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jara_rod90's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook.
Powerful. The narration of this book was *chef's kiss*
Powerful. The narration of this book was *chef's kiss*
sumayyaha's review against another edition
5.0
edit: Reading this review, I realize it may sound more negative than positive but I'd like to say in no way do I dislike this book. It told a harrowing truthful story and I am grateful for it. In fact, I would like to say that Harriet Jacobs may be one of the most astounding women I have read about, and I am in awe of her selflessness to take care of her children, striving to free them from the chains of slavery. In all accounts, this book is one of the greatest I have read. I have seen some controversy surrounding the book, that it may have been too liberal, too grandiose in its writing, too god centric, that it may be an exaggerated account but I completely disagree. One, people seem to think the writing is too eloquent even though the speech in this book is the same in which they would verbally speak, the fact that it seems grandiose to modern readers is because we speak in a less sophisticated manner. Two, some think her belief in God was too strong and that she should have become somewhat disbelieving in god's mercy but I also find this a weak point to say the story is exaggerated because it is in the deepest of despairs where often people find god the greatest. Three, is a combination of these two, for some reason, people can't seem to wrap their heads around black women being not only smart, but selfless, cunning, and godfearing. Those who believe so must have inadequate faith in their own abilities to do so, so in this, I cannot understand. It is in the interest of white supremacists and bigots to call this story false and the fact that they think the story is exaggerated must mean they think slavery was either not so hard as Harriet described it or that they think Harriet did not go through many tribulations in her life. The latter would be gaslighting her problems, thinking they are too little and that she must be making up bigger schemes to make herself a victim. It is sad to me that people could think that because just by being traded as livestock your life would already have troubles. (this was a long one) end edit.
This is the most heart-breaking book I have ever read, period. When reading this, I thought that my problems could never amount to those faced by Linda, and they cannot. However, that thought process plays into the ideology of white supremacists so I suppress them whenever possible. The thought that at least we have it better than our ancestors, but this would mean that we accept what happened to our ancestors as natural and a matter of fact. I should like to say though, that we would not be any more grateful for the life we lead now if it hadn't been that our ancestors were shipped to America in more than cramped boats in the first place. Which was the first inhumane act imparted on them, in which case I will not gratify any white people for being humane towards me. Anyway, this review isn't much of a review. It is more like my thoughts on a few things.
So to the point, yes, I recommend this book to everyone. (of course, of an adequate maturity)
This book speaks of misery, the deepest level of disparity slaves reached. This book showed prime examples of whites removing humanity from blacks and treating them even worse than animals. From rewriting the Bible to include deprecating lines towards those of color to the violent upbringing of the slave women - the ones who faced the most strife. The impure acts upon which they bestow upon the slave women are the most disgusting facts you will ever hear, and if you're white I hope it makes you uncomfortable. In light of recent events I, as a black girl, should not have to hear of these terrible acts this woman and many others have borne. However, I chose to educate myself but it turns out it doesn't contain much that is new to me. I have always known of these hate crimes, of white scum, white supremacists, gaslighting pedophiles, hateful white women, I have known. But I hope any white person reading these reaches a new level of understanding and compassion because we have had enough. This book is a phenomenal piece to read to understand the true plight of a slave girl. I highly recommend it, though I still have my qualms; written below. Those have to do with the excuses Linda gives whites, whether they were slave masters or enablers, she defends them - because they had done one kind act (which in reality is really just basic human decency) or imparted kind words - which I find mind-boggling. However, I must acknowledge the fact that this is due to conditioning and brainwashing. Whether the average slave recognized their value as a human, there was no escape from the demoralization of themselves from whites. They were constantly slandered and belittled, taught that the white man or woman was better than them. Due to this prolonged mental suffering, I can see how Linda would still defend any light she sees in her eyes. When you're given a life of fear and constant threats to your humanity you begin to feel warmth from any kind act bestowed upon you and any kind words spoken to you. Although I could not and cannot feel the same, I denote that to the fact that I know my worth.
