found myself skimming, eventually needing to tandem listen in order to get through it. It started out so strong, introducing many plot lines, but eventually turned into an endless chain of events that didn't really go anywhere and felt as though it tried to pack too much into one story. Then, of course, there's the ending and all of the loose ends that just felt disappointing.
Washington Black wasn't my typical historical fiction read, and I cannot really say I enjoyed my reading experience, but one thing is clear, Esi Edugyan is a gifted writer! I'll definitely be checking out more of her work down the road.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy lyrical prose
• Book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Would I choose so again? Well, not that is a questions. I will only say that is I have acquired any wisdom from Big Kit, it is to live always with your eyes cast forward, to seek what will be, for the path behind can never be retaken."
"'You cannot know the true nature of another's suffering.' 'No. But you can try your damnedest not to worsen it.'"
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide and Torture
dismembermentprofessorbadger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book needs all the trigger warnings. I don’t trust myself to catch them all in the drop-down lists below. But it’s also lyrical and emotionally insightful and has enough action to keep the plot moving.
Very rarely, as I’m reading a novel I will get a feeling that it rises above “normal novel” and becomes “art.” This was one of those rare books. It’s partly for the sheer beauty of some of the language — I copied down a few passages that I found so poetic and insightful that I wanted to keep them for later re-reading. But it also has a lot to say on identity, on family, on race, on coping with unbearable circumstances, and so much more. As in life, no one is purely good or purely bad — even the few pure villains are given a small bit of depth and humanity — and there is so much to think about in terms of narrative themes and characterization. Meanwhile, though, it was also just a good story, even for lowbrow types like me who enjoy a novel without stopping to think deep thoughts about theme and metaphor and whatnot. Highly recommended!
Graphic: Abandonment, Death, Injury/injury detail, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Suicide
annieliz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Minor: Colonisation, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Slavery, and Vomit
carinajane's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse and Racism
kez's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The writing is good and the story is engaging. Its subject matter is at times brutal but Edugyan always tempers it with compassion. I'm glad I read it but feel a little let down by the ending.
Graphic: Suicide, Physical abuse, and Slavery
cp_frey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
waterbridge147's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicide, and Violence
rozereads's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Moderate: Physical abuse and Racism