misspalah's review
5.0
“The devil’s country home. That’s what the South is. It’s where the devil goes to rest after he’s been about the world, wearying the hunted and the haunted. This is where he comes. The devil sits on the porch of his plantation, He’s dressed up like a gentleman and sitting on a white porch between some columns. All the tormented are out in the fields, picking cotton and tobacco and looking after his swine, who have human heads and scales on their pig legs and make pitiful cries when they are whipped.”
- Flight to Canada by Ishmael Reed
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The first page when i saw the poetry of “flight to Canada” written by the fugitive slave named Quickskill, i was instantly sold. The poem described how he escaped and managed to outsmart his master. Then we proceeded with the aftermath after Quickskill, leech and 40 escaped from the house of his master Arthur Swille. Arthur wanted to capture back all 3 of them back because if he didn’t do that, the other slaves will be tempted to do the same like Quickskill .To be frank, when the direction of the story went deeper with his master in the beginning of the book - i was a bit frustrated because i thought the focus should be on Quickskill journey to be free and pursue what he wanted to do which is writing. Fortunately, it came to full circle in the middle of the book. This book also deep dived into the controversy revolved around Uncle Tom's Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. While it was considered as part of important literature that showed the evil and immorality of slavery, Quickskill pointed out that the author stole the work of other slaves and simply make a quick buck for herself. Another point that was debated in the novel is does Abraham Lincoln really went into Civil War to end the slavery? or is it just another angle that he used because he knew that by using it as a motive, he will win the war. A controversial point, i must say but it is supported with convincing and solid arguments at least by Quickskill. This is the my first Ishmael Reed’s book but it will never be the last. I am dreading to read this book because the subject matter revolved around slavery during the civil war. However, seeing how the author managed to write the story brilliantly that i feel i must read his other books. I won’t spilled any other details because i believe it will ruin if any of you wanted to read this book. Overall, a highly recommended reading. What an amazing masterpiece!
- Flight to Canada by Ishmael Reed
.
.
The first page when i saw the poetry of “flight to Canada” written by the fugitive slave named Quickskill, i was instantly sold. The poem described how he escaped and managed to outsmart his master. Then we proceeded with the aftermath after Quickskill, leech and 40 escaped from the house of his master Arthur Swille. Arthur wanted to capture back all 3 of them back because if he didn’t do that, the other slaves will be tempted to do the same like Quickskill .To be frank, when the direction of the story went deeper with his master in the beginning of the book - i was a bit frustrated because i thought the focus should be on Quickskill journey to be free and pursue what he wanted to do which is writing. Fortunately, it came to full circle in the middle of the book. This book also deep dived into the controversy revolved around Uncle Tom's Cabin written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. While it was considered as part of important literature that showed the evil and immorality of slavery, Quickskill pointed out that the author stole the work of other slaves and simply make a quick buck for herself. Another point that was debated in the novel is does Abraham Lincoln really went into Civil War to end the slavery? or is it just another angle that he used because he knew that by using it as a motive, he will win the war. A controversial point, i must say but it is supported with convincing and solid arguments at least by Quickskill. This is the my first Ishmael Reed’s book but it will never be the last. I am dreading to read this book because the subject matter revolved around slavery during the civil war. However, seeing how the author managed to write the story brilliantly that i feel i must read his other books. I won’t spilled any other details because i believe it will ruin if any of you wanted to read this book. Overall, a highly recommended reading. What an amazing masterpiece!
chrispyschaller's review
challenging
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
gaypoetree's review
3.0
Absolutely buck wild, especially if you’re not clued in to semi-obscure ‘70s cultural references. Some really truly fun anachronism used in very clever ways to criticize historical figures ranging from Lincoln to Harriet Beecher Stowe to Edgar Allen Poe. Also really effective subversion of stereotypes - oh, wait, just for the men, of course! Seriously, the misogyny in this one is soul-sucking. Might read again for academic / analytic / literary context purposes, would NEVER read again for fun.
mrjess_bhs's review
4.0
This was a fascinating mix of satire, irony, intentional misremembering of history, and just wild characters. It almost reads like an alien observed 1850-1950 simultaneously and attempted to tell a story of enslaved freedom seekers and the Civil War. There are a ome interesting reflections and pondering a embedded through the swamp of misinformation.
bubblegumbook's review
3.0
I read this for my Modernism and Postmodernism class. I read it in like two days because I needed to turn in an assignment for it. It was confusing to me so that's why the rating is low. I understand it is a postmodern book and I understand why the book is written like this and why the author made certain stylistic choices, but it still was not a super enjoyable read. I liked some parts though.
george_salis's review
The abridged conversation with Ishmael Reed is now available to read for free here: https://thecollidescope.com/2022/05/20/superbowl-insurrection-a-conversation-with-ishmael-reed/
To read the uncut version, considering support The Collidescope’s efforts and becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/TheCollidescope
Four months in the making: I interviewed Ishmael Reed, making Collidescope history with the longest interview to date. Only Patreon supporters will have access to the uncut interview which includes almost 2,000 more words of literal and metaphorical juicy material that won’t be published elsewhere.
I talk with Mr. Reed about the meaning of Mumbo Jumbo in the age of COVID-19, restrictions placed on Black writers, how Americans create their own mythology, Pynchon’s name-drop of Reed in Gravity’s Rainbow, Ishmael Reed’s publishing efforts, and a whole lot more!
To read the uncut version, considering support The Collidescope’s efforts and becoming a Patron: https://www.patreon.com/TheCollidescope
Four months in the making: I interviewed Ishmael Reed, making Collidescope history with the longest interview to date. Only Patreon supporters will have access to the uncut interview which includes almost 2,000 more words of literal and metaphorical juicy material that won’t be published elsewhere.
I talk with Mr. Reed about the meaning of Mumbo Jumbo in the age of COVID-19, restrictions placed on Black writers, how Americans create their own mythology, Pynchon’s name-drop of Reed in Gravity’s Rainbow, Ishmael Reed’s publishing efforts, and a whole lot more!
cattywampus's review against another edition
challenging
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is the kind of book that sounds simple but in fact holds so much that each page is a little treasure trove. I am pretty sure that I didn't understand half of what was being said, but what I did get was genius.