Someone Knows My Name

By: Lawrence Hill

Narrated by: Adenrele Ojo

Length: 18 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Aminata Diallo is the beguiling heroine of Lawrence Hill's Someone Knows My Name. In it, Hill exquisitely imagines the tale of an 18th-century woman's life, spanning six decades and three continents. The fascinating story that Hill tells is a work of the soul and the imagination. Aminata is a character who will stir listeners, from her kidnapping from Africa through her journeys back and forth across the ocean.

Enslaved on a South Carolina plantation, Aminata works in the indigo fields and as a mid­wife. When she is bought by an entrepreneur from Charleston, she is torn from friends and family. The chaos of the Revolutionary War allows her to escape.

In British-held Manhattan, she helps pen the Book of Negroes, a list of blacks rewarded for wartime service to the king with safe passage to Nova Scotia. During her travels in Canada, Sierra Leone, and England, Aminata strives for her freedom and that of her people - even when it comes at a price.

In this captivating novel, Hill portrays one woman's remarkable spirit and strength in the face of adversity, and he brings to life crucial and little-known chapters in world history.

©2007 Lawrence Hill (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"Hill's depiction of [Aminata's] journey to freedom is a powerful tale of pride and perseverance." (Sara Nelson, Oprah.com)

"A masterpiece, daring and impressive in its geographic, historical and human reach." (Globe and Mail)

"Lawrence Hill's hugely impressive historical work is completely engrossing and deserves a wide, international readership." (Delia Jarrett-Macauley, Washington Post)

Surprisingly enjoyable and informative

Full of historical details and information, this book was not only educational but enjoyable.

Good read and beautiful story.

Loved the bittersweet story. Read this book twice and recommended it to a few. Only wish there was a part two.

AMAZING!

What made the experience of listening to Someone Knows My Name the most enjoyable?

The

Who was your favorite character and why?

Aminata Diallo is an amazing character. The author wrote in such a way that you can truly feel her pain.

Any additional comments?

This is a must read. It is a long book, but every minute is essential to really appreciating the whole story. Six decades are chronicled in 18 hours or reading. Every American citizen should read this story.

A Classic

Any additional comments?

This book should be listed as a classic, along the lines of The Grapes of Wrath, etc. Really riveting and well done. Highly recommend it.

Will make you appreciate Life in 21st century USA

his slave narrative was a hard book to read and I kept putting it down because of its depressing nature, and because I felt the story was told in a dry, exacting, and punishing tone. But finish it I did, and I feel like I am a better person for what I gained in knowledge, understanding and the appreciation of my many blessings. Well researched historical fiction, it is the amazing story of a fictional 11-year-old African girl stolen from her family and sold into slavery. The incidents are taken from actual events. It tells of her horrendous journey from Africa to South Carolina, to New York where she eventually gains her freedom, to Nova Scotia where there was an actual community for freed black slaves, to London, then back to Africa, and again to London where she is instrumental in helping to secure freedom and rights for the Negro people there. The title for the book comes from the ledger that the British used to record "loyal" slaves who were set free and sent to a black settlement Nova Scotia where they were welcome until an economic collapse brought about the first white attack on a black settlement. I felt the "happy" ending was a bit unrealistic and too contrived. I recommend the book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and would specifically like to learn more about slavery and Black history.
It made me appreciate all the wonderful blessings I have in my life. Overall, this was a great book.

Surreal!

This book gives the pathway through the eyes of a woman. From then until now black women do not get credit or notoriety or are valued like other races of women. I love that the main character stands strong, never favors from her culture, continuous to grow, learn, collaborate and she learns the art of negotiating. I don't know any real traditions from my ancestors, we have created a culture that has glimmers of our history. This book sparked my curiosity and warmed my heart.

The audio book of “The Book of Negroes”

One of the best books I have read/ listened to in a long time. It is a very well written, historically factual, unbiased story told through eyes of a child/ woman’s of her life from childhood to old age as a Black African and slave. I was very impressed that the book showed the entire picture of all the ins and outs and history of the African slave trade in the 17 and 18 hundreds. It is a very throughly researched. heart wrenching story that I listened to almost non-stop.

Story of love, hope and endurance.

Breath taking story. This story is a story in many stories. A young girl fights to stay alive as she is shipped from Africa to the United States to be made a slave. All the slave’s lost all their rights as a human being. Animals were treated better. They were starved, beaten and most died. Many were left dead in the ship with the living. When the dead were thrown into the sea, many of the people that were weak and still alive were thrown into the ocean.
These are sick evil people that have no regard for human life. Along with all this.. the women and young girls were rapped.
For most of my life I could not understand how Hitler was capable of all his evil. I hate even thinking this. But our country was built upon this same hate.
Thankfully good did come out of all this. I believe people would have more compassion if this history was taught in school.
This book broke my heart.

Powerful Story Everyone Should Read

This was a beautiful, heart wrenching story that invited me to think about an ugly part of human history they needs to be thought about. The narration is excellent!

Loved it!!!

Would you listen to Someone Knows My Name again? Why?

Yes I would listen to it again. I am so sad that it's over. It kept me wanting more. And now I am done and I want more.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character of course.

Any additional comments?

I think this is an awesome book. I hope Lawarence has something else looming.