leanbean1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.0
bookish_skies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5
psantic's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
beccakatie's review against another edition
3.0
I was so excited to read this book, as it’s been on my to-read list for about nine years. I knew it was an iconic and key text in the abolitionist movement and provided interesting insight into the life of victims of the slave trade.
It did fulfil all these expectations, the narrative of the suffering Equiano and others underwent is interesting, and moreover horrifying and moving. The reader cannot help but be overwhelmed with sorry and anger at the slave trade, and rightly so.
Despite this however, I was so bored. I was told years ago to never use the word boring to describe a book (hi, Mrs Harris), but that’s the best word to describe it. While the events of the narrative were important and had amazing potential, they were so bogged down with dry detail and constant references to God that any aspect of an interesting story was lost.
This book is an incredibly important text, that cannot be denied, and so I am glad I read it, but I cannot claim it to be an exciting story, despite the warfare, the exploration and the very struggle for survival he undergoes.
It did fulfil all these expectations, the narrative of the suffering Equiano and others underwent is interesting, and moreover horrifying and moving. The reader cannot help but be overwhelmed with sorry and anger at the slave trade, and rightly so.
Despite this however, I was so bored. I was told years ago to never use the word boring to describe a book (hi, Mrs Harris), but that’s the best word to describe it. While the events of the narrative were important and had amazing potential, they were so bogged down with dry detail and constant references to God that any aspect of an interesting story was lost.
This book is an incredibly important text, that cannot be denied, and so I am glad I read it, but I cannot claim it to be an exciting story, despite the warfare, the exploration and the very struggle for survival he undergoes.
chinchillameggy1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
adamz24's review against another edition
2.0
It feels like most of the book is about the mercy and divine kindness of God (no hint of irony re: this + SLAVERY, by the way), and Equiano's narrative just isn't all that much like later slave narratives. The book's really only of academic interest, now, but I'm glad I read it. I wouldn't recommend this to friends who just want some good reading.
emilylstevens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
3.75
adelinade's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75