Review of The Broken Harmonica

[Bethel Saint Bright]

Any story that narrates the ordeals of slaves on a plantation is always heart-wrenching. I guess I have to prepare my heart before I read.

[Landon Ferreira]

From forced slavery to the pain of war to the re-inauguration of enslavement in the form of sharecropping, Cornelius’s story is an excellent example of someone’s struggle for liberty.

[Amarachi Osuagwu]

Reading this review felt as though I am reading the book itself. Historical fiction, especially on slavery, is one of the genre I love to take my time to read. Indeed, the era of slavery centuries ago is the gravest brutality on humanity that would never be forgotten or wiped from history.

Congratulation on being the BOTD!

[Lal Roni]

I learned so much about American history that I never knew before. Samuel K. Leonard really brought the era to life, especially the details about the Civil War and the experiences of African American soldiers. It was eye-opening.

[Steve R 1 Nimmo]

What a profoundly moving review! The Broken Harmonica sounds like a heart-wrenching yet significant narrative that sheds light on the resilience of the human spirit amidst the unspeakable injustices of slavery. Samuel K. Leonard has truly captured a story that calls for both reflection and empathy.

[mrlefty0706]

“The Broken Harmonica” by Samuel K Leonard is a story about a 98-year-old black man that is a survivor of slavery and the Civil War. The sample was so good I cannot wait to read the rest of the book. The detail provided by the reporter that interviewed Cornelius, a.k.a. Jim, was incredible and readers should be appalled by the whippings and beatings slaves incurred by plantation owners prior to the Civil War. Plantation masters raped slave women and terribly abused the male slaves while their wives could care less. It is hard to accept that Americans could have been so cruel but it is true and the descriptions did not give justice to the poor men and women that suffered the abuse. Sadly, the Civil War may have freed the slaves but the abuse they endured by the Klan and white supremacists never ended and still exists today. Unfortunately, white supremacists continue to be elected to higher office because of the poorly educated rednecks in the southern states and greedy politicians in the northern states. I highly recommend this book.

[Harty Muli]

One thing I like about reading books is the ability to travel back into time. I am intrigued about Cornelius Wright's tribulations as a slave in a Georgian plantation. Thanks for the review.

[Soma Ezenwanne]

I admire Cornelius's resilience and courage despite facing unimaginable hardships, as well as his unwavering love for his family.

[Mercy Bolo]

An old man, Cornelius, narrates his heartbreaking life story. He was born into slavery and he endured back-breaking manual labor while witnessing domestic abuse and discrimination. He later participated in the civil war and relocated to New York, where he was a victim of urban poverty. The story is captivating and showcases the depths of human cruelty.

[Amarachi Stephanie Ejike]

This is really emotional for me, and I can't bear reading about the inhumanity described in this review of "The Broken Harmonica" by Samuel K. Leonard. I'm sincerely pained and