Review of The Broken Harmonica
Posted: 09 Jul 2024, 11:06
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Broken Harmonica" by Samuel K. Leonard.]
"The Broken Harmonica" by Samuel K. Leonard is a book that moved me so much that I couldn't bottle my emotions. I really hope the story isn't true because nobody deserves to go through such injustices and difficulties. The book tells the emotional and deeply moving life story of Cornelius Wright, an African American born into slavery in 1833 on a Georgian plantation. It is written from the perspective of an elderly Cornelius as he reflects on his tumultuous life, which was marked by unimaginable hardships. He experiences the brutality of slavery, and witnessing his father's brutal punishments and his sister's sexual exploitation traumatizes him for life. Despite his close friendship with Will Pelham, the plantation owner's son, he could see the stark contrast between his life as a slave and the privileges of the free. Everything in Cornelius's early life took a turn for the worse when his father killed the plantation owner to protect Cornelius's sister, leading to the family's separation and sale at an auction. Cornelius would go to different plantations that were even deeper into the systemic oppression of slavery.
That continued until the outbreak of the Civil War, when Cornelius seized the opportunity to escape and join the Union Army. As a member of the United States Colored Troops, he endured the grueling training and brutal combat of key battles, including the crossing of the Rappahannock River and the Battle of Chancellorsville. Post-war life brought its own set of challenges as Cornelius returned to rebuild his life and family amidst the socio-economic struggles of Reconstruction America. Facing continued racial violence, especially during the rise of the KKK and the tragic lynching of his son Rocco, Cornelius's resolve to protect and provide for his family never wavered. Eventually, he moved to New York City, where they encountered urban poverty and racial prejudice. Cornelius's later years are marked by his marriage to Mona after the death of his wife Sissy and his reflections on a life marked by endurance, loss, and the unyielding fight for justice. His story, preserved by his descendant Dalton, underscores the importance of family legacy, resilience, and the enduring quest for dignity and equality in the face of systemic oppression. To avoid spoilers, I'll leave it to you to read for yourself.
As I said earlier, this was a very moving story to read. It becomes worse that I am a black man myself, and whatever happened to Cornelius and other people who lived in that dark era could have as well happened to me. I know about the era of slavery, but it becomes more real and harrowing when I read about it in books like this. Apart from the book being emotive, I think it is well-written and captivating overall. The only thing that I would complain about is that it is too long, and you won't read it in one sitting, no matter how fast your reading speed is. This is because it is a combination of several books with a story that spans a long timeline. Despite this, I will still give it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars because I liked it and because of many other additional reasons that I will discuss shortly.
The overall theme of ending racism and injustice is something I am passionate about, so I guess this is what formed the larger part of my positive bias. However, anyone will agree that the story is really captivating, and I guarantee you'll be spellbound by the book to the end despite its length. There are scenes I would have highlighted that stood out to me and that I reread several times. I'll mention only the one that moved me the most because I have already written so much. This is about the lynching of Cornelius’s son, Rocco, by the KKK. It was a really tragic and striking scene that left me wondering how barbaric humans can get. Cornelius’s desperate attempt to save Rocco, followed by the horrific discovery of his son’s burning body, was so brutal. I don't think it will be an easy scene to read. It shows the brutal racial violence and the deep-seated hatred that black families faced during those dark days.
My review is already too long, so I'll just say that I absolutely enjoyed this book and absolutely recommend it to everyone who loves historical fiction and is eager to know how evil hatred and racism were in those dark days. I found no errors or typos, and the book has been exceptionally well edited.
******
The Broken Harmonica
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"The Broken Harmonica" by Samuel K. Leonard is a book that moved me so much that I couldn't bottle my emotions. I really hope the story isn't true because nobody deserves to go through such injustices and difficulties. The book tells the emotional and deeply moving life story of Cornelius Wright, an African American born into slavery in 1833 on a Georgian plantation. It is written from the perspective of an elderly Cornelius as he reflects on his tumultuous life, which was marked by unimaginable hardships. He experiences the brutality of slavery, and witnessing his father's brutal punishments and his sister's sexual exploitation traumatizes him for life. Despite his close friendship with Will Pelham, the plantation owner's son, he could see the stark contrast between his life as a slave and the privileges of the free. Everything in Cornelius's early life took a turn for the worse when his father killed the plantation owner to protect Cornelius's sister, leading to the family's separation and sale at an auction. Cornelius would go to different plantations that were even deeper into the systemic oppression of slavery.
That continued until the outbreak of the Civil War, when Cornelius seized the opportunity to escape and join the Union Army. As a member of the United States Colored Troops, he endured the grueling training and brutal combat of key battles, including the crossing of the Rappahannock River and the Battle of Chancellorsville. Post-war life brought its own set of challenges as Cornelius returned to rebuild his life and family amidst the socio-economic struggles of Reconstruction America. Facing continued racial violence, especially during the rise of the KKK and the tragic lynching of his son Rocco, Cornelius's resolve to protect and provide for his family never wavered. Eventually, he moved to New York City, where they encountered urban poverty and racial prejudice. Cornelius's later years are marked by his marriage to Mona after the death of his wife Sissy and his reflections on a life marked by endurance, loss, and the unyielding fight for justice. His story, preserved by his descendant Dalton, underscores the importance of family legacy, resilience, and the enduring quest for dignity and equality in the face of systemic oppression. To avoid spoilers, I'll leave it to you to read for yourself.
As I said earlier, this was a very moving story to read. It becomes worse that I am a black man myself, and whatever happened to Cornelius and other people who lived in that dark era could have as well happened to me. I know about the era of slavery, but it becomes more real and harrowing when I read about it in books like this. Apart from the book being emotive, I think it is well-written and captivating overall. The only thing that I would complain about is that it is too long, and you won't read it in one sitting, no matter how fast your reading speed is. This is because it is a combination of several books with a story that spans a long timeline. Despite this, I will still give it a perfect score of 5 out of 5 stars because I liked it and because of many other additional reasons that I will discuss shortly.
The overall theme of ending racism and injustice is something I am passionate about, so I guess this is what formed the larger part of my positive bias. However, anyone will agree that the story is really captivating, and I guarantee you'll be spellbound by the book to the end despite its length. There are scenes I would have highlighted that stood out to me and that I reread several times. I'll mention only the one that moved me the most because I have already written so much. This is about the lynching of Cornelius’s son, Rocco, by the KKK. It was a really tragic and striking scene that left me wondering how barbaric humans can get. Cornelius’s desperate attempt to save Rocco, followed by the horrific discovery of his son’s burning body, was so brutal. I don't think it will be an easy scene to read. It shows the brutal racial violence and the deep-seated hatred that black families faced during those dark days.
My review is already too long, so I'll just say that I absolutely enjoyed this book and absolutely recommend it to everyone who loves historical fiction and is eager to know how evil hatred and racism were in those dark days. I found no errors or typos, and the book has been exceptionally well edited.
******
The Broken Harmonica
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon