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EDITED TO ADD SCHEDULE

Open Discussion Start Dates

Monday Nov 4 -- Chapter 1 through 6 -- STARTS MESSAGE 39
Thursday Nov 7 -- Chapter 7 through 11 -- MESSAGE 77
Monday Nov 11 -- Chapter 12 through 18 -- MESSAGE 99
Monday Nov 18 -- Chapter 19 through End & Summary -- Message 126

If you are ahead of schedule and want to discuss other aspects of the book earlier, just make sure to hide it with the spoiler tags.
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Twelve Years a Slave Enhanced Edition by Dr. Sue Eakin by Solomon Northup

Thanks kisha for approving this selection!

We will discuss this book starting Nov 1

Major motion picture coming out on October 18.



Tentative Movie Discussion starting Nov 1 as well for those who choose to see it. It will be interesting to compare the two!

Oh...if you are getting it from the library, you might want to go ahead and put it on hold before too many people get the same idea. I put the audio version on hold just today.

Dr. Sue Eakins website

Originally published in 1853, Twelve Years a Slave was lost to history by the early twentieth century, when it could not be located by libraries, stores or catalogues. Then a 12-year-old avid reader in central Louisiana; the future Dr. Sue Eakin; reached upon the library shelf of a planation home and discovered a dusty copy of the book that would determine her life's path.



Well done article on the book

:-)

HI Londa and Kisha....I was in Barnes and noble today (my 1st ever trip there having been in the states only 2weeks....LOVE THAT SHOP btw!!) anyway I saw 12 yrs a slave there(for $6 if anyones interested)and remember seeing it here in group...so i bought it! hahah CAN I PLS JOIN this read with you both? :)

Kerry wrote: "HI Londa and Kisha....I was in Barnes and noble today (my 1st ever trip there having been in the states only 2weeks....LOVE THAT SHOP btw!!) anyway I saw 12 yrs a slave there(for $6 if anyones int..."

Of course you can! And thanks for the heads up on the book. I picked up an audio version today from the library, but a print copy would be nice too, especially at that price!

Londa wrote: "Kerry wrote: "HI Londa and Kisha....I was in Barnes and noble today (my 1st ever trip there having been in the states only 2weeks....LOVE THAT SHOP btw!!) anyway I saw 12 yrs a slave there(for $6 ..."

wonderful thanks, :) I will start the read tonight, it looks amazing. the book for $6 is hard back (I prefer paper back but at $6 - well i just had to! :) Look forward to the discussion...so far its Londa, Kisha and me Kerry yes?

just to be sure are we reading the original or the newer edited edition by sue eakin's? Both are on Kindle for 99Cents. I won't be able to realistically start until friday. Hope that isn't a problem.

Kerry I love barnes and Nobles! Although I will admit I have neglected them for amazon and the half priced book store. It's much cheaper.

I'm reading the original, that's the one I could find..well the one that jumped out at me.I would love to read the new edition but hey...got this one now :)

kisha wrote: "just to be sure are we reading the original or the newer edited edition by sue eakin's? Both are on Kindle for 99Cents. I won't be able to realistically start until friday. Hope that isn't a pro..."

I thought they were the same book. The newer one just has more background information and illustrations/photographs.

We aren't starting this discussion until November, so you have plenty of time.

oh great that's awesome. well they are both the same price so I'll go with Eakin's version why not? Can't wait!

kisha wrote: "oh great that's awesome. well they are both the same price so I'll go with Eakin's version why not? Can't wait!"

I'm looking forward to reading this in November as well!

Awesome Andrew!

so we start the read Nov 1st??

Works for me

Kerry wrote: "so we start the read Nov 1st??"

Yes! Of course, you can read it in advance (I've already started listening to my CD), but I wasn't going to start the discussion until November.

Just received my Kindle edition today. Can't wait to begin discussion!

Great kisha! I listened to the CD and that was really good! I also bought a hard copy for when we start the discussion.

I read that the movie won't be released until December 27th.

Ignore incorrect info.

Oh wow! Well that give us plenty of time to discuss! And I promise I won't be as slow while reading as I am with Perfect Pease (and every other budd read hehe!)

