The Blurb:
“Abducted from Africa as a child and enslaved in South Carolina, Aminata Diallo thinks only of freedom—and of the knowledge she needs to get home. Sold to an indigo trader who recognizes her intelligence, Aminata is torn from her husband and child and thrown into the chaos of the Revolutionary War. In Manhattan, Aminata helps pen the Book of Negroes, a list of blacks rewarded for service to the king with safe passage to Nova Scotia. There Aminata finds a life of hardship and stinging prejudice. When the British abolitionists come looking for “adventurers” to create a new colony in Sierra Leone, Aminata assists in moving 1,200 Nova Scotians to Africa and aiding the abolitionist cause by revealing the realities of slavery to the British public. This captivating story of one woman’s remarkable experience spans six decades and three continents and brings to life a crucial chapter in world history.”
What I thought:
The Book of Negroes (or Someone Knows My Name as it’s called in the US) is fiction based on fact. The people are made up; the places and events are not. What I thought I knew about the slave trade, it turns out I could have written on a postage stamp. I knew that Africans were kidnapped and taken abroad to work as slaves for wealthy white people several hundred years ago and I thought I knew the hardships and poverty they suffered. Not so.
This book is narrated by Aminata Diallo, an African woman in her late 50′s. Aminata tells the story of her life starting with how she was kinapped from her village in 1757, aged eleven. After watching her parents killed in front of her, she is yoked around the neck, stripped and made to march across jungle, forest and mountain for 3 months. Frightened, humiliated and separated from her loved ones, she also watched people she was tied to die along the way. Once the group had reached the shore they were bundled onto a ship that was to be their home for the next few months. People from all different parts of Africa were stuffed in like sardines in a can, naked, hungry, not understanding one anothers languages. Once in America, Aminata and her fellow ship-mates were sold at public auctions to slave owners.
Slave ship from Africa
Aminata continues her story through that life-changing journey through America and Canada. Hardship and humiliation are at the forefront of this book, but what I loved was that Hill allowed his characters to find love and friendship too; he gave characters real strength of human spirit and showed that even during the most heinus events and times, people are capable of the most selfless acts of kindness.
What I found most shocking in the whole book was that this girl realizes she’s amongst people who have no idea who she is, who have no idea that she has feelings and need for dignity, and they have no understanding of the land she was forced to leave. Most people can’t pronounce her name and the slave owners don’t even care to try, calling African women Mary to keep things simple.
There were many surprising aspects to this book for me and as well as learning huge amounts about things I thought I already knew about the African slave trade but didn’t, but also it shines a spotlight on almost every nation. The people who captured Aminata in the first place and killed her parents were fellow Africans, the Americans in New York (where Aminata is taken to later in the book) claim to be the slaves of the British (without a hint of irony). Books like this are so important to us and to future generations, lest we should forget.
The Book of Negroes is written in a simple and gentle way that, despite its almost matter-of-fact style, packs a real punch. Aminata is a great narrator and, even though she is fictional (which I admit to sometimes forgetting) she has such an important role to play in brining this story to life.
Highly recommended.
What do other book bloggers say?
…..a very human story, sympathetic, honest, fair to the greys of history, thought-provoking, poignant – Giraffe Days.
….. the book was incredible because it was captivating and interesting – Nose in a Book
…..Lawrence Hill has done something wonderful here - Bookishgal
Have I missed yours?
What an awful story, but certainly worth knowing about. I don’t think I have really heard much about the original kidnappings and transports etc., most books focus on living on plantations and the cruelties that happened there.
Sounds worth a read!
It is definitely worth a read, Leeswammes. Would love to hear what you think if you do read it.
Thanks for your review… I think I may try reading it, although it sounds so upsetting. I read “Roots” by Alex Haley thirty-five years ago, and like you, found that it left me much better acquainted with the horror of slavery. It’s awful to contemplate, and I’d rather not think about it, but I think you’re right, we should not forget about it, for the sake of generations to come.
I haven’t read Roots yet, Barbara, although I do have a copy and it’s also one of my Mum’s favourite books.
What’s interesting about this book is that even the upsetting parts are tolerable. You learn a great deal, and you always stay in Aminata’s head, but because she is able to stand up and move on, even after hard moments, you are able to do that too.
I loved the book, and learned so much.
I agree; there is no part that is really graphic as it is told in an almost matter-of-fact way and that’s what makes it readable rather than intolerable.
That’s good to know, Phyl. Thank you.
I’m really pleased to see that you highly recommend this book. I’m hoping to read it next month.
Can’t wait to see what you think, Jackie.
This sounds like a very enlightening book and also sounds like it’s a good account. I love fiction I can learn from so this would be a great book to learn about something I honestly know very little about.
I love fiction that you can learn from too, Ash. It combines my 2 favourite things: books and knowledge
This sounds amazing-and I’m not surprised that it has a different title in America. I’m not sure that American’s are ready for a book titled The Book of Negroes-still LOTS of negative connotations associated with that word!
I did wonder why the title was different in the US but have read that Americans wouldn’t buy it with that title.
That was something I decided to put into my own review. I read what Hill wrote on the Guardian website (“Why I’m not allowed my book title“, and thought I’d better link to it for the explanation.
It was true that the publishers felt the word “Negro” simply had a much different, more painful and inflammatory history in the U.S. than in Canada. So the title was changed for the American publications.
I was very pleased to know, though, that we Canadians got to keep the real name on our books.
I have a really gorgeous illustrated hardcover edition I picked up on sale and I can’t wait to read it!
Interesting that it’s called Book of Negroes in Canada but not in the States, though I think Heather has a good point. It makes sense that they are adapted for different cultures but at the same time, I can’t help but get annoyed that titles are altered.
Can’t wait to hear what you think, Steph.
Title changes annoy me too and sometimes I really can’t see why they have done it. This change makes sense, however, I think.
Yes, I was kind of annoyed too. But after reading Hill’s own explanation, I could see why they pretty much had no choice. It was his own community that would have objected the loudest, even though “The Book of Negroes” was in fact the actual historical name of that book where the names of freed and escaping slaves was written down.
I am reading this in August as part of thelittlereaders readalong. It looks like a great book for discussion.
I’m currently reading The Long Song by Andrea Levy, which is also about slavery, but in Jamaica. Another eye-opening story.
Like you I am shocked (and ashamed) at what little I know about the slave trade.
Great review.
I was intending reading it with Little Reader too, Sue, but when I bought it I just dived straight in. I will be contributing to the discussions though: I think this will be an interesting one!
oh, i’m glad you enjoyed it, since (as Suzanne mentioned) we’ll be reading it for the August readalong. this is one of those books that i get excited about every time i think about it. i have a feeling i’m going to adore it.
Lisa, I bought this for your realong but couldn’t wait to start it. I will be joining in though
I loved Roots (so many moons ago..) and have had this TBR since last October but have been trying to focus on shorter reads lately. You’ve encouraged me to push it up the pile.
Yay! I hope you enjoy!
I really want to read this book as like you, I don’t really know much about the history of slavery. I’ve only read ‘Roots’ which I read as a child and was a big shock to the system – I couldn’t really understand then how people could be treated in such a way (I still don’t).
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