angelofthe0dd's review against another edition
5.0
This book should be required reading in high school. The book begs a lot of tough questions - mostly concerning about how religion, capitalism, and "the Land of the Free" all seemed to contradict one another, at one point in our history, but no one seemed to notice or really cared. In the book, folks have no problem breaking up families into sellable units, and then attending church the following Sunday. Even those that don't buy or own slaves, but consider themselves "Christians", don't want to rock any social or political boats. Ultimately, the book really makes a person wonder how in the hell it was ever considered OK to treat people like market commodities, or to consider them less than human beings. It really makes you think. Yes, the book has a gratuitous use of the "n" word from start to finish, but the use of the word (to me at least) only added to the outrage and disgust I felt at the end of the book. There is no doubt that American slavery should be taught to our children for what it was: a crime against humanity and a national embarrassment.
sweetsakura77's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stelle
La maggior parte delle favole ha sempre gli stessi tratti in comune: cose fatte di oro, tre fratelli/sorelle di cui il minore è il più gentile e viene maltrattato dai maggiori, figlie date in moglie come ringraziamento manco fossero oggetti, ossessione per le ricchezze, dettagli macabri.
Penso che questo rifletta anche la mentalità del tempo. Onestamente non leggerei mai queste favole a dei bambini (si salvano veramente pochissime), nonostante vogliano avere un profondo messaggio nascosto non troppo bene.
A parte i luoghi comuni, devo dire che questa raccolta mi è piaciuta, escludendo le parti che mi hanno leggermente irritata (cazzo vuol dire "si mai multe nu"?!): mi ha fatto ridacchiare e lasciata piacevolmente confusa varie volte.
La maggior parte delle favole ha sempre gli stessi tratti in comune: cose fatte di oro, tre fratelli/sorelle di cui il minore è il più gentile e viene maltrattato dai maggiori, figlie date in moglie come ringraziamento manco fossero oggetti, ossessione per le ricchezze, dettagli macabri.
Penso che questo rifletta anche la mentalità del tempo. Onestamente non leggerei mai queste favole a dei bambini (si salvano veramente pochissime), nonostante vogliano avere un profondo messaggio nascosto non troppo bene.
A parte i luoghi comuni, devo dire che questa raccolta mi è piaciuta, escludendo le parti che mi hanno leggermente irritata (cazzo vuol dire "si mai multe nu"?!): mi ha fatto ridacchiare e lasciata piacevolmente confusa varie volte.
alina_statistics's review against another edition
challenging
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
alisarae's review against another edition
What a fantastic book. I can't believe I put off reading it until now, but I always have trouble finishing books with written accents. The audiobook is a perfect solution to this (complete with singing the various hymns!).
It is a biting cause of self reflection that so many attitudes and hypocrisies in the American church at that time are still true today. Humans are hypocrites now and forever, I suppose. With regards to this, Augustine St. Claire is my hands down favorite character in the book, maybe even one of my all time favorites. His deadpan honesty about human behavior is better than your average Sunday sermon in causing effective soul searching. Too bad more people aren't as honest with themselves about their motives and doubts as he is.
It is a biting cause of self reflection that so many attitudes and hypocrisies in the American church at that time are still true today. Humans are hypocrites now and forever, I suppose. With regards to this, Augustine St. Claire is my hands down favorite character in the book, maybe even one of my all time favorites. His deadpan honesty about human behavior is better than your average Sunday sermon in causing effective soul searching. Too bad more people aren't as honest with themselves about their motives and doubts as he is.
hattush's review against another edition
4.75
This is a tragic, poignant story with values that still apply today. It is honestly one of the best books that I have read this year.
mar1y's review against another edition
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
3.0
janedoelish's review against another edition
3.0
Die Vereinfachung der Sprache für Schüler beraubt diesen Roman sicherlich einiger sprachlicher Schönheit, aber auch im Original dürfte der Plot heute etwas angestaubt wirken: als Zeitzeugnis ist dieses Buch ein Meilenstein, und um Jugendlichen die Schrecken der Sklavenzeit zu vermitteln, ist es sicherlich auch angemessen. Allein die exzessive Frömmelei ist schon fast unfreiwillig komisch.
