Abducted from africa as a child and enslaved in south carolina, aminata diallo thinks only of freedom. In it, hill exquisitely imagines the tale of an eighteenthcentury womans life, spanning six decades and three continents. Adenrele ojo abducted from africa as a child and enslaved in south carolina, aminata diallo thinks only of freedom. Adaptation of lawrence hills novel, published originally in canada as the book of negroes, will begin production in. The significance of the title is breathtaking in its simplicity and power.
Someone knows my name a novel download ebook pdf, epub. I used the book of negroes as the title for my novel, in canada, because it derives from a historical document of the same name kept by british naval officers at the tail end of the american revolutionary war. The book of negroes someone knows my name by ria jane on prezi. May 20, 2008 books blog awards and prizes why im not allowed my book title. So, i looked for the title it goes by in canada, the book of negroes.
What is the significance of the title someone knows my name 2. It documents the 3,000 blacks who had served the king in the war and were fleeing manhattan for canada in 1783. This really opened my eyes to the horrors of the slave trade and brought to life the misery the captives endured. My name is khan is an indian film that revolved around the life of rizwan khan, a muslim who suffered aspergers syndrome. Someone knows my name by lawrence hill book club discussion. When it was published in canada in 2007, the book of negroesnamed for a historical document that listed every slave who sailed to nova scotia under british protectionbecame an instant, prizewinning hit. It was a quick read for me simply because i didnt want to put it down. One i cannot forget is when the captured africans call out their names and narrate who they are and where. The slave owner marks the bodies of those he owns, but when the enslaved take possession of words, spoken and especially written, they move toward freedom.
I dont about a boy or high fidelity like him again, but i do like him again. We held each other longer each time he came to visit. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the book of negroes by lawrence hill. Reading guide for someone knows my name by lawrence hill. If anyone who reads the story has ever studied the history of slavery in america, you will certainly forget that aminata was not an actual person. I read that thousands of african americans fled slavery to serve the british, who promised to liberate them in return for service during the american revolution.
Content includes books from bestselling, midlist and debut authors. Someone knows my name by lawrence hill overdrive rakuten. But like most utopias, nova scotia fails to measure up, and aminata. The eponymous book refers to a historical document kept by the british military in which was recorded the names of 3,000 blacks who had served the king in the war.
Books blog awards and prizes why im not allowed my book title. In some books, i needed a cast of characters to keep up with who is who but i didnt need. At first, i was irritated, but gradually ive come to make my peace with the new title, someone knows my name. Lawrence hills someone knows my name, published by norton in 2007, is his fourth novel the story focuses on aminata diallo, who was born in west africa in 1745. In 2015 hill was appointed to the order of canada for his contributions as an author and activist who tells the stories of canadas black community. New york times bestselling author lisa scottoline feared, 2018, etc. She had a rich and lovely childhood until the day she was captured by slave traders and marched off to the coast in chains. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the book. The book of negroes someone knows my name essays are academic essays for citation. Abducted from her village in west africa at the age of eleven and marched in a coffle a string of slaves for three months before reaching the coast, aminata survives the voyage to america and ends up sold to an indigo plantation owner in south carolina.
Captured at age 11 from her west african village in 1756, aminata is ripped from her family and thrown in with others as they march for several weeks to the ocean, chained together, barely fed or given time for personal needs. Jerry maguire, a few good men, oscar and emmy winner louis gossett jr. The remarkable thing about lawrence hills fourth novel, someone knows my name, the life story of an african muslim girl sold into slavery, isnt her physical survival. Like to kill a mockingbird, someone knows my name lets readers experience a life, one footstep at a time, beside an unforgettable protagonist. Someone knows my name 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. Someone knows i only listened to about 45 minutes of this. Sold to an indigo trader who recognizes her intelligence, aminata is torn from her husband and child and thrown into the chaos of the revolutionary war. But i rather like the reference and if changing the name makes the book read by an american audience, so be it. Lawrence hill is the author of several fiction and nonfiction books, including the novel someone knows my name and the memoir black berry, sweet juice. The inescapable patriarchy in the book of negroes and milk and honey. The slave owner marks the bodies of those he owns, but when the enslaved take possession of words. A site dedicated to book lovers providing a forum to discover and share commentary about the books and authors they enjoy. The book of negroes is sold in the united states under the title, someone knows my name.
