FINAL BLOG POST - a sad farewell.

Alright, so this is my last entry for this blog. This blog was for the purpose of a school project, but has inspired me to continue blogging about other amazing novels and all the little and big things in this world that inspire me. I would like to thank Ms. Webster - my teacher for her continuous support and encouragement. I am attending the University of Guelph in the fall for English and look forward to surrounding myself with literature and art. This book, this blog, and this course has helped reassure my passion for English and for that I am grateful. As this ends, my life just begins. As I walk forward into the unknown I look back to what lifted me up and brought me to this plane of life, and I smile.

Below - picture of me as Lavina from Titus Andronicus graphic novel.

Avery Dawn Cyr :D

FOURTH blog post (final part of novel)

So we have reached the end of “The Book of negroes” by Lawrence Hill. I can’t stress how much I would recommend this book. It is hard to read at times, as it does get somewhat graphic, but it is totally worth it, and you won’t be able to put it down! I probably sound like a sales representative for the publishing company. Haha

•Were the predictions you made about this section of the text accurate or not?

My predictions about this part of the novel were, again, partly correct. Ev

erything that I had predicted came true except for the death of her second child; May. Her daughter, now about 18 years of age, finds her mother and they move in together. I still think that it is terribly sad that they didn’t get to have much of Aminata’s life together.

•What did you like best about your chosen text?

I honestly can’t pick just one thing!! I loved virtually everything about this book, although I can’t say I rather enjoyed the graphic parts. BUT… at the same time, that is what made the novel so real and believable for me. This story is fictional and based on true events in some cases, but all in all, it’s still fiction. When you read this novel, you do not think about that once. Everything that Aminata says is backed up, and I couldn’t find a single plot hole. It was absolutely brilliant front cover to back cover.

•With what, if anything, did you struggle?

I think the fact that it is such a long novel makes it a bit of a struggle. It isn’t the length but the things that happen during this time that almost drives you mad. I mean it is one bad thing after the other, and it get exhausting emotionally. With that said, there are moments in the book where Aminata realizes things, and the reader does too, and these moments pick you right back up.

•Choose your favourite line, quote it, and explain why you chose it.

I couldn’t just choose one quote, so I have three here for you…

“It was the first baby I had caught since the loss of my own. The pain of my losses never really went away. The limbs had been severed and they would forever after be missing, but I kept going, somehow I just kept going.”

I loved the highlighted part because it was such a visual. It was as if, for every one of her family members a limb was missing, leaving her hopping along on one leg. She had lost everything that she once held dear to her, but she will always keep going, because she is strong.

“Even as I learned new words and phrases each day, I wondered just who exactly I was and what I had become after more than thirty years in the colony. Without my parents, my husband, my children, or any people with whom I could speak the languages of my childhood, what part of me was still African?”

I have to admit I read two sentences over three times. The highlighted sentence is what really caught my eye. It made me think that if she had been completely removed from her culture, from her home, from her family what about her was still African. It made me think of me and my family. We are from Ireland and although I was there until I was 4, being here in Canada, changing my citizenship to Canadian, only really knowing my home as Canada, what part of my is Irish. I suppose it is a cool thing to say that you are Irish, especially on Saint Patrick’s, but I am not Irish just because I was born there. I am Canadian because now this is my home.

“Perhaps, if I had been able to keep my husband and to live with him for

years and our children, I would have learned to feel settled in a new place. But my family never settled in its nest, we never had any nest at all. But after I heard Mr. Alessani’s words I felt no more longing for Bioa, only a determination to stay free. And now as I waited for my strength to return, in a hut belonging to people I didn’t even know, I let go of my greatest desire. I would never go back home.”

I think that this quote caught my attention because it is a pivotal moment in my eyes for Aminata. She realized that her whole live had conditioned her for greatness, and although she just wanted to live the simple life of her childhood, she owed it to all of the slaves and to herself to help the abolitionists.