I wonder why the subject of this book, Linda, referred to some whites as good or having a good conscience or good actions. I wonder how she can think such things about them when she has to lead a life of misery in slavery. How she can think a white woman is good for telling her husband to turn one of his offspring (produced from the rape of a slave girl) free when it should be basic human decency to not see a race all as slaves. There were other occasions in which she spoke of white men and women being somewhat good for bestowing basic human decency on black people. It made me uncomfortable how she thought so when I could think of them nothing but scum. I must add to this, however, that I understand her thoughts still. Of course, a black woman raised in such society and in these times would think so, it is ingrained in her nonetheless of how she thought of slavery. This is what makes these whites scum of the earth, the way they have ingrained their philosophies into black people to make it seem that any decent act from them is an extreme kindness on their part, that for some reason is hard to give out.
This is what makes me most uncomfortable; how she would think herself lucky for receiving any compliment from her master or mistress or for having a sibling-like relationship with her mistress's children. As a human she deserves this, but she feels lucky for it because she's a slave..
I am glad though, that she matured throughout her tale for I would feel even worse if she succumbed to some cruel act portrayed as kindness due to her naivete. I am not judging her life, because it is neither my place nor in my interest. However, I will say my thoughts on this because I know some will still think that it's right of her to feel gratified towards her oppressors/enablers. When in reality it is a product of the systemic racism she faced.
This is the most heart-breaking book I have ever read, period. When reading this, I thought that my problems could never amount to those faced by Linda, and they cannot. However, that thought process plays into the ideology of white supremacists so I suppress them whenever possible. The thought that at least we have it better than our ancestors, but this would mean that we accept what happened to our ancestors as natural and a matter of fact. I should like to say though, that we would not be any more grateful for the life we lead now if it hadn't been that our ancestors were shipped to America in more than cramped boats in the first place. Which was the first inhumane act imparted on them, in which case I will not gratify any white people for being humane towards me. Anyway, this review isn't much of a review. It is more like my thoughts on a few things.
So to the point, yes, I recommend this book to everyone. (of course, of an adequate maturity)
This book speaks of misery, the deepest level of disparity slaves reached. This book showed prime examples of whites removing humanity from blacks and treating them even worse than animals. From rewriting the Bible to include deprecating lines towards those of color to the violent upbringing of the slave women - the ones who faced the most strife. The impure acts upon which they bestow upon the slave women are the most disgusting facts you will ever hear, and if you're white I hope it makes you uncomfortable. In light of recent events I, as a black girl, should not have to hear of these terrible acts this woman and many others have borne. However, I chose to educate myself but it turns out it doesn't contain much that is new to me. I have always known of these hate crimes, of white scum, white supremacists, gaslighting pedophiles, hateful white women, I have known. But I hope any white person reading these reaches a new level of understanding and compassion because we have had enough. This book is a phenomenal piece to read to understand the true plight of a slave girl. I highly recommend it, though I still have my qualms; written below. Those have to do with the excuses Linda gives whites, whether they were slave masters or enablers, she defends them - because they had done one kind act (which in reality is really just basic human decency) or imparted kind words - which I find mind-boggling. However, I must acknowledge the fact that this is due to conditioning and brainwashing. Whether the average slave recognized their value as a human, there was no escape from the demoralization of themselves from whites. They were constantly slandered and belittled, taught that the white man or woman was better than them. Due to this prolonged mental suffering, I can see how Linda would still defend any light she sees in her eyes. When you're given a life of fear and constant threats to your humanity you begin to feel warmth from any kind act bestowed upon you and any kind words spoken to you. Although I could not and cannot feel the same, I denote that to the fact that I know my worth.
I wonder why the subject of this book, Linda, referred to some whites as good or having a good conscience or good actions. I wonder how she can think such things about them when she has to lead a life of misery in slavery. How she can think a white woman is good for telling her husband to turn one of his offspring (produced from the rape of a slave girl) free when it should be basic human decency to not see a race all as slaves. There were other occasions in which she spoke of white men and women being somewhat good for bestowing basic human decency on black people. It made me uncomfortable how she thought so when I could think of them nothing but scum. I must add to this, however, that I understand her thoughts still. Of course, a black woman raised in such society and in these times would think so, it is ingrained in her nonetheless of how she thought of slavery. This is what makes these whites scum of the earth, the way they have ingrained their philosophies into black people to make it seem that any decent act from them is an extreme kindness on their part, that for some reason is hard to give out.
