Customer Reviews

Queen: the story of an American family

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Alex Haley & Dave Stevens' QUEEN is a rare gem---the story of an american family that touches many lives. Queen is the main focus of the book but her story spans past & future generations from Ireland to America. Some of the characters are tragic but all have hope for a better tomorrow. The heartbreak of Easter's love for her "master", Queen being taught to read by her grandpa and the Haley family's quest to get a better education for their youngest son are just some of the heartbreaking stories in this novel. I enjoyed the book very much and I now hope to finally read ROOTS.

I just finished reading this book, this morning. And, I read "Roots," 2 weeks ago. In both of these books, I was able to vicariously be there, and emotionally travel with each person in these stories.

And it gave me a sense of peace that I had not had before about being African-American. It helped me to come up with the most empowering responses to not only suttle racism from Euro-Americans, but also suttle responses to African-Americans who seem to be bound by expecting to just get by (who also believe that empowered African-Americans somehow owe them endless worthiness).

To me, even though this book is titled "Queen," it has many stories: politics; narcissism; racism; boys growing into manhood; belonging; the price of not having someone to verbalize your pains to; and, how whites turned their outrage over their motherland into what drove them to do the same to blacks, in this country.

During the entire time that I was reading these 2 books, as I conducted my day to day responsibilities, I felt like I had a secret weapon against being held back. And I saw things that I might not have seen before in what I could do to turn suttle racism into my opportunity to expect mutual respect between myself and my interlocutor.

I recommend this book, and "Roots" to any who is looking for a means to grow beyond your wildest expectations. You will cry with these stories, laugh, and feel every possible emotion, knowing that you are breathing new life into your life.

This is one of the best books I've read in my life. Alex Haley was such a skilled writer. "Queen" deals with many harsh facts of the antebellum South without becoming vulgar. It is also an inspiring tale of an American family.

One of my complaint with "Queen" is the blatant misuse and fabrication of facts by David Stephens, who finished Alex Haley's posthumus masterpiece. The writing of Mr. Stephens also doesn't measure up to that of Haley. While it is a great book as it stands, I wish I could see what this book would be if Haley had been alive to complete it.

This book was very well written. It angered me greatly while reading it. I am a minority and I understand all the heartaches and prejudice towards minorities. I hope anyone with enough sense will understand the horrible treatment that these people endured just because of the color of their skin!!!!! Whites have no predominance over any other race. Anyways, the book was very heart-gripping and also tender. I enjoyed all the details and it was very easy reading to understand.

Ethnic novels really are not my thing. But this one had me interested after seeing pictures in a book on the civil war titled 'Slave Children of New Orleans' featuring mostly mixed race children of near caucasion appearence I became curious about them. Having read a great deal of the civil war there really isn't that much. So when I found this book I quickly took to reading it.

The main character is what is called 'A child of the plantation', the offspring of a slave owner and a slave woman the product not of love but of exploitation who are so casually discarded as to be a disgrace. In the beginning, she is very naive and optimistic. Regrettably, life doesn't treat her that well.

An interesting story. Admittedly I would have done things different but since this one is based on fact I can't rightly complain. I liked reading about the main character and how she was treated by all parties. Certainly I do not like that she was mistreated by many. Her ability to move among white circles was interesting only when her heritage is revealed do things get bad which disgusts me.

Overall, I take people at face value and wish everyone else would do the same. People should be judged by their behavior rather than by pseudo scientific nonsence.

One of Alex Haley's greatest works, another branch to the history of his family. At the end of the book you want to know what happened after the story ended. A great book for people who want to know more inside the life of a a mixed race slave, who faces many tragedies in her life but learns to trust and let people love her. Every time you reread the book you find something new. Exceptional even for children to read. If you loved Roots you'll absolutely love this book. And you will love the movie.

The book is a great service to the history of slavery starting for Haley Grandma in the late 1800's. This is a good study and reference to a possible side project when studying slavery in history class. His book Roots was also great I would recommend reading that even if you dont study history

The book Queen is a great book the first time I read it I could not put it down. It is the best book I have ever read and I have read and I read alot. It is the only book I have read over 30 times!! I recomend this book to any who loves to read and if you don't love to read than this book will make you want to read more! The book is both exciting, and heartbreaking in many different and unexpected times. From Rachael Dixson

I would have to say that I have read Alex Haley's Queen between two or three times. Every time I have read the novel I have cried! The novel has touched issues that we as Americans sometimes do not want to face. If there is any information about this novel that is recent, please send it to me!

Alex Hailey is one of the greatest writers known to man. He truely displayed his writing ability in his book Queen. By reading Roots, I was able to follow along as if I was there. The book was truely heartfelt and encourages me to read all the rest of his books.