•What kind of personal connections have you made with your chosen text?

I cannot begin to express the personal connections that every woman will have with the main character/narrator; Aminata Dialo. Although it has some feminist limbs throughout the story, there is several different viewpoints brought forth by the honesty of Aminata’s character portrayal of the people she encounters. I made several personal connections with this novel, and I hope that each and every one of you that read it will too. I found that this book really got my thinking about things in my own life, and what we all take for granted. It makes you open your eyes to what we, as a civilization, were, are and will be. It is really scary to me to think that not so long ago African slaves were killed in the streets. I think that this story is something to be told, and it is don’t brilliantly.

•Were you satisfied at the end of your reading? Why or why not?

To be honest, the ending left me feeling somewhat uneasy. At the end of the novel, you are given this sence of Aminata dieing as she finishes the end of her own account. It’s as if you know that once the words run off the page she is gone too. I think that the only reason it left me feeling uneasy is because she didn’t get very much time with her daughter May. I found myself rationalizing my own thoughts about the ending, but I guess that is what made it so memorable. It is left up to the reader’s interpretation. Overall this is one of the best pieces of Canadian literature I have ever read.

I really hope that you all go out and grab yourself a copy of this novel. It looks very large and scary at first, but once you turn the first cover, you won’t be able to stop! If you don’t feel the same way that I do, that is you opinion, but I think you would have to be crazy! Haha

Avery Dawn :)

THIRD blog post (3/4 of novel)

SO… I am officially three quarters of the way through “The Book of Negroes” by Lawrence Hill. I can’t say that I know enough about the author to hear his voice through the text, but the main character has a voice that doesn’t even have a scratch. It’s as if I can hear her voice through every word she speaks, and it makes the reading more intriguing. I must admit, I often find myself reading aloud in the voice of Aminata Dialo. (Main character)

•Were the predictions you made about this section of the text accurate or not?

Okay, so my predictions were ALL wrong! I guess this is a good thing though because it shows how many twists there are in this book. I guessed that her husband Jakura would not return and it was a huge surprise for Aminata, but even more for me. I also predicted that in her first attempt at escape she wouldn’t be successful. Not only was I wrong about this one, but her owner comes back later in the novel and sets her free of claim so that she can continue to be free and board the ship to Canada. The fact that I was completely wrong only kept me interested, keeping me “on the edge of my seat” for the rest of this quarter.

•What do you like about your chosen text so far?

One thing that I particularly enjoy about this text is the detailed images that are given. I feel as though some books don’t give you enough for your imagination to grow on, but with this book you can see everything as if you are looking through the eyes of the main character. I also like that the only person that talks or narrates is the main character because you see everything the way she sees it. As she grows and her views of the world change, so does the readers.

•What are you struggling with?

Again, scenes of violence, sexuality and graphic subject matter as the television would say. There are parts with rape, and violence. There are scenes where babies are taken from their mothers, and where the slaves are completely demoralized. It is terribly upsetting, and overwhelming at times, but it only keeps an appreciation for the characters in the novel.

•Choose your favourite line, quote it, and explain why you chose it.

“In the middle of the circle stood an African woman, wailing, holding the body of a child. The woman lowered the child into the ground and a man with a shovel covered up the hole. Around it, other women arranged a perfect, circular mound of rocks while more placed whittled sticks onto the ground in a rectangular shape the size of the child. I moved forward with the wailing, and finally I was right up with the people sobbing and moving with them. They took me into their dancing and did not ask where I came from, for all they had to do was look at me and hear my own sobs in my maternal tongue and they knew that I was one of them. The dead infant was the child I had once been, it was my own lost mamadu, and it was every person who had been tossed into the unforgiving sea on the endless journey across the big river.”

I just remember reading this part and being taken back by how she just joined this ceremonial burial of this dead infant and how she danced and cried with them. My favourite part is the highlighted part, because it was so symbolic of her life up to this point.

•What kind of personal connections have you made with your chosen text?

