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ib3readin's review against another edition
4.0
I initially loved the book and just knew I would give it five stars. However, the magical realism. I’m just not a fan. There was enough of the “historical fiction” aspect that I didn’t drop to three stars. In fact, I truly appreciated the complex relationship between Hiram and his father as well as with Sophia due to her unwillingness to belong to a man.
lcf1023's review against another edition
3.0
I’m devastated to be giving only three stars. I love Ta-Nehisi Coates’ non-fiction writing and I expected his first foray into fiction to absolutely shine, given how gorgeous his NF prose is. But it never really hooked me. I couldn’t buy into the magical realism element and everything just seemed too easy and neat.
louisadassow's review against another edition
5.0
Read this. The intertwining of the evils of slavery and the force of Hiram, the main character, is incredible. The story is unfurled beautifully and the writing conveys some of the pain in such shifting and tragic lights that has reshaped my emotional connection and white understanding of slavery . An absolute must read.
alreadyemily's review against another edition
4.0
Great story.
Some have criticized the magical reason as detracting from communicating the horrors of slavery... I don't agree with that AT ALL. First of all, can you say Beloved by Toni Morrison? Secondly, there are plenty of non-fiction books to read to learn about the horrors of slavery if you're feeling scholarly. And anyway, this book does suck you into that time and place and the unspeakable crimes against humanity while also telling a compelling story.
Some have criticized the magical reason as detracting from communicating the horrors of slavery... I don't agree with that AT ALL. First of all, can you say Beloved by Toni Morrison? Secondly, there are plenty of non-fiction books to read to learn about the horrors of slavery if you're feeling scholarly. And anyway, this book does suck you into that time and place and the unspeakable crimes against humanity while also telling a compelling story.
kdat's review against another edition
3.0
I give it a 3.5. The writing is beautiful but superfluous. This book could have been at minimum 100 fewer pages. The characters are complex and layered and all the good things. It was a delightful escape.
jachinheckman's review against another edition
4.0
It really highlights how racism makes every one a villain. The people fighting it are trying, but every approach is flawed, and slavery effects everything and leaves evils that we never think about. It is simply evil, which is beautifully shown through this book.
horsley123's review against another edition
3.0
This really is a book of two halves. The first half I loved - if reading about slavery can be enjoyable. Hiram is an interesting character and his life as a slave in the failing plantations of the south was beautifully described. His relationship with his father and brother introduced a level of intrigue and helped propel the story forward.
Then something happened - it all went a bit misty, magical and frankly odd. Hiram has magical powers which enable him to move around the country. Now something similar happened in 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead. Not content with the stories of the Underground Railroad which brought slaves out of the south, Whitehead introduced a mystical underground train. In the same vein this author has our hero affecting Dr Who like 'conductions', movements through space on a bank of mist.
I felt a little cheated, I had built up my outrage and sympathy for the characters, but if all they needed was a bit of water and mist, why were they hanging around as slaves? I expect I will be firmly in the minority as Oprah has endorsed this book, but I do wonder if she read it all the way through.
Then something happened - it all went a bit misty, magical and frankly odd. Hiram has magical powers which enable him to move around the country. Now something similar happened in 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead. Not content with the stories of the Underground Railroad which brought slaves out of the south, Whitehead introduced a mystical underground train. In the same vein this author has our hero affecting Dr Who like 'conductions', movements through space on a bank of mist.
I felt a little cheated, I had built up my outrage and sympathy for the characters, but if all they needed was a bit of water and mist, why were they hanging around as slaves? I expect I will be firmly in the minority as Oprah has endorsed this book, but I do wonder if she read it all the way through.
sprouter's review against another edition
4.5
- No surprise that this book is excellent - Coates writing is just so good
- The beginning was slow but picked up as it went along - I’m glad I listened to it- the narrator was great and it would’ve been much harder to keep moving through if I eyeball read it
yeehaw_agenda's review against another edition
4.0
The last third of the book was astounding and deeply affecting. The first two-thirds were full of too many metaphors and soliloquies and grand language that made it far longer and more of a slog than it needed to be. But the last third was far more stripped down and human, showing Coates' genius.