Well I am all sorts of confused now. Apparently, it is playing in a 'select few' theaters now. It is not playing anywhere near me though *pout*

I hope they are doing a staged release and it will be released in my area eventually.

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Okay. Hopefully this is correct. Limited Release now. Another limited release Oct 25... Nationwide release November 1.

The movie is supposed to be a best picture candidate...but its not highly anticipated by movie watchers. Its kind of putting executives at fox in an odd situation. Its like the show arrested development, critics loved it and it won emmys, but a lot of people didn't watch it. I read people in London walked out of 12 years a slave because of the violence. The early release is so it can qualify for 2014 oscars, but its also to create buzz with movie watchers. Because the official release is dec 27th(or at least it was) the studios have to spend a lot of money advertising so it can compete with other holiday films and my guess is that they are trying to figure out much money they want to spend and if its worth it. so officials at fox want to know is this an award winner, a money maker, or both.

R.E. wrote: "The movie is supposed to be a best picture candidate...but its not highly anticipated by movie watchers. Its kind of putting executives at fox in an odd situation. Its like the show arrested devel..."

Thanks R.E. That makes sense. Well, I really hope Fox decides to release it on a large scale. If not, I might have to wait for the DVD.

I'm getting really excited about reading this book. 12 Years a Slave the film has been getting more and more buzz on a daily so I can't wait.

I love film and tv i love me some oscars! i was a film student in Australia and of course I wouldnt be here if I didnt appreciate african lit- slavery stories i am very interested in. I know Paul Giamati is in the film version and im a fan of his. will be a great film to see but will watch after i read this book. i just started but am slightly slow with it. am doing this AND the bluest eye with u guys this nov. pls be patient with me hahah. :)

I've also started reading the book. So is there a plan for how we discuss it in November?

I am so glad that everyone is excited to start! Take note of the schedule. Thanks Andrew for the reminder :)

Open Discussion Start Dates

Monday Nov 4 -- Chapter 1 through 6 -- STARTS MESSAGE 39
Thursday Nov 7 -- Chapter 7 through 11 -- MESSAGE 77
Monday Nov 11 -- Chapter 12 through 18 -- MESSAGE 99
Monday Nov 18 -- Chapter 19 through End & Summary -- Message 126

If you are ahead of schedule and want to discuss other aspects of the book earlier, just make sure to hide it with the spoiler tags.

I listened to an audio version (loved!), but I bought the book and will be reading along too.

Yes this schedule looks good to me. Thanks Londa.

This movie has been getting a lot of buzz in the blogosphere. I can't wait to finish the book and watch the movie.

Just some prelims before we get started :)

In the very beginning of the novel, Northup made a point to acknowledge the work of Harriet Beecher Stowe and the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin

In my edition of 12 years, it was noted that one of the reasons Northup and his ghost writer produced the book so quickly after his ordeal was over, was to capitalize on the popularity of Stowe's book.

Uncle Tom's Cabin has been credited with bringing the horrors of slavery to the public's attention and also with the fueling abolitionist causes. Although, it also gave life to several stereotypes, its literary importance is well documented.

12 years was a best seller but it never did reach the popularity of Beecher's tale. (30,000 copies vs 300,000 copies 1st year)

It would be interesting to compare these two. The memoir vs the contemporary fiction. I have to admit that I have never read Beecher's book.

Has anyone else here read it? What were your thoughts on it?

I have it on my tbr list. It was free on Amazon. Guess I'll have to bump it up on my list.

kisha wrote: "I have it on my tbr list. It was free on Amazon. Guess I'll have to bump it up on my list."

Londa wrote: "Just some prelims before we get started :)

In the very beginning of the novel, Northup made a point to acknowledge the work of Harriet Beecher Stowe and the novel Uncle Tom's Cabin

In my edition..."


I have not read Uncle Tom's Cabin either.

I've not read Uncle Tom's Cabin either; however, I really want to read it soon. It's one of many on my To Read List. With it's mention in & relevance to 12 Years A Slave, I think I'll be moving it up on my list to read in the near future! Can't wait to read this one AND see the movie...BTW...I'll be joining this Buddy Read! :)

Awesome Kanita came out of hiding! lol glad you'll be joining.

Awesome Kanita came out of hiding! lol glad you'll be joining.

