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emmagreenwood's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Death of parent, Torture, Alcohol, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Murder, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Racism, Self harm, Sexual violence, Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Colonisation, Confinement, Rape, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Sexual assault, Slavery, Abandonment, Body shaming, Classism, Stalking, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, and Misogyny
jesshindes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Whoever wrote the back-cover blurb for 'Washington Black' did it no favours (in my opinion) by describing it as 'inspired by a true story'. It's a pretty outlandish tale - the protagonist goes from a Caribbean slave plantation, to the Canadian arctic, to London, to the Moroccan desert - and the whole time I was reading it at least 5% of my brain was trying to deduce which bits could possibly be the true ones. Had there really been a guy who helped his British scientist boss with an early hot air balloon prototype? Or maybe the bit where he invents the aquarium was the bit that was based on life? And then once I finished and let myself read an interview with the author, Esi Edugyan, it turned out that the inspiration was one specific nineteenth-century servant involved in the Tichbourne Trial, who had been enslaved in the Caribbean before becoming a family servant and moving to Australia. So that felt a bit anticlimactic!
This is a shame because I think Edugyan's point - what it would be like, how might it destablise you to grow up as a slave on a plantation knowing nothing other than that environment, never expecting or perhaps even imagining what a different future might be like, and then suddenly to be transplanted into quite a different environment on the other side of the world - is actually an interesting one. This question of identity and self is at the heart of the novel and our hero/narrator, Washington, is a sympathetic character, as he needs to be for the book to work. The landscapes and settings that Edugyan conjures are often absorbing and the first section of the novel on the slave plantation is bruising in its brutality. I did enjoy the book. But I think ultimately I found this less compelling than some of the other historical fiction I've been reading over the past couple of years. The variety of Black's journey is part of the point, but the book felt a little episodic to me and I wasn't totally sure what some of the key relationships were doing. The last section in particular felt a bit underpowered to me - I think the book lost some of its momentum as it went on. I like Edugyan's ambition, though, and I would (will) watch the TV adaptation that is apparently coming to screens at some point soon.
This is a shame because I think Edugyan's point - what it would be like, how might it destablise you to grow up as a slave on a plantation knowing nothing other than that environment, never expecting or perhaps even imagining what a different future might be like, and then suddenly to be transplanted into quite a different environment on the other side of the world - is actually an interesting one. This question of identity and self is at the heart of the novel and our hero/narrator, Washington, is a sympathetic character, as he needs to be for the book to work. The landscapes and settings that Edugyan conjures are often absorbing and the first section of the novel on the slave plantation is bruising in its brutality. I did enjoy the book. But I think ultimately I found this less compelling than some of the other historical fiction I've been reading over the past couple of years. The variety of Black's journey is part of the point, but the book felt a little episodic to me and I wasn't totally sure what some of the key relationships were doing. The last section in particular felt a bit underpowered to me - I think the book lost some of its momentum as it went on. I like Edugyan's ambition, though, and I would (will) watch the TV adaptation that is apparently coming to screens at some point soon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Suicide, Slavery, Racism, Sexual assault, and Torture
kclark's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Torture
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Racism
daniellekat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Death, Suicide, and Torture
kelly_e's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Title: Washington Black
Author: Edi Edugyan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: August 2 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Cinematic • Imaginative • Lengthy
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Wash is an 11-year-old orphan slave working the fields in Barbados. His owner, Erasmus, is a mean spirited racist who mistreats everyone. When Erasmus' brother, Titch, selects Wash to be his sidekick - helping with his experiments,- what follows is an escape and adventure spanning many years and continents.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Rating this book is complicated! On the one hand we have an adventurous historical narrative focusing on slavery and freedom. Through great attention to historical detail and language, as well as thoughtful writing, the author offers a unique perspective on identity and what makes a meaningful life. And yet on the other hand, I found myself skimming, eventually needing to tandem listen in order to get through it. It started out so strong, introducing many plot lines, but eventually turned into an endless chain of events that didn't really go anywhere and felt as though it tried to pack too much into one story. Then, of course, there's the ending and all of the loose ends that just felt disappointing.
Washington Black wasn't my typical historical fiction read, and I cannot really say I enjoyed my reading experience, but one thing is clear, Esi Edugyan is a gifted writer! I'll definitely be checking out more of her work down the road.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy lyrical prose
• Book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Would I choose so again? Well, not that is a questions. I will only say that is I have acquired any wisdom from Big Kit, it is to live always with your eyes cast forward, to seek what will be, for the path behind can never be retaken."
"'You cannot know the true nature of another's suffering.' 'No. But you can try your damnedest not to worsen it.'"
Author: Edi Edugyan
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.0
Pub Date: August 2 2018
T H R E E • W O R D S
Cinematic • Imaginative • Lengthy
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Wash is an 11-year-old orphan slave working the fields in Barbados. His owner, Erasmus, is a mean spirited racist who mistreats everyone. When Erasmus' brother, Titch, selects Wash to be his sidekick - helping with his experiments,- what follows is an escape and adventure spanning many years and continents.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Rating this book is complicated! On the one hand we have an adventurous historical narrative focusing on slavery and freedom. Through great attention to historical detail and language, as well as thoughtful writing, the author offers a unique perspective on identity and what makes a meaningful life. And yet on the other hand, I found myself skimming, eventually needing to tandem listen in order to get through it. It started out so strong, introducing many plot lines, but eventually turned into an endless chain of events that didn't really go anywhere and felt as though it tried to pack too much into one story. Then, of course, there's the ending and all of the loose ends that just felt disappointing.
Washington Black wasn't my typical historical fiction read, and I cannot really say I enjoyed my reading experience, but one thing is clear, Esi Edugyan is a gifted writer! I'll definitely be checking out more of her work down the road.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy lyrical prose
• Book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Would I choose so again? Well, not that is a questions. I will only say that is I have acquired any wisdom from Big Kit, it is to live always with your eyes cast forward, to seek what will be, for the path behind can never be retaken."
"'You cannot know the true nature of another's suffering.' 'No. But you can try your damnedest not to worsen it.'"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Suicide and Torture
dismembermentcp_frey's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
onadatewithdestiny's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Death
haley313's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A sweeping tale that feels like it cuts across several genres. The beginning is a brutal and realistic depiction of slavery. It then becomes an part adventure epic, part science-fiction. It requires the reader to suspend their disbelief and trust the author. I loved Wash and enjoyed the fact that many of the characters were not just “good” or “bad.” They were multi-faceted and felt like real people. Not crazy about the ending, and the last few chapters felt rushed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Torture
Minor: Rape
vickytx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery
Moderate: Hate crime, Torture, and Violence
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