shanviolinlove's review against another edition
3.0
As this novel is considered one of, if not the most important one ever written in American history, I devoted a week to exploring Harriet Beecher Stowe's appeal to pathos to America -- and the rest of the world -- after a bill was passed condemning anyone who assisted fugitive slaves. Though Uncle Tom has since been disdained as a stereotypical yes-man, his character presents a constant Christian signpost of hope; Stowe also explores the different viewpoints of pro- and anti-slavery. In her introduction, Professor Claybaugh outlines the arguments of Enlightenment's universal equality versus the racialist view that each race is unique and different - and how Stowe attempts to negotiate the two conflicting views in her novel - as well as the dilemma between colonialism (sending slaves to Liberia) and abolitionism (granting them freedom and rights on US soil).
Though such scholars as James Baldwin and such writers as Richard Wright condemn the portrayal of African American characters or of Stowe's employment of sentimentality to appeal to pathos, this novel had a massive influence on an international audience. It is debatable that it even served as the catalyst for the Civil War, as allegedly claimed by Abraham Lincoln. I would urge anyone serious about American literature and history to consider this novel in his or her scholarship.
Though such scholars as James Baldwin and such writers as Richard Wright condemn the portrayal of African American characters or of Stowe's employment of sentimentality to appeal to pathos, this novel had a massive influence on an international audience. It is debatable that it even served as the catalyst for the Civil War, as allegedly claimed by Abraham Lincoln. I would urge anyone serious about American literature and history to consider this novel in his or her scholarship.
ecclescake's review against another edition
5.0
Beautifully written account of one of the most shameful periods of human history: the enslavement of millions of Africans. An account which helped to bring about its end.
In her novel Harriet Beecher Stowe doesn't just cover the brutality of those traders and masters, whose evil often extended to causing some of the slaves themselves to become cruel brutes, carrying out their masters brutality on their fellow slaves. She also writes about masters and mistresses who treated their slaves with respect and where there was a proper human relationship between owner and slave. Beecher Stowe movingly stresses the fragility of the situation of the slave who benefits from such a relationship. Benefits which exist only as long as their owner lives, or is in a good financial position. After which they are at the mercy of their next trader and subsequent owner.
As a Christian, Beecher Stowe does a good job of relating the slavery that was part of the society of her day with the slavery of all humans, from which God desires to rescue us.
I found myself highlighting many of her gems of wisdom, as well as such witticisms as "Dinah was mistress of the whole art and mystery of excuse-making, in all its branches." I think I must have highlighted more sections of this book than all the other books I've ever read put together. Of course I'm talking about ebooks. I would never cause actual harm to a physical book.
Alongside the educating aspect, there is adventure, as slaves attempt escape, beautifully written characters, moving relationships, and joy as well as sadness.
In her novel Harriet Beecher Stowe doesn't just cover the brutality of those traders and masters, whose evil often extended to causing some of the slaves themselves to become cruel brutes, carrying out their masters brutality on their fellow slaves. She also writes about masters and mistresses who treated their slaves with respect and where there was a proper human relationship between owner and slave. Beecher Stowe movingly stresses the fragility of the situation of the slave who benefits from such a relationship. Benefits which exist only as long as their owner lives, or is in a good financial position. After which they are at the mercy of their next trader and subsequent owner.
As a Christian, Beecher Stowe does a good job of relating the slavery that was part of the society of her day with the slavery of all humans, from which God desires to rescue us.
I found myself highlighting many of her gems of wisdom, as well as such witticisms as "Dinah was mistress of the whole art and mystery of excuse-making, in all its branches." I think I must have highlighted more sections of this book than all the other books I've ever read put together. Of course I'm talking about ebooks. I would never cause actual harm to a physical book.
Alongside the educating aspect, there is adventure, as slaves attempt escape, beautifully written characters, moving relationships, and joy as well as sadness.