The Book Of Negroes
by Lawrence Hill | Literature & Fiction | This book has not been rated.
ISBN: 9781554681563 Global Overview for this book
ISBN: 9781554681563 Global Overview for this book
3 journalers for this copy...
A Christmas gift. One of the 2009 Canada Reads selections. Starting it now!
This was my fourth book read for Canada Reads and although I had already heard rave reviews I thought it would be the book I liked least. As a rule I do not care for historical fiction and this book was the fattest of the lot.
I "dropped" history as an option in high school in grade nine. My teacher was an idiot or so I told my mother and father when I told them what I intended to do. My parents insisted on meeting this teacher (parents can be so embarrassing sometimes) but after they met him they supported my decision. Truth is none of my history teachers ever made the subject interesting for me. So other than being able to name all of Henry VIII's wives and having some interest in the Vikings that showed up on these shores, most of what I "learned" in history class I didn't.
Before reading The Book of Negroes I had only a dim recollection of reading about the Loyalists and really had the idea that Canada was always friendly to blacks...the underground railway and all that. I had no recollection that slavery existed in Canada. Nor did I have any understanding other than that gleaned from watching *Roots* on TV what life was like for slaves.
Contrary to my initial fears, I found this book to be fascinating. I gobbled it up, intent upon knowing what would happen to Aminata. If only history books were written in such a vivid fashion. For example, I am sure that I would have read in some text or other that people suffered on the ships to America but to hear, in Aminata's words, that you would recognize a slave ship from far away by the putrid odor, made that fact real, alive, memorable.
Not only was this story "alive" for me, it actually brought back some of what I "learned" in the past. I remember wondering as a schoolgirl why some slaves chose to stay with their masters, not understanding why they all didn't rebel and come to Canada. Now I understand.
This is a book that all Canadians should read, not ultimately my pick as the winner of Canada Reads, but a fabulous book.
I "dropped" history as an option in high school in grade nine. My teacher was an idiot or so I told my mother and father when I told them what I intended to do. My parents insisted on meeting this teacher (parents can be so embarrassing sometimes) but after they met him they supported my decision. Truth is none of my history teachers ever made the subject interesting for me. So other than being able to name all of Henry VIII's wives and having some interest in the Vikings that showed up on these shores, most of what I "learned" in history class I didn't.
Before reading The Book of Negroes I had only a dim recollection of reading about the Loyalists and really had the idea that Canada was always friendly to blacks...the underground railway and all that. I had no recollection that slavery existed in Canada. Nor did I have any understanding other than that gleaned from watching *Roots* on TV what life was like for slaves.
Contrary to my initial fears, I found this book to be fascinating. I gobbled it up, intent upon knowing what would happen to Aminata. If only history books were written in such a vivid fashion. For example, I am sure that I would have read in some text or other that people suffered on the ships to America but to hear, in Aminata's words, that you would recognize a slave ship from far away by the putrid odor, made that fact real, alive, memorable.
Not only was this story "alive" for me, it actually brought back some of what I "learned" in the past. I remember wondering as a schoolgirl why some slaves chose to stay with their masters, not understanding why they all didn't rebel and come to Canada. Now I understand.
This is a book that all Canadians should read, not ultimately my pick as the winner of Canada Reads, but a fabulous book.
Journal Entry 3 by Pooker3 at Park Theatre & Movie Cafe in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Released 15 yrs ago (3/10/2009 UTC) at Park Theatre & Movie Cafe in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
The Canada Reads winner! And the people's choice!
I'll take it to our meeting tonight and if no takers I'll leave it on the shelf for the next treasure hunter.
The Canada Reads winner! And the people's choice!
I'll take it to our meeting tonight and if no takers I'll leave it on the shelf for the next treasure hunter.
The only excuse I could think of why I WOULDN'T like to take this book home is 'I have lots to read'. True, but I always will ;)
Just downloaded this for my new kobo reader I got for Christmas! My Mom also has a hardcover copy, so I see no sense in letting this one gather dust any longer. I`ll bring it to the next meeting, and send it off on a new adventure! :)
Journal Entry 6 by day-zee at North Winnipeg Parkway - Waterfront Drive in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada on Saturday, January 5, 2013
Released 11 yrs ago (1/5/2013 UTC) at North Winnipeg Parkway - Waterfront Drive in Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Going for a walk to the Forks today, and releasing a whole buncha books along the way! Wrapping them up in some bookcrossing baggies to protect them from the snow and making 2 cubic feet more space in my office :)
Found in Neil John Maclean library health sciences library.
Found at the Victoria Inn in Flin Flon while visiting for the Manitoba Arts Network Showcase.
