Download The Known World Audiobook

" Similar to Pope Joan, I think I originally read this years ago. Still an amazingly rendered tale. The author has a unique style of writing and, I suspect, a fair amount of research into this period of time (slavery) as well. "

" It was a good book on the history of slavery but the style of writing was confusing and frustrating at times. It took me 100 pages to really get into it. The author introduces so many characters that I had to keep checking the back of the book on who was who. "

" World War I battles on Lake Tanganyika? Who knew? "

" What an amazing book! This is the story about a free black family in pre-civil war Virginia who own slaves themselves. At first it took me a while to get used to the author's rambling writing style but soon I came to realize the this novel is not just about the Townsend family and their slaves but also it's about the times that they lived and all the people who touched their lives. The known world is the world that they all inhabit and it's all that they know. Notions of right and wrong and proper form in this crucible of slavery in Antebellum Virginia. They own slaves because that's just what people of means do. A fascinating and moving story of slavery and transendance. Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prise for Fiction in 2004. Highly recommended! "

" I gave it 100 pages and found myself confused by too many characters. Also, found myself skimming, looking for something to happen. Didn't finish. "

" nov 2006 book club pick "

" very hard themes and material, but worth it. "

" Technically a great story but too plotless. Couldn't finish it. "

" One of the most unique novels about slavery I've ever read. The story switches between characters and it's hard to choose which point of view is our favorite. So well written (unlike my reviews) - a Pulitzer winner. "

" I started reading this book over a year ago with my adult school mentor, Debra Ratner, but travel interrupted. Now it is the book of choice for my book club for March, and I look forward to reading it again, this time all the way through. "

" FANTASTIC--very interesting the way it moves in and out of time. Well-developed characters. Poignant and sad, joyous and sweet. "

" I liked this book very much. The characters were well developed & extremely complex. The plot was simply inspiring. "

" This is a beautiful, troubling look at human nature and complex relationships in the midst of slavery in a fictional Virginia county in the 1800s. I HIGHLY recommend it! "

" Hating this.... the author keeps introducing more who-cares characters. Little voice keeps saying "Quit now!" "

" Intriguing weaving of fact and fiction. "

" Extraordinarily interesting story based in the South pitting the slave owners and the freed slaves against each other in a very unique way. Recommended to anyone wanting to explore human connections. "

" I'm too old to spend two weeks with a book this sad. "

" This book is really hard to get into, but it is my book club's choice for this month, so I will keep on keeping on. "

" I predict this book will be known as an American classic, excellent and I highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in American history "

" My favorite book to date. "

" I loved this book. I loved the characters and the setting. It made me feel like I was there with them. This author has a way with words that makes you keep reading long into the night. A pleasure. "

" Perhaps I am not smart enough to enjoy this book. I just didn't find it compelling, and by the time I finished, I was already looking ahead to my next read. "

" One of the most memorable books I've ever read. I picked this book off the shelf at the library, almost at random. It's been years and it often finds a way of seeping up into my life. "

" I didnt like this book. The plot was bouncy and unfinished. "

" Not a lovable book. Too easy to forget. Sleepy. The subject matter could have been much more viscerally told and still have been far from sensationalistic. And why all the "had had" and "that that" and "was was" etc language by an omniscient narrator? "

" I think I had expectations for this book that were too high. The premise of the book is a bit of a twist on the topic of slavery in the south, but I didn't find that the book offered any new perspective. "

" 3.5 stars - very interesting topic for historical fiction "

" This book was pretty terrible. "

" Hard to read. Characters not particularly interesting and hard to care about. There is a story here but I didn't find much connection with it. "

" For all you Richmonder's, read this book. The character's are endearing, hateful, puzzling...another perspective on slavery in VA "

" Loved this book.Characters are abundant and each has such a tale to tell. "

" Evocative characters and landscape. Brutal. "

" 2 is low, 3 would be high... the best part of this book is the setting and context-- makes you think a bit differently about slavery. i wanted a lot more though. "