"I could not believe that I had never heard of this book. It felt as important as Anne Frank's diary." - Steve McQueen

This is not my usual type of read, but I am seriously not disappointed that I picked it up. Chilling, heart breaking, beautifully written, this memoir of one man's kidnapping from freedom, descent into slavery, and his rescue, is one of those tales you read that stay with you forever . It blows my mind to think, as I read the pages, that he went through all of that. That countless slaves were treated as though they were lesser than humans, lesser than sentient beings. To be inflicted with such pain, torture and cruelty, every day, and yet he never lost hope. This book is thought provoking, the language absolutely beautiful and captivating, and is a very important read. This book has opened up a curiosity in me to read more historical books on African American slavery/history .
Definitely 5 out of 5 stars! Highly recommend this memoir!

A fascinating read that left me to wonder why this book hasn't received the same amount of attention in schools as Uncle Tom's Cabin. I know Stowe's novel was historically important, and it shouldn't be ignored, but Twelve Years a Slave paints the slave experience in strikingly vivid detail. I wonder if it may not have received as much attention during the time for, ironically, the color of its author. In any case, it's a powerful read and I look forward to seeing how Steve McQueen will adapt it.

Wow, that was an amazing book. Lots to say but this is better left as a book club discussion I think.

This was an incredibly difficult book to read. You learn about slavery in school, maybe you see it in the movies, but something about this book made it seem so real. I haven't seen the movie based on this book yet, but I imagine it's as difficult to watch as this was to read.

I was intrigued by the history of this book, how it was written in the 1850s and then nearly lost to antiquity before being rediscovered. The language used in the book reflects the century in which it was written, and at times it pushes an abolitionist agenda, but I feel I'm better off for having heard Solomon Northup's story. I listened to the audiobook read by Hugh Quarshie.

I was looking thru a list about memoirs and discovered this book on it. I forgot I had read it years ago--immediately after the movie came out, I think. It has stuck with me b/c it's an actual memoir. I've grown up on Civil War and southern fiction that tell all kinds of stories--but much of the character's thoughts and ideas are from the author's imagination. So, to hear the real actions, the real words and thoughts from this enslaved man is eye-opening.

A harrowing account of what must have happened to so many people. Such an important perspective. It's hard to fathom this reality.