I was too young to remember the classic 1977 TV mini-series based on this book but was familiar with the general story from it being mentioned online and on various TV shows over the years.
So I was delighted when I saw the book on the shelf in our local charity shop.
I found the story just amazing. It was great that the author had traced his own family "roots" all the way back to Africa and had used their lives as the framework for the novel. I also liked the way it jumped from character to character and generation to generation but I did kind of wish I could find out how the original characters lived out the rest of their lives.
I had very little knowledge of the hardships slaves endured from the moment they were stolen from Africa and using the narrative this book doesn't shy away from letting the reader know just how horrific it could be. Sadly, I believe there was plenty of worse things done to slaves that maybe the author just didn't want to mention.
It's a great historical novel and something I feel everyone should read, just to remind ourselves that humans can survive under terrible conditions...and unfortunately that suffering is nearly always at the hands of other so-called humans.
I give this book 5 "Chicken George's" out of 5
P.S. I've since learned online that Alex Haley was accused of plagiarism for a hefty chunk of the book and had to settle out-of-court with the author; and also there are doubts about his being able to trace his family history all the way back to a village in Africa. I don't care, I still loved the book and still recommend it!
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