The book of negroes, or someone knows my name as it was titled. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Jan 20, 2008 in someone knows my name, as in the slave narratives that inspired it, language is power. Something stirred deep down in my belly and between my legs.
Lawrence hill s 2008 commonwealth writers prizewinner originally hit shelves as the book of negroes in his native canada. The book is so much more detailed and as captivating as the series. Like to kill a mockingbird, someone knows my name lets readers. The book of negroessomeone knows my name by lawrence hill. What is the significance of the title someone knows my name. Like me, you may think you know a lot about this subject, but i still found a couple of. I gave the protagonist, aminata diallo, my eldest daughters middle name. Location sullivans island was the point of entry for over 160 000 of. In manhattan, aminata helps pen the book of negroes, a list of blacks. Nobody tells you that youll do things when youre young that are so stupid, so unbelievably stupid, so horrifically stupid that years later you wont be able to believe it. Lawrence hills memorable historical novel, someone knows my name, is a gripping account of aminata diallos tragic journey as a slave.
Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers. In 2015 hill was appointed to the order of canada for his contributions as an author and activist. The greatest thing since sliced bread don robertson. Someone knows my name had me hooked from the first few pages. Literary fiction by people of color book discussions.
If someone knows my name, city, and an old address, can. Someone knows my name offers compelling historical fiction detailing the life and feelings of aminata diallo from her kidnapping from bayo, africa, to surviving the horrors of an american slave ship, to enduring and escaping slavery and moving to the disappointment of nova scotia and on to help the abolitionists in london. Someone knows my name is my attempt to give this fascinating but littleknown story a human face. Someone knows my name by lawrence hill summary study guide. My friend in toronto told me i must read this book. Probably not on their own, but if that someone hires a toplevel p. Lawrence hill is the author of several novels including someone knows my name, which won the commonwealth writers prize and the rogers writers trust fiction prize and was nominated in the united states for the huston wright legacy award. In 2015 hill was appointed to the order of canada for his contributions as an author and activist who tells the stories of canadas black community and of women and girls in africa. Lawrence hill on someone knows my name years before i began writing someone knows my name, i came across two startling discoveries in a scholarly work. A deeply emotional examination of family, marriage, and the true nature of justice, someone knows is lisa scottolines most powerful novel to date. Someone knows my name its 1802 and aminata diallo, now an old woman, sits down to write her life story at the request of the abolitionists in london. Every scene and chapter leaves you wanting to know what is going to happen next. Aminata, like the other black loyalists, is only able to flee new york and to.
Lawrence hill is the author of several fiction and nonfiction books, including the. Her skill as a midwife, coupled with her ability to read and write and keep books are assets that will help her navigate this. Hills book someone knows my name is the story of a young girl torn away from her home in africa, forced to endure the middle passage, and sold into slavery in south carolina. I loved this book when i first read it in 2011 and really enjoyed rereading listening to this one as a buddy read with a friend. Sure, thats wrenchingly rendered and gives the story its heart. Jan 21, 2008 the remarkable thing about lawrence hills fourth novel, someone knows my name, the life story of an african muslim girl sold into slavery, isnt her physical survival. Astonishing in scope, humanity and beauty, this is one of those very rare novels in which the deep joy of reading transcends its time and place. What is your opinion about hills suggestion that aminatas very youthfulness at the time of her abduction enables her emotional survival, even as some of the adults in her world show signs of crumbling. Books similar to bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my. I really felt as if meena was telling me her story.