Kanita wrote: "I've not read Uncle Tom's Cabin either; however, I really want to read it soon. It's one of many on my To Read List. With it's mention in & relevance to 12 Years A Slave, I think I'll be moving it ..."

Great! Glad you are joining us!

I have to admit I haven't made it to chapter six yet. I'm settled in at chapter three and it's a bit dry for me. I'm gonna push through it because I want to finish and he watch the movie. But, is there no dialog at all? lol. I will say so far I admire his intellegence!

kisha wrote: "I have to admit I haven't made it to chapter six yet. I'm settled in at chapter three and it's a bit dry for me. I'm gonna push through it because I want to finish and he watch the movie. But, i..."

kisha, please push through. The language can be a bit dry and I knew it would not be a fast read. I had the benefit of listening to it first, so reading it has been easier. There is not much dialog, but the story's pace does pick up as you get further into it. They (Northup and Ghost writer Wilson) included a lot of background information to solidify the validity of the story. Further along there is much less of that and more of the meat of the events.

**** SPOILERS FOR Chapter 1 through 6 beyond this point *




"Alas! I had not then learned the measure of "man's inhumanity to man," nor to what limitless extent of wickedness he will go for the love of gain."

Was anyone else alarmed by Solomon's naivety? He mentioned that he had seen and talked to slaves before. He knew of their lives, and difficulty in escaping. I kept thinking that there was NO WAY IN THE WORLD! that I would have traveled to a slave state, but of course, I am looking at it from the comfort of 2013. It was very 'clever' of Brown and Hamilton to insist he obtain free papers, but Northup just seems too smart to fall for the trap he fell into.

So we passed, hand-cuffed and in silence, through the streets of Washington -- Through the Capital of a nation, whose theory of government, we were told, rests on the foundation of man's inalienable right to life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness! Hail! Columbia, happy land, indeed!

What a stark poignant image this passage brings to mind. Very effective!

I'm not as far as you are. I finally made it to chapt 4. And I find his naivety fascinating. I say that because what you typically read in slave books, black Americans didnt have the luxury of naivety. They had to stay on their toes and grow up fast and look at life in a different aspect than others. He was so well educated so you expected more. But common knoweledge and education are two different avenues. That's not to insinuate that he was stupid or childish he just literally lived a different life (in the beginning) the what we assume to be the life of any black American free or not free. That to me is fascinating.

One thing this story is good for is great quotes. He was so intellegent and makes you think and ponder on some of his thoughts.

Having all my life breathed the free air of the North, and conscious that I possessed the same feelings and affections that find a place in the white man's breast; conscious, moreover, of an intelligence equal to that of some men, at least, with a fairer skin, I was too ignorant, perhaps too independent, to conceive how anyone could be content to live in the abject condition of a slave.

That said so much about who he was. He didn't relate much to black people. It seems his reasoning being (though he didn't word it this way) that he doesn't have "black issues." Or maybe because he is fair skin which in those days is close enough to white. I love that paragraph because it's so powerful and detrimental when trying to understand how black people separated themselves from other black people. It is proof that colorism in current times definitely started from slavery days. Londa, you win, I am definitely interested in pushing forward through this extremely dry read lol.

I agree that despite Solomon coming across as very able and skilled he does seem to be extremely naive about Slavery. He does mention that he has spoken to slaves so I would have expected him to have heard stories about the south. It is noticeable that he highlights the fear that one of his fellow captives (Robert) has about being taken south but Solomon seems to be totally ignorant!

He seems to have entered into a number of working contracts which suggest he must have been fairly well educated. But the most well educated person might well be unaware of the finer points of daily life. Keep in mind also that even though Black people were free in the ‘northern� states, they were still second class citizens (or less) without access to the opportunities or possibly information that others might have.

I think so far, and I could be prejudging, that his fault was arrogance. He trusted two strange white men in 1842 because they were simply kind to him and perhaps because they didn't treat him like a slave. I really think his fault is that he didn't consider himself equal to other blacks so he never though it would happen to him. He felt equal to whites and in the 1800s that would be considered quite arrogant or atleast unwise to say the least.

kisha wrote: "But common knoweledge and education are two different avenues. That's not to insinuate that he was stupid or childish he just literally lived a different life (in the beginning) the what we assume to be the life of any black American free or not free. That to me is fascinating. ..."

