This book was truly one of the most interesting that I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Personally, my exposure to slave narratives has been rather limited, both in terms of reading and watching related movies. Of course, I'm well-versed in the history, especially growing up in the US where it's a highly prevalent and important subject. However, I was not fully aware of the numerous complexities that sustained the system of slavery. What was particularly astonishing was the revelation that black slaveholders actually existed during that era. This came as a huge surprise to me. In this regard, it's an excellent book in terms of creating atmosphere.

You could almost smell the stench that emanated from the rotten system of slavery, permeating every individual. Another notable aspect is the gigantic cast of characters. This feature sets this novel apart from the others I've read for this course. There are at least 15 distinct characters, each with their own unique backgrounds. I discovered that it's best to simply let the story wash over you rather than attempting to meticulously map it out in your mind. If you have a knack for memorizing characters, especially if you thrive on Agatha Christie novels with large casts, then this book is definitely for you. However, if you struggle to keep even four characters straight, it's advisable to proceed with caution.

Nonetheless, it's such a complete universe, which makes the title all the more fitting. The Final Verdict: There's an entire world that's vividly described, and the people within this world are confined to it, knowing nothing else. It's a really cool and engaging feeling, and this book can be highly expansive and immersive if you truly invest yourself in it. Just be prepared for some mental gymnastics along the way. 4 stars.

Manchester County, Virginia, is a place with a remarkable story. A slave named Henry Townsend managed to become the Master. He was reared by William Robbins and later purchased by his parents. However, his decision to become "Massa" deeply disappointed his parents, who were former slaves of William Robbins. For Augustus and Mildred Townsend, working and buying their freedom was a source of great power. Identity was of utmost importance in this town.

The town was also a place where justice was dispensed at will by Sheriff Skiffington, who seemed to have lost his way with God. The divide between black and white, slave and free, was clear, and it all boiled down to knowing what degree of status one was considered to have in Manchester County, Virginia.

My favorite quote from this account is: "The free men in Manchester knew the tenuousness of their lives and always endeavored to be upstanding: they knew they were slaves with just another title." This quote highlights the complex and often precarious nature of life in Manchester County, where freedom was not always as absolute as it seemed.

This book was INCREDIBLY disappointing and I could not bring myself to finish it, as I have a strict rule against self-hazing.

The Known World had such an interesting premise: the South just before the civil war divides the country, and former slaves own slaves. This should have been an amazing book, but unfortunately, the author simply could not pull it off.

My primary problem with The Known World was that Jones literally threw characters into the story. I lost count after about two dozen cropped up within the first hundred pages. Each introduction was more hurried than the next, with new characters strew across the page during incredibly early points in the plot. It became impossible to distinguish one individual from another, and the story the author attempted to tell quickly unraveled as the identities of the plot’s participants muddled together.

Secondary to the character deluge was Jones' writing, which jumped from past, present, and future events, often within the same sentence or paragraph. For example, the author would launch (another!) new character into the novel, and then portray how that character would die, decades later, all in the same sentence. If I had not been so confused and annoyed, I might have been impressed!

I suppose it was entirely possible that beneath the character inundation and convoluted time lines, The Known World contained a decent story. However, I simply could not torture myself by attempting to dig it out after every other page.

I have an intense love for this book. It is written extremely well, and the treatment of a difficult subject is masterfully handled.

At the beginning, the time jumps did cause some confusion for me. This novel is presented in a very distinct, non-linear style. The peripheral characters possess entire backgrounds, and sometimes even details about what will happen to them in the future, and in some cases, even their descendants. This aspect helps to balance out some of the visceral horrors of chattel slavery. It enriches the novel with depth, texture, and a sense of richness.

Moreover, I appreciate the exploration of a black, ex-slave who owns a plantation with slaves. I have never really liked or understood Henry, Caldonia, and Fern, who are the main black slave-owning characters. And I have never really made an effort to. Additionally, I like the way the white characters are portrayed and developed in the story.

Overall, this book offers a unique and engaging reading experience that delves deep into the complex and often uncomfortable aspects of history.

