Customer Reviews

Roots

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This is one of my "go to" rereads (meaning, when I have no new books to read, I usually pick this one back up) and so have read this book many times over the years. I know there was apparently quite a bit of controversy over the accuracy/legitmacy of this story shortly after publishing but I could care less about that. Regardless of whether it is supposed to be 100% factual, half factional/half fictional or 100% fictional, it is a fantastic story and a great read. It isn't about just one character but about all slaves. Haley paints a very vivid, real picture of what life was like for slaves and how they suffered. How they were individually affected, how their families were affected and how others were affected. And this story starts from the beginning (from a young boy in Africa) all the way to the "end" (to his descendents dealing with the end of slavery in America).

In other words, I HIGHLY recommend this book.

...even if the specifics of Haley's geneology aren't true. It's obvious while reading the book that Haley fictionalizes much of the account of Kunte Kinte's life in Africa, his journey to America, and his subsequent life as a slave, since--as Haley himself later makes clear--he couldn't possibly have had such detailed knowledge about these events.

Roots is not really Kunte Kinte's story, but the story of countless unnamed slaves. And, perhaps even more importantly, it is the story of the indomitable human spirit, refusing to be crushed no matter what evil is visited upon it by others.