True. Just because you know 'about' something doesn't mean you have true knowledge of the subject. He had led a good life until then, and he probably assumed he always would.

kisha wrote: "
That said so much about who he was. He didn't relate much to black people..."

Great quote! True he did not seem to understand their thinking at first. At least not that of those who had always known slavery and had no hope of anything else.

Andrew wrote: "Keep in mind also that even though Black people were free in the ‘northern� states, they were still second class citizens (or less) without access to the opportunities or possibly information that others might have.

Also true. No matter how well informed anyone might have been at that time, information was hard to come by even for the priviledged. It was slow and unreliable at best. The fact that free black men were being kidnapped might not have been well known. The importance of this novel becomes even more evident in that light. People needed to read about this.

kisha wrote: "I think so far, and I could be prejudging, that his fault was arrogance. He trusted two strange white men in 1842 because they were simply kind to him and perhaps because they didn't treat him lik..."

I had that very same thought. He was a bit arrogant wasn't he?! Arrogance and naivety were a dangerous combination of traits for a free black man in 1842!

I couldn't help but to chime in...because i have read most of this when i was doing research for my book. Slavery was really kind of weird between 1790 and 1840. In the 1700's slaves were allowed to do certain things that shocked me like go visit family in neighboring counties and lived in spare bedrooms or the attic on small properties and free blacks use to mingle with slaves and go visit them. It was crazy! Even though people would kidnap a free man it didn't happen all that often, so i can see how he would have that thought process. Most communities were small so you knew who was free and who wasn't. However, the brotha shouldn't have trusted people he didn't know.

Londa wrote: "kisha wrote: "I think so far, and I could be prejudging, that his fault was arrogance. He trusted two strange white men in 1842 because they were simply kind to him and perhaps because they didn't..."

Definitely he was arrogant and it was not unusual for free Black people in slave societies of the New World to act that way.

For instance in Saint Domingue (read The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L'Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution) free Black people could own land (and even Slaves) and were made to believe they were above the Slave class. In the British Colonies of the Caribbean Black Men were incorporated into the British West Indian regiments to support British interests and automatically became free (read The Empty Sleeve: Story Of The West India Regiments Of The British Army). They looked down on their own people who were still slaves.

So in much the same way Solomon might well have felt the same in his elevated position as a free Black man. There is a statement that he makes in chapter V:

“There was not another slave we dared to trust. Brought up in fear and ignorance as they are…�

which might give you an idea of his feelings towards other slaves.

R.E. wrote: "I couldn't help but to chime in...because i have read most of this when i was doing research for my book. Slavery was really kind of weird between 1790 and 1840. In the 1700's slaves were allowed..."

R.E. Please chime in! I'm really enjoying the conversation so far, and your input will only make it better. Thanks for contributing that information. I guess we should all keep in mind that slavery had many faces. The more I read books like this one, the more I realize I didn't know.

Andrew wrote: "Definitely he was arrogant and it was not unusual for free Black people in slave societies of the New World to act that way.....So in much the same way Solomon might well have felt the same in his elevated position as a free Black man. There is a statement that he makes in chapter V: "There was not another slave we dared to trust. Brought up in fear and ignorance as they are…�..."

Great points Andrew. I will look into the books you listed. Reminds me of another story. Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley: African Princess, Florida Slave, Plantation Slaveowner I have visited the Kingsley plantation, and when I found out that Anna went on to 'own' slaves, I was shocked. I could not believe it. I haven't read the book yet, but I really want to understand her mindset as much as possible.

That quote from Chapter 5 is quite revealing.

Londa wrote: "R.E. wrote: "I couldn't help but to chime in...because i have read most of this when i was doing research for my book. Slavery was really kind of weird between 1790 and 1840. In the 1700's slaves..."

Thanks for the book reference Londa I will take a look. You mentioned that there were many faces to slavery in the same way there were many faces to owning slaves. If you gained your freedom and you still had family in bondage, one way to gain their freedom was to buy them. And this happened in the New World! So it was one way that Black people were recorded as the owners of slaves! Using the Slave system to actually make people free.