The Known World by Edward P. Jones Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Known World
Book Review: It makes you work
Summary: 5 Stars
What a unique book. This is not my every day's read. I thoroughly enjoyed it, from beginning to end. This is a piece of literature way too good to be called "a novel". But this is not for everyone. If what you are looking for is something fluffy and easy to read before going to sleep, this is not going to work. This is a book that requires attention. The reader needs to be engaged. The cast of characters is big, the chronology is not linear, so the book demands more from the reader than the average best-seller. But the rewards are huge. Despite the many characters, each one is developed fully, and you got a sense of who they were, what made them tick. The lack of a linear chronology is nothing new. We see that in movies and books alike all the time (Pulp Fiction, the Star Wars prequels, Snow Falling on Cedars, The Light Possessed come to mind right now). But it was not a jumbled chronology, and I found it easy to follow. The writing tone was elegant and simple, and in the hands of a more grandiose writer, I dare to think this book would have looked like scrambled eggs.
This was a book that expected something from the reader, and I for one am tired of condescending novel after novel, where I can guess the outcome after a couple chapters. This was a breath of fresh air, a piece of historical fiction that i will savor for quite a while. It is not by accident that it won the Pulitzer Prize. Those who understand the challenges of good literature have agreed.
Book Review: Let this book remain unknown to you, unless the subject fascinates you
Summary: 3 Stars
CONFESSION: It's hard to get me interested in historical fiction. I prefer with nonfiction or scifi. I only read this book because I had nothing else to read at the time. On the other hand, that made me a captive audience. I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it.
PROS:
- The concept (a black owning slaves) is interesting.
- The dialogue feels real
- The chapter titles gives you an idea where the story might go
- A list the dozen characters, a glossary of sorts, is in the back of the paperback.
CONS:
- Way too many characters. I had to refer to their character summary often to help me along. It's too confusing unless you're really into it and paying 100% attention.
- Because of the myriad of characters, I didn't become attached to any.
- I would have liked so more direct, overt dialogue about the moral dilemmas.
CONCLUSION: If you love historical fiction, especially about slavery, then this is your perfect book. I know it's a no-no to be lukewarm about books that we're supposed to like (e.g, Shakespeare or Pulitzer Prize Winners), but I wouldn't recommend this book unless you love the subject matter.
Book Review: Manchester County, Virginia--R.I.P.
Summary: 3 Stars
I had a great deal of difficulty getting close to Edward P. Jones's novel about slavery in the antebellum south, specifically of the no longer existing county of Manchester, Virginia. The only thing new about _The Known World_ was its exploration of the phenomenon of some former slaves, having been freed, now owning slaves themselves. Such is the case of Henry Townsend, once a slave of white land baron, William Robbins. Henry's freedom is purchased by his long freed parents, Augustus and Mildred Townsend. Henry becomes a fairly successful farmer and buys his own slaves to work his farm. Henry dies fairly early in the book. _The Known World_ is about what happens to his farm and to his and Robbins's slaves after Henry dies.
The book has its fair share of maltreatment of both male and female slaves, white and black sexual mingling and the resulting progeny, a hard nosed white sheriff and his more tender hearted deputy. There are also those slaves who run away and the usual pursuit after them. Greedy, conniving slave traders are also well represented in the book.
I wish that Henry, who offered promise as becoming the novel's protagonist, were a more fully developed character, but his early death prevented that. Some of the characterizations are rather interesting, especially that of Fern Elston, the teacher of freed slaves, Alice, the wandering, dancing, and singing slave who lets us continually know Master Henry is dead. Alice shows some real promise as a talented artist. Then there is Moses, the slave with an independent streak, and who proves to be the most provocative character in the novel. Jones does make it a point that blacks and whites lived together seemingly as family members, while never letting the reader forget the strict rules and regulations of the master-slave relationships.
_The Known World_ has its share of sadness, even tragedy, but by the end I was disappointed by the book's lack of plot structure or a strong hero or villain who would have given the book some much needed focus.
Book Review: Much to recommend
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Known World" took me into an area of history I knew nothing about -- free blacks in the South who became slaveholders before the Civil War.
The writing style and the story itself thoroughly held my interest. It followed multiple characters in a non-linear fashion, mixing history, magic realism, foreshadowing, and almost stream-of-consciousness to explore the lives of the slaves, the sides of slavery, and the different impacts it had on people in ways I hadn't previously considered.
It was simultaneously both challenging and entertaining.
It is not a Civil War story, but it helps understands the human side of slavery, what caused the war, and resulted from it. I highly recommend the novel.
Book Review: Multitask Writing
Summary: 5 Stars
The most interesting multitasking writer I've ever experienced. Jones tells stories I can relate to, bouncing back and forth between time periods in people's lives with ease; similar to the way I juggle my life. His creative use of historical fiction is delightful. What would seem true relating to events in the South during the time period he describes turn out to be entirely fictitious. But the best parts of the book involve the magical dream states his characters enter into. The book is worth reading for those passages alone.