This is what makes me most uncomfortable; how she would think herself lucky for receiving any compliment from her master or mistress or for having a sibling-like relationship with her mistress's children. As a human she deserves this, but she feels lucky for it because she's a slave..
I am glad though, that she matured throughout her tale for I would feel even worse if she succumbed to some cruel act portrayed as kindness due to her naivete. I am not judging her life, because it is neither my place nor in my interest. However, I will say my thoughts on this because I know some will still think that it's right of her to feel gratified towards her oppressors/enablers. When in reality it is a product of the systemic racism she faced.
thesimplereader's review against another edition
3.0
While this was an interesting intellectual read, it was not anything enjoyable... the accounts of slavery's atrocities never are. I would not have chosen to read this, if not required for class, but I am glad to have done it.
magenta_silk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
4.0
vyhurz's review against another edition
5.0
I had to read this book on my own in order to write a paper for my American Literature class this semester. I highly enjoyed this book. It's a memoir, written in the 1850s, about a woman who escapes slavery. The way she does it is amazing and shocking. The things she experiences before escaping are heartbreaking. She also describes what she sees other slaves going through. Even though I had to read this for school, which is often reason enough for me to not like a book, I couldn't put this book down because it was so interesting. I talk about this more in my February, March, and April wrap up on my channel, and I plan on doing a full review as well.
dinasamimi's review against another edition
4.0
Incredibly nuanced telling of slavery and and self-preservation from a woman's perspective. I wish I hadn't read an academic version of this since the footnotes (excessive and superfluous) drove me mad.
bringlaurasnacks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
5.0
jovanas_cloud's review
3.0
I have a few problems with this one but mostly what could've been fixed by the editors. Now that we know all the names in this book, I don't see why they kept the made up ones because it got confusing for me to who was who. Was it aunt Betty or aunt Nancy, who was Joseph, who was William, Benjamin, what their real names were.
Second, still very much bothering me because I'm genuinely curious as to how Harriet did #1 and #2, what about when she was on her period, how did they wash her stuff without anyone noticing there was more sheets than people, how did she bathe? There's no way she stayed in the same pair of undies for seven years and did not take a shower. Please Harriet I need more details on how you lived your life in that cupboard.
Lastly, someone should've done a better job of making this easier to read. I had no problem with all the stuff that happened to her, but it just seemed to me like I read so little for so much time. I'm so thankful that Harriet shared her story even though it pained her so much to share her struggles with the whole world, but it just hurts me to see that many people would drop this book just because it's very difficult to read, maybe it's just a me problem.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed getting to know more about Harriet Jacobs and her very anxious life. I'm so glad that she exposed what had happened to her and my heart goes out to her and every other black woman who was probably in even worse situation but wasn't literate so we will never hear their struggles. I hope Harriet Jacobs is resting in peace now, bless her soul.
Second, still very much bothering me because I'm genuinely curious as to how Harriet did #1 and #2, what about when she was on her period, how did they wash her stuff without anyone noticing there was more sheets than people, how did she bathe? There's no way she stayed in the same pair of undies for seven years and did not take a shower. Please Harriet I need more details on how you lived your life in that cupboard.
Lastly, someone should've done a better job of making this easier to read. I had no problem with all the stuff that happened to her, but it just seemed to me like I read so little for so much time. I'm so thankful that Harriet shared her story even though it pained her so much to share her struggles with the whole world, but it just hurts me to see that many people would drop this book just because it's very difficult to read, maybe it's just a me problem.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed getting to know more about Harriet Jacobs and her very anxious life. I'm so glad that she exposed what had happened to her and my heart goes out to her and every other black woman who was probably in even worse situation but wasn't literate so we will never hear their struggles. I hope Harriet Jacobs is resting in peace now, bless her soul.