DNF at 27%

DNF, which stands for Dungeon & Fighter, is currently at 27%. This percentage might refer to various aspects within the game. It could be the progress of a particular task, the completion rate of a certain dungeon, or perhaps the percentage of a character's power level achieved.

At 27%, players are likely in the midst of an exciting adventure. They might be facing challenging enemies, solving puzzles, and uncovering hidden treasures. The game's immersive world and engaging gameplay keep players hooked as they strive to reach higher percentages and unlock new content.

Whether it's leveling up their character, obtaining rare items, or competing with other players, DNF offers a wide range of experiences. As the percentage increases, players can look forward to more difficult challenges and greater rewards.

In conclusion, DNF at 27% is an exciting stage in the game, filled with possibilities and adventures waiting to be discovered.

So much has been said about this novel.

At a certain point, I wonder what I can contribute in a Goodreads review for friends who come across and read these words. By now, Jones has won the Pulitzer. On Amazon and Goodreads, this particular novel has nearly 50,000 ratings. I also realize that I'm far from the first among my friends and colleagues to express my thoughts. My journalistic colleague Neely Tucker has already so beautifully praised Jones' work that Neely is quoted near the top of Jones' Wikipedia page.

So, what else is there to say?

Well, one thing I can tell my friends is that over the years, I've often said that "a book is a community between two covers" and a novel especially "calls us to enter a real world." And this book powerfully demonstrates both of these points that I always teach in writing classes.

I'm also humbled when I read this novel, which I've read and re-read, marking passages by turning down page corners. Sometimes, when I wake up to face some minor physical discomfort during the day, like a cut or back pain from overwork the previous day, I feel discouraged. In this novel, Jones reminds us that life during the era of slavery in the South was filled with pain. Life was short, and discomfort and disability were part of daily life. From thorn-scratched skin to painful toothaches to the consequences of beatings or sickness, life was short and often cruel.

That makes moments of pleasure, or more importantly in Jones' world, moments of wonderment even more precious. There's a scene deep in the book where a character feels compelled to pick blueberries in a thunderstorm and witnesses lightning destroying a huge tree. I keep coming back to that passage as an example of amazing narration. Page after page, we get so close to this man that we feel his rain-soaked agony and then the glorious, terrifying wonderment of a huge tree being turned into a lightning-ignited inferno. There are details in that entire sequence that I can hardly imagine how Jones "saw" and put on paper for us to experience with his character.

Lots has been said about the moral complexity of this novel as it delves into the world of American slavery, and that's all definitely true. But I also see and cherish other moments of visionary grace in Jones' writing that go beyond the evils of that world.

Fino a circa la metà di questo libro, sono stata costantemente sull’orlo dell’abbandono. Tuttavia, ho proseguito per puro spirito di abnegazione. Il problema principale è stata la mia incapacità di distinguere tra la miriade di personaggi presenti fin da subito. Inoltre, questi personaggi non vengono minimamente diversificati tra loro con descrizioni di sorta. Ci sono anche i continui balzi temporali, anche di molti decenni, all’interno dello stesso paragrafo. Tutto ciò contribuiva a rendere la narrazione caotica, confusionaria e frammentata. Di conseguenza, il mio interesse per le sorti della vicenda e di tutti i protagonisti coinvolti era pari a zero.

A un certo punto però, sono riuscita a districarmi in questo mare magnum di persone ed eventi. Non so se sia per mio merito o per intento preciso dell’autore, ma il libro è divenuto sorprendentemente e del tutto inaspettatamente gradevole. Tanto che ci ho messo 19 giorni a leggere le prime 250 pagine e solo 2 giorni le restanti 250.

Credo che alla fine l’obiettivo di Jones fosse quello di presentarti questa moltitudine di schiavi come una massa indistinguibile ed invisibile, come le mucche, le vanghe, i secchi: oggetti con i quali è impossibile empatizzare. Poi, lentamente, ti li presenta come persone uguali a te. A quel punto, l’effetto è duplice. Infatti, non solo ho empatizzato parecchio, soprattutto la storyline che coinvolge Augustus mi ha inumidito gli occhi, ma mi sono anche sentita in colpa per come ho disprezzato tutti quanti e mi ero annoiata fino a dieci pagine prima.

