I had no idea what this book was even about. Someone left in the lobby and after passing it for weeks, I decided I should give it a shot. Damn I sure am glad I did. It was very slow moving at first, a lot of time was spent in Ireland, which I figured the entire story would be about the dispute between the England and Ireland, and focusing on the Queen (don’t blame me, the dust cover was ripped off and there was no description short of the first few chapters). In reality you follow an Irish child of a medium to high wealth family, through his life, his son’s life, his son’s daughter’s life and so forth, all the while covering the attitudes in the South about slavery, right around the Civil War.When you start this book, you are in it for the long haul, withy it topping the scale with over 700 pages of amazing history. It is heart wrenching and dramatic, and you are essentially watching a family through its generations. And the best part is that it is, for the most part true. This all happened, in some way shape or form, which sheds a light on what it might have been like to be a slave. In school you learn at everyone was free in 1865, but no one goes on to say how the prejudice continued, how slaves were forced to work practically for free, not improving their lot by much. It also showed that while some people were kind and compassionate to their slaves, those people still wanted nothing to do with them. They were believed to not have souls. Everyone should read a book like this within their lifetime, something that is entertaining, heart wrenching and informational all at once. I can’t count the times I had to put this down to prevent me from breaking down in public. Not only that, but it shows how few generations there our between us and the people that treated slaves worse than they would any animal. We like to think that this happened hundreds of years ago, but you can clearly follow the family tree of Alex Haley and see it’s not that far back as we would like to believe. For something that almost made its way in the bin, this is now one of my all-time favorite books and I will persuade any and all that I can to read it.
I was torn if I should post this book and then as to what to rate it. There are some rape/sex scenes not extremely graphic but there none the less. At the same time its a definite part of the US history that should not be overlooked. This is another book I acquired helping my Grandma with her bookshelves, she had 2 copies. I knew it was written by the author of Roots but it wasn't until the end of the book that I realized it was about his paternal grandmother. Alex Haley had past away in the process of writing the book so David Stevens finished it but had been working along side Haley. So in the end to realize it was a true story well I am a sucker for history and don't like to ignore it even if it is ugly. Very well researched and beautifully woven to tell the story and include the details. It was a bit on the long side but it also encompassed 3 generations.After reading this I am a bit intrigued to read Roots or at least watch it all from beginning to end. I remember watching parts in school but I don't know if I have ever watched it all. I have such a hard time fathoming how people can treat other people as just mere animals. If they have similar features that you do, look pretty much the same as you do but have a different skin tone seriously how are they any different. Skin colors change and vary but how is it that defines us as human or animal?
Do You like book Queen (1994)?
I first read this book after watching the miniseries years ago. I didn't get a chance to finish it then, so I was determined to this year. This book is so beautifully written and touching. I have to say that I didn't enjoy the first part of the book taking place in Ireland as much as later parts. While the beginning was interesting, I just really wanted to get to know Queen. Queen is such a fascinating character. The interaction between her and her loved ones pulled at my heartstrings! This book is an inspiring read for Americans of all races.
—Jeanette
abridged 4 tape set and the hardcover from the libraryis this really nonfiction? it is filled with amazing detailsI have listened to the 6 hours of tape several times, now I am reading the book.
—Elizabeth
I enjoyed this book as much as Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Roots tells the story of Alex Haley's ancestors through his maternal grandmother, Cynthia, while Queen is the story of Alex Haley's ancestors through his paternal grandmother, Queen. Alex Haley has white ancestors from both lines; Queen begins with his white ancestors in Ireland while Roots begins with his black ancestors in Africa. Queen tells the story of how Haley's white ancestors became slave holders in the South and paints a vivid picture of plantation life up to and through the Civil War. Queen is born about half-way through the book, the daughter of the white Massa, Jass Jackson, and the emotional love of his life, Easter, one of his slaves. The book is a mix of heartbreak and love, cruelty and kindness, sorrow and joy. Alex Haley died in February 1992, about a year before the book was published. He did much of the research, wrote a 700-page outline, and provided many of the sub-stories told in the book. But most of the actual text was written by his co-author, David Stevens. This is a powerful book and will be of great value to anyone interested in the history of slavery and the South during the 1800s.
—John
