Aminata Diallo (“an amazing literary creation,” Literary Review of Canada) is the beguiling heroine of Lawrence Hill’s SOMEONE KNOWS MY NAME. In it, Hill exquisitely imagines the tale of an eighteenth-century woman’s life, spanning six decades and three continents. The fascinating story that Hill tells is a work of the soul and the imagination. Aminata is a character who will stir listeners, from her kidnapping from Africa through her journeys back and forth across the ocean. Enslaved on a South Carolina plantation, Aminata works in the indigo fields and as a midwife. When she is bought by an entrepreneur from Charleston, she is torn from friends and family. The chaos of the Revolutionary War allows her to escape. In British-held Manhattan, she helps pen the Book of Negroes, a list of blacks rewarded for wartime service to the King with safe passage to Nova Scotia. During her travels in Canada, Sierra Leone, and England, Aminata strives for her freedom and that of her people–even when it comes at a price. In this captivating novel, Hill portrays one woman’s remarkable spirit and strength in the face of adversity, and he brings to life crucial and little-known chapters in world history.
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"Prettig geschreven en aangrijpend boek. Het Negerboek is het levensverhaal van Aminata Diallo, halverwege de 18e eeuw geboren in Afrika. Vooral het eerste deel van het boek is erg aangrijpend geschreven. Daarna dreigt het wat te gaan kabbelen, maar net op tijd komt er weer wat schwung in het verhaal. Ondanks het heftige thema (slavernij) leest het boek lekker weg." — Harmke (4 out of 5 stars)
"Prettig geschreven en aangrijpend boek. Het Negerboek is het levensverhaal van Aminata Diallo, halverwege de 18e eeuw geboren in Afrika. Vooral het eerste deel van het boek is erg aangrijpend geschreven. Daarna dreigt het wat te gaan kabbelen, maar net op tijd komt er weer wat schwung in het verhaal. Ondanks het heftige thema (slavernij) leest het boek lekker weg."
" Also known as the "book of negroes" - awesome, super book "
" Wonderfully written and an compelling story of the slave trade - the horrors of how a strong woman was stolen, brutalized and survived. "
" I read this book on the long car ride home. I love historical fiction and this book did not disappoint! I would actually give it a 4.5 stars. very different from my romantic love stories that I have been reading, but I really enjoyed it! "
" I thought it was a good book but the main character was to perfect, to "powerful", she didn't react like a normal person would have. She was a Mary Sue. "
" Fantastic about 80%of the way through and then just seems to peter out a little at the end ... Seemed like the historical record got a little thinner or something. "
" This book has the wrong name. "
" Thought this fictional story of a former slave, kidnapped from Africa as a child, becoming a free person, was well written and compelling. Really kept me reading. "
" I found this book to be an incredible tale of the atrocities associated with slavery. The author creates a commendable heroine and tells so much more of the story. "
" WOW- what an incredible story of a girl in Africa who is kidnapped and sold into slavery. She is now an old woman and tells her life story. The story of the burtality is vivid and so well told. "
" I was interested in the story from the first page! The author packed a lot into the pages of this book. It touched on an aspect of slavery that I was not very familiar with--that of the British and Canada and their role in the US and in Africa. This is definitely a book worth reading. "
" This book didn't really capture my heart the way I thought it would. At one point I nearly gave up reading it because the author goes into very extensive details about his narrative. Overall a good book to read if you like to learn about how the white people treated the blacks in the 1700-1800... "
" everyone has to read this. "
" i loved this book even though it gave me nightmares for weeks. "
" I wish there were 1/2 stars--this should be 4.5 at least. Meticulous research, very educational and enlightening. "
" I began bawling in the last chapter of the book because I was so devastated the story would soon be ending, it was that God. Mr. Hill writes from a woman's perspective on subjects like childbirth and motherhood with eerie precision. Aminata Diallo has a name. Remember it. "
" Wow... I was capativated. Heart wrenching, yet so truthful in regards of documented history. I grew old with her. The end was a bit, "long", but I still LOVED it. "
" This book is disturbing because of the subject matter (slavery) but it's such a good book and such a learning experience. "
" Thoroughly engrossing and wonderful story. Highly recommended! "
" Written as though the main character is an old friend telling you her story - really enjoyed this one. "
" I absolutely loved this book. It would have to be one of the best books I have ever read. Highly recommend. "
" This is the best book I've read in a long time - a wonderful Book Club pick. "
" It was interesting to read historical fiction from the viewpoint of a young black girl taken as a slave from Africa and living through the Revolutionary War. "
" By far one of the most moving, touching, and amazing books I've ever read. "
" Interesting read. Enjoyed reading this book. "
" Beautiful telling of a horrendous story. Learned a great deal. Didn't want to put it down and was sad when it ended. "
" the story was amazing, the voice was amazing, the feeling like you were there was amazing. "
" I think the story was interesting but I did not believe the character. I am prepared to accept that may due to failure of my imagination, but it prevented me from really engaging with this novel. "
" gives yet another perspective on the loss of self during slavery. "
" Any language for me is a second language, that's why I prefer books you don't have to fight through. The book of negroes is one of those books. "
" What and awesome Book. This story is well written, I was so happy to read a book based on a very intelligent female character . I could not put this book down. This story of love, and endurance is one for the ages. I think every women should read this book. "
" I liked this book but couldn't stop comparing it unfavourably to 'Roots' by A Haley. "
" What we don't want to have to think about but we need to know and understand. "
" Great book - really dove into some of the true circumstances surrounding slavery "
" This was a good read...from start to finish. An eye-opener for what life was really like for the slaves and a good insight into the slave trade that we unfortunately still support. I highly recommend this book. "
" disturbing, but an amazing story of a woman in the 1700's from Africa and her life after "
" Enjoyed this one - very moving and based on facts so full of history that I didn't know about before. Very difficult to put down and definitely recommended for anyone interested in the history of slavery. "
" One of the best books I've read this year! "
Lawrence Hill is the author of the novels Someone Knows My Name, Any Known Blood, and Some Great Thing, his widely praised first novel. He is also the author of the nonfiction work The Deserter’s Tale, with Joshua Key. He lives in Ontario, Canada.
Adenrele Ojo is an actress, dancer, and audiobook narrator, winner of over a dozen Earphones Awards and the prestigious Audie Award for best narration in 2018. She made her on-screen debut in My Little Girl, starring Jennifer Lopez, and has since starred in several other films. She has also performed extensively with the Philadelphia Dance Company. As the daughter of John E. Allen, Jr., founder and artistic director of Freedom Theatre, the oldest African American theater in Pennsylvania, is no stranger to the stage. In 2010 she performed in the Fountain Theatre’s production of The Ballad of Emmett Till, which won the 2010 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Ensemble. Other plays include August Wilson’s Jitney and Freedom Theatre’s own Black Nativity, where she played Mary.
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