Mi piace pensare che tutto questo sia voluto e che qui risiedano i motivi di un Pulitzer a un libro che, a parte questo, a conti fatti, non regge però il confronto con quasi tutti i libri che lo hanno vinto prima. Le tre stelle per onestà intellettuale sono una media ponderata del mio personale gradimento tra la prima e la seconda parte.

Gorgeously woven and incredibly interesting historical fiction unfolds, delving into the lives of black slave owners, slaves, and the people who surrounded them in antebellum Virginia. At first, I was concerned that the shifting timeline might prove to be an annoyance, feeling it was perhaps too postmodern. However, as I delved deeper, I discovered that the storytelling is truly epic. The characters are richly textured and sympathetic, drawing the reader in and making them care about their fates.

Jones doesn't let anyone off the hook without assigning blame in this book. But what's remarkable is that he manages to infuse even the most vile characters with enough motivation and rationalization for their actions. He understands that mostly good people can do terrible things, and this forces the reader to step out of the comfortable paradigm of evil they may have fallen into. We are all capable of evil, and it's best to be aware of this so that we can recognize the signs.

Seriously, this book is marvelous. It has become my favorite book that I've read this year, and I simply can't recommend it enough. It's a thought-provoking and engaging read that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

This was an outstanding book, exquisitely written and an utterly fascinating read.

It bravely tackles the intricate moral dilemmas surrounding slavery from a novel perspective, delving deep into the realm of black slave owners. Without resorting to preachy说教的 tones, the author skillfully navigates through the barbaric treatments and provides a revealing look into the mental justifications and rationalizations.

Characters of remarkable strength, courage, and resilience are interspersed on both sides of the issue, along with truly despicable individuals.

The author continuously introduces new, interconnected characters, which means he frequently has to remind us of who each person is. While this may seem a bit extraneous at times, it doesn't significantly detract from the overall quality of the book.

This isn't a traditional "story book" where you simply follow the life of one individual. Instead, the author jumps around from past, present, and future glimpses to facilitate rapid character development. The downside to this approach is that there aren't those classic "cliff hangers" at the end of chapters that keep you reading non-stop.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend this as a top-notch quality book. It undoubtedly makes you ponder how the human psyche can be manipulated and how the laws of the land and society can be exploited to justify certain behaviors.

It's a thought-provoking and engaging read that offers valuable insights into a complex and often overlooked aspect of history.

Three books have led to a career, but I've only read two of them. Declaring this as Jones' masterpiece would be absurd. However, one can't help but be tempted to exaggerate. And it is indeed a very, very good book.

The Known World描绘了亨利·汤森的种植园世界。亨利是一个获得自由的黑人，在内战前弗吉尼亚的一个虚构县拥有大约二十个奴隶（并对内战结束后的几年有所预示）。汤森的自由是他的父亲奥古斯都买来的，奥古斯都先是为自己买了自由，然后是他妻子的，最后是他儿子的。小说中的另一个主要种植园主是威廉·罗宾斯，一个白人，他曾经拥有汤森一家三人，并且他还有一个黑人情妇，和她育有子女，他将这些孩子当作自己的孩子抚养，但不把他们当作白人。他拥护奴隶制，会残酷地维护这个制度的存在，尽管他支持奥古斯都这个熟练的木匠购买自由，并成为亨利近乎父亲的人物，而当亨利开始购买奴隶时，他几乎被自己的父亲抛弃。