As my Granda in Ireland once said “You got a shitty deal of the deck, now what are you going to do about it?” I think that one of the reasons that I connect with Meena D. (Aminata) is because at only 18 I have had my battles, and I have conquered some, but some of them like to come back to me, and remind me how I got where I am now. I suppose this is what makes her so strong, and what makes me strong. Another personal connection with Meena D. is her stubbornness. I am definitely stubborn when it comes to my belief system. I will always respect other peoples’ opinions, but I don’t try to inflict mine on others and I don’t plan on changing mine. It is not as if I have arguments with people, it is merely something I keep to myself unless otherwise asked.

•Make some predictions about the next quarter of your chosen text.

I think that Meena D, will help the British abolish slavery. I think that she will continue to gain respect in the eyes of the British. Unfortunately, I do not think that she will leave Britain because of her age and fragility. I think that Jakura dies way before Meena, and that her child that is currently in her womb, dies as well. I suppose my predictions are rather bleak, but at least she is helping end slavery.

…. Until next time… yours truly… AVERY DAWN CYR. <3

SECOND blog post (1/2 of novel)

Alright ladies and chaps, I am officially half way through my book. To be honest I went a little over half way because this book is IMPOSSIBLE to set down. Just when you think it’s going to be smooth sailing, there is another huge twist! It’s going to be near impossible not to tell you everything, but I will try my best.

Firstly, this is a pretty huge book and my predictions, although correct, were only the beginning! I can’t tell you how many amazing, horrifying, heart-throbbing, electrifying twists and turns have occurred during this second quarter of the book! My prediction was that the slaves would revolt and try to escape, but their knowledge of the outside world, beyond that of their village tribes, was virtually non-existent. This part of the book was slightly horrifying, especially because I find that I can really hear the voice of the main character as I read the novel.

I can’t say just one or two, or even five things I enjoy about this novel. I could likely write an in-depth review on it when I am done. The detail, the character work, everything is exceptional. One thing I have really noticed is how the main character, who is relaying her past, changes the way she speaks and describes things as the story progresses. It’s as if you are learning to speak English, and read and write with her. Like I mentioned earlier, I can really hear the voice of the main character, as if she was telling me the story herself right next to me. Although the main character, Aminata, is not really described as she is now, worn and aged many years, I can see her perfectly, just with the way she speaks. Another thing that I love about the novel is that not only is it entertaining, it’s REAL. I mean, not in a true story word for word kind of way, but in a raw, deep, passionate, vulgar, disgusting, melodic, beautiful way! Haha

I have to admit, although this book is one hundred percent worth it, there are some parts of the book that are really hard to take. I can’t decide whether her lack of elaboration is better or worse because it shows her innocence. When I read any kind of literature, I definitely engross myself in it, but I rarely get so compelled that I get emotional. With “The Book of Negroes” there were times where I almost felt ill, and I think it is because all of this happened to real people, real human beings. They were treated as animals, they were put on display, and they were paraded around like cattle, auctioned off, treated no better than the dirt they lived on. I have seen that there will be a movie based on the book coming out in 2012, but I guarantee nothing could match the book. You could have the best directors, producers, actors and you still couldn’t beat this book!

It took me awhile to find my favourite quote, but I think my favourite one was the most simple. “That, I decided, was what it meant to be a slave. Your past didn’t matter, in the present you were invisible, and you had no claim on your future.” I think that I love this quote because at this point in the book you are finally feeling like things are going in the right direction, finally coming down from the climax, after climax, after climax, and then all of a sudden, she has this realization. This is her life. It’s almost an acceptance in my eyes. This is her life now, and she might as well make the best of what she has.

