Absolutely incredible, I'd give it 10 stars if I could. Several things about it made it so stellar:

1. The descriptions of places that are so other to my own experience. The crossing that Kunta Kinte endures made me squirm. It was visceral.

2. The way that the book is written. It covers the period of around a century so moves at pace. One of the days it does that is to talk about what happens, rather than getting inside characters heads.

3. The ending where Alex Haley brings everything together and relates it to his own experience. The version I read also reprinted an article where Haley explained how it was written.

Utterly engrossing. It's completely changed the way I think about American history and society.

I remember being unable to put down this book from the moment I checked it out from the college library. I tore through its nearly 700 pages in a week. I sneaked it into lectures, read it under the desk, took it to the canteen and left my tea cold, completely ignored the world outside. I don’t think I’ve ever been as affected by a book than this one at the time. The power of the book is not just in the extraordinary stories of the characters, also in the breathtaking writing. 12 years of Haley's genealogical research truly reflects in his storytelling. Be prepared to see the heartwrenching images Kunta Kinte and the generations after him as you read this book.

This one was a gut wrenching yet fascinating journey! One of those books that will haunt you for a long time after you finish reading it!

I read this when I was 14. What an amazing book. This should be in every school curriculum.

One of the most touching and haunting books I've read.

Kunta Kinte will remain forever in your memory after you are finished with this book. Undoubtedly one of the most memorable tales of indomitable spirit. Brilliantly written.

RTC