这是一部复杂的小说，人物性格多样，几乎每个人物都有可取或妥协的特点。达西，这个奴隶投机商，靠贩卖被绑架的自由民和被劫持的奴隶获利，他没有任何灰色地带，从头到脚就是一个黑暗、应受谴责的灵魂；哈维·特拉维斯，奴隶巡逻员，以及律师斯基芬顿，一个种植园主，他的生活被一场天花疫情摧毁，这场疫情夺去了他的家人和所有奴隶的生命，他们也是如此。其他主要人物：奥古斯都·汤森、亨利·汤森、罗宾斯、摩西、亨利的遗孀费恩·埃尔斯顿、约翰·斯基芬顿、巴纳姆·金西和爱丽丝·奈特，都是丰满的个体，他们生活在他们所处的世界里，这个世界完全被奴隶制以及这种基本不道德行为的所有复杂影响所损害（在这个世界里，种族主义信仰为那些否则难以理解的行为提供了借口）。奴隶制几乎对每个人的灵魂都造成了严重破坏，但也为令人惊讶的英雄主义、善良和成就行为提供了机会，这些行为之所以能激励人，部分原因是它们发生在一个像世界上任何已知的一样黯淡的环境中。

琼斯的小说嘲笑了《飘》和《根》的简单性，唉，它理应与吐温、约翰逊、福克纳、默里和马西森的最佳作品并驾齐驱。琼斯是一流的作家，谁知道他的未来会怎样，但他迄今为止的贡献已经使文化更加丰富。

I still cannot fathom why this book won awards.

I will grant that it is built around an interesting premise. However, for me, there were just too many flaws.

There are a plethora of characters that are extremely hard to keep track of. Not one did I care about or want to know what happened to them. In fact, I could not even toil my way to the end of the book.

When asked at my book club if I wanted to know what happened to various characters, I actually found that I still didn't care and couldn't even remember them (and I had gone over 3/4 of the way through the book).

The writing was choppy, with different POVs that changed too frequently. The lengthy recitations of family trees, population statistics, and other historical fodder further interrupted the flow and did not add anything to the narrative. It took me out of the story to think about the author and why he felt he needed to cram that in. Perhaps to show off his research?

I think there are much better books out there that deal with American slavery.

There was the odd pearl of a sentence that was well written and poignant, but for me, there was too much work to be done to harvest the pearls.

"The Known World" offers a captivating and complex narrative that delves deep into the moral conundrums and harrowing realities of slavery in the United States. It zeroes in on the lives of both black and white inhabitants in antebellum Virginia. Awarding it a solid 4-star rating is a recognition of the novel's powerful storytelling and rich historical detail. However, it also acknowledges the areas where it might not fully satisfy every reader.

The novel ventures into an often overlooked territory within historical accounts of American slavery: black slave owners. Jones weaves a vast and intimate tapestry, exploring the life of Henry Townsend, a black farmer and former slave who becomes a slaveholder himself. The story presents a plethora of perspectives and experiences related to this morally contentious system.

Jones's prose is dense and intricate, demanding careful consideration on each page. His ability to interweave multiple timelines and the lives of various characters is truly impressive, offering a wide-ranging yet deeply personal exploration of how slavery infiltrates and corrodes the world it inhabits. His examination of power, humanity, and morality within the grotesque framework of slavery provides a thought-provoking reading experience that lingers long after the final page.

Despite its powerful narrative and engaging characters, "The Known World" sometimes risks getting bogged down in its own complexity. The non-linear narrative, constantly shifting between characters and time periods, while offering a comprehensive view of the world Jones has created, can at times disrupt the story's flow and disengage the reader. The numerous characters, each with their own story and struggles, can be both a strength and a weakness, as some narratives may seem abbreviated or underdeveloped.

The novel's extensive timeline and diverse cast of characters present a full-bodied view of the period. However, at times, this expansiveness may dilute the emotional impact of individual storylines. While we get brief insights into many lives, the depth of emotional connection with each character can vary, leaving readers longing for more from certain stories.

In conclusion, Edward P. Jones's "The Known World" is undeniably a powerful work of literature. Its exploration of morality, power, and humanity within an often unexplored context is both thought-provoking and heart-wrenching. Despite its narrative complexity potentially posing a challenge for some readers, the novel's thematic depth and rich historical detail firmly establish it as a crucial read for those delving into the dark recesses of American history. Therefore, a well-deserved 4-star rating is appropriate, highlighting its outstanding aspects while also recognizing the elements that may not align with every reader's preferences.