I have to say I have made too many personal connections with this character to count, and I think that is what draws me to this book so deeply. I didn’t have the best life thus far, but I’m not complaining, because it made me who I am. I am confident with whom I am, and I know that I am strong, and independent. When I was 7 my mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to have her first surgery. I had three younger brothers, one 4 years old, and two twin boys only about 8 or 9 months old. All three of them were only my half-siblings, but I never thought of it that way. Since my mother was so sick, I had to take care of my siblings, I learned how to do everything, and without much help. My whole family was still in Ireland, and we lived in London, Ontario in a little complex of townhouses. It wasn’t always easy, and at times I had to take care of my mother more than my siblings, but we made it through. My mother made a lot of mistakes in her life, and I only learned from them. We had no money, and I often had to miss school, but it never stopped me from striving to learn as much as I could. I loved learning. As of today, my mother has made it through 9 brain surgeries! And she is still tickin’! Due to my childhood, my mother and I don’t have the best relationship, but I will never stop trying. Aminata is strong, and stubborn, and won’t let anyone push her down, and I try to be more and more like that every day.

If I were to make some predictions about the remainder of the book, I would guess that Jakura won’t come back, that something terrible will happen to him, but I am also going to guess that whilst in New York with Lindo, she attempts to escape. I don’t think she will have a successful attempt, but an attempt none-the-less. I cannot stress enough how much this book opens your eyes, and not only makes you realize what you take for granted, but how happy you can be without the materialistic world we live in. I have received so many messages from this book, and I hope that you do too! J

FIRST blog post (1/4 of novel)

Okay, wow! Where do I even start with this book!? For one, I never want to set it down. I think my favourite part about this book so far is the narration by Aminata, the main character. It starts out when she is old, and helping the abolitionists to end slavery for good. Then it goes back to her life in the village which she remembers very well. I love trying to figure out what she is referring to through her perspective, but then.. it gets bad, real bad! She is captured by people and put into a coffle. She watches both her parents die, and her village burned down! At the time she is only eleven, but this makes the story even better somehow. She is a very intelligent eleven year old, and it is so interesting to try to figure out what she means when she describes a fire stick (gun) or a white person (Tubab). One thing I am most definitely struggling with is dealing with how horrific the circumstances these West Africans are dealing with, but the way that Aminita talks about everything makes it innocent, and well PG. haha

I think my favourite quote is one found at the beginning of the book; “Let me begin with a caveat to any and all who finds these pages. Do not trust large bodies of water and do not cross them. If you, dear reader, are of African hue and find yourself led toward water with vanishing shores, seize your freedom by any means necessary. And cultivate distrust with the colour pink. Pink is taken as the colour of innocence, the colour of childhood, but as it spills across the water in the light of the dying sun, do not fall into its pretty path. There, right underneath, lies a bottomless graveyard of children, mothers, and men. I shudder to imagine all the Africans rocking in the deep. Every time I have sailed the seas, I have had the sense of gliding over the unburied.” I think the reason that this one is my favourite quote is because it immediately shows not only who the character of Aminata is, but a strong sense of the effect her life has had on her, and how haunted she still is. I love “Pink is taken as the colour of innocence, of childhood, but as it spills across the water in the light of the dying sun, do not fall into its pretty path.” The thing that is great is the fact that this is the way she speaks through the whole thing. You can hear the wisdom in her words, but when she is talking of her past as a child you can tell the difference, you can see the years shed off as she goes back to the accounts of her life.

