I found this book difficult to rate. It's undoubtedly well written, and the fact of its existence is amazing in itself. Solomon Northup's story is brutal, and one that ought to be read for the stark and detailed portrait of slavery it presents. There were times where the narrative lagged - but this is a real life account and a primary source.
In summary - not always easy nor entertaining, but certainly worthwhile and essential.

A sad but necessary read to understand Americas history.

This autobiography of a Black man from before the abolition of slavery in the USA is as harrowing as it is essential reading. It has been waiting on my e-reader for a long time because I'm not the best with classics and it 
sounded like a hard read. Well, it is. Of course it is. Solomon Northup spares us none of the hardships and cruelty he suffered at the hands of white people. It’s also a story of résilience and defiant hope, in a way. I wasn’t expecting it to feel so much like the author was standing in front of me and telling his story. I don’t know how much the text was edited for clarity / grammar / spelling, but it was an easier read, language-wise, than I'd expected.
And now I'm off to read something about Black joy for balance. Black History Month is a year-long endeavour, and it should be as much about the past and the fight for Black dignity as it should be about Black power & light.