Lingo teaches aminata to read and write like an englishman. Someone knows my name audiobook cd charlotte mecklenburg. Someone knows by lisa scottoline order now new york times bestselling author lisa scottoline feared, 2018, etc. Why im not allowed my book title books the guardian. Dec 21, 2012 lawrence hill is the author of several fiction and nonfiction books, including the novel someone knows my name and the memoir black berry, sweet juice. Listen to someone knows my name by lawrence hill at. It is the story of a heroic woman in the eighteenth century, and i felt that the best way to lift her off the page was to love her like i. The starstudded production includes lead actress aunjanue ellis ray, the help, oscar winner cuba gooding jr. Find books like bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the book of negroes, the novel by lawrence hill from the worlds largest community. Someone knows my name bestseller being adapted as miniseries for bet. In someone knows my name, as in the slave narratives that inspired it, language is power. The book of negroes based on the novel someone knows my name will be bets first miniseries.
Stunning, wrenching and inspiring, the fourth novel by canadian novelist hill any. Bookclubinabox discusses someone knows my name the. Jan 18, 2007 someone knows my name is a compelling and fascinating account of one womans remarkable experiences that spans six decades and three continents as a slave from childhood through to her death. Hi janetyesterday i found out that hill had originally titled the book the book of negroes. In someone knows my name, as in the slave narratives that inspired it. Someone knows my name by hill, lawrence dreaming daily of escaping her life of slavery in south carolina and returning to her african home, slave aminata diallo is torn from her family when she is sold and thrown into the chaos of the revolutionary war, during which she helps create a list of black people who have been honored for their service. A novel by lawrence hill available from rakuten kobo. In manhattan she becomes a scribe for the british, recording the names of blacks who. I dont think i like historical fiction but i may be changing my mind. Jun 10, 2014 someone knows my name is just one of three titles. The main character in your novel someone knows my name. Find all the books, read about the author, and more.
Aminata diallo was born free in africa in the eighteenth century. Someone knows my name is a compelling and fascinating account of one womans remarkable experiences that spans six decades and three continents as a slave from childhood through to her death. It instantly grabbed my attention and didnt let go until the last sentence. But its the girls emotional survival, her constant and ferocious fight for humanity that gives the book its considerable soul. Aminata diallo is abducted from her west african home at age 11, forced to walk in a coffle, a line of slaves who are sold off one by one.
Because of his problem in dealing with new places, people, loud colors and sharp sounds, he was given special care by his mother and private tutoring by a scholar which led to jealousy on part of his brother. She speaks so fast and in bursts of words and you can not understand what she even said. If you know someones favourite colour or what they like to do on a sunday, you wont fall for the character as much. The story seems to be as good as any that lisa scottoline has written. Sold to an indigo trader who recognizes her intelligence, aminata is torn from her husband and. Someone knows my name is a masterpiece, daring and impressive in its geographic, historical and human reach, convincing in its narrative art and detail, necessary for. I couldnt find it at first and then as i was about to order it from a canadian bookseller, i noticed that the cover was the same as a book here called someone knows my name. Someone knows my name by lawrence hill, paperback barnes. If you liked someone knows my name by lawrence hill, here are some books like this. Lingo soon begins using aminata to handle his financial work. After watching the first couple of episodes of somebody knows my name i decided to download this book. The fascinating story that hill tells is a work of the soul and the imagination. Published here as someone knows my name, ontario native lawrence hills novel was also well received, if far more quietly.
I read this book as an assignment for my book group. Handpicked recommendations to other books that have a similar writing style or theme to someone knows my name. He has worked as a journalist for the globe and mail and the winnipeg free press, and lives in hamilton, ontario. It is the story of a heroic woman in the eighteenth century, and i felt that the best way to lift her off the page was to love her like i love my own daughter. When a group of teenagersallie, sasha, david, and julianfind a gun near their philadelphia neighborhood one summer, they decide to use it to pull a harmless prank on a new kid, forcing him.
Subscribe i think its important to keep your personal life to yourself as much as you can. Someone knows my name hill, lawrence 9780393333091 hpb. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading someone knows my name. Although she is given much more freedom than she was before, aminata mentally disagrees, believing in her heart that the only true way to help her would be to set her free.
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