I think the reason I love this book so much is because I immediately fell in love with the main character, Aminata. She is so strong, intelligent, and independent and boy is she ever stubborn! When she is told to do something she doesn’t just submit like most girls would, especially her age. When she is beaten she does not give the satisfaction of screaming, and she uses her gifts of “baby catching” to help expectant mothers along the way. In Aminata’s old age she reminds me very much of my great Aunt Dot (Dorothy) in Ireland, only the African version. I remember listening to her tell me stories about her childhood, and working in the factory instead of being educated so she could help support the household. When I was but seven years of age my mother was diagnosed with an Aracnoid cyst on the left temporal-lobe of her brain. She was stuck with epilepsy and had to have surgery. She was a single mother and I had three younger siblings, the twins being just months old. Although they were only my half-siblings I was forced to care for the younger pups she whelped. I never thought of them as half-siblings though. I learned how to cook and clean at a young age, and I knew how to take care of the kids, and my mother. We didn’t want my siblings to be taken, so we managed to work it out. When I was 14 we moved to Goderich, and I got a job at a gas station. Although I kept some of my money for myself, I didn’t mind helping out with groceries considering my mother could only afford so much on disability for five people. My mother has now had a total of 9 major brain surgeries, and she is still kickin’ and I wouldn’t want my life to have been any other way because it made me who I am. I can’t wait to be an old woman of experience like Aminata and teach my children and grandchildren the ways of life, and making it easier. I have always been a very independent young girl, and now woman and I strive to continue to be such. I am so excited to continue this book and hear more about the journey that Aminata took!

I think I know what will happen next in the book, but it scares me slightly. Aminata has been trying to gather information from the Caucasians to tell a chief from a neighbouring village who is also on the ship. Since Aminata could speak some Arabic, and new more than one native tongue she was able to communicate with the captors. The medicine man with whom she bunks has been teaching her their language and the slaves plan to revolt, but I have a terrible feeling about it! I can’t wait to read more, and I would highly recommend so far that every one read this brilliant piece of art by Lawrence Hill!

4. Why I am so excited to read it!

The great thing about “The Book of Negroes” is that I will be able to learn so much from it! I mean, not only is it a somewhat historical text, it also has a character I could likely relate to. She is a strong independent young lady, and that is something I truly strive to be! I’m hoping to learn more about the slave trade, and some of the events, and horrors that occurred. I think that by reading this text we are somehow honouring those who have been part of the slave trade. I have to admit, I am slightly afraid of what the end of the book may bring! L Let’s hope it’s a triumphant, brilliant ending! Can’t wait!!!! J

3. How I plan to stay organized.

The way I plan to keep notes for my book is the same way I always do. I have a book journal in which I keep my study notes for novels, plays, poems, short stories, etc. What I do is take stick notes, and I write the main heading of the note I am making on the sticky note, and a page number, from my journal. Then in my journal I have specific sections for each book, and I write the same heading in the journal as I did on the sticky note. That way the notes are already according to page number and I don’t have to look through the whole book for the right page. When I am reading a book, I like to write notes constantly and analyze it like crazy! I write things about the atmosphere, about a character description, things I want to look up and research, everything! Also, when I am reading a book I always look up any words that I am unsure of, that way I am learning as I go! In my experience it is a super effective way of learning and it keeps you super organized! J

2. Why I chose this book.

Heya, so I decided that I am going to read “The Book

of Negroes,” and I am super excited! This book looks absolutely brilliant, and it was recommended to me by my Auntie, who I look up too immensely with regard to literature. I also liked the fact that it was by the Canadian writer, Lawrence Hill. Although I have not read anything by Lawrence Hill, he is the author of several best selling, and award winning books in, Canada, The UK, New Zealand and Australia. He is a very unique individual who was born of America immigrants, his father being African, and his mother Caucasian. He was actually raised in Ontario, Canada only about 3 hours from the town where I live: Goderich! It’s a suburb in Toronto.

I chose this book for several reasons. It has some historical reference, and it follows the life of a young girl named Aminata. I was looking at all of the research that Lawrence did regarding this story, and how it related to his own family, and their heritage. It has a bit of a feminist twist, and although I wouldn’t call myself a feminist, I have a love for strong independent female characters.

1. What the book is all about.

This book is about the struggle through life for a woman named Meena Diallo. This woman is now in England and pens the story of her life from her childhood as Aminata Diallo. We - the readers- are whisked through the life of this human being as she is whisked into the life of a slave. As The Globe and Mail says it; "The Book of Negroes is a masterpiece, daring and impressive in its geographic, historical and human reach, convincing in its narrative art and detail necessary for imagining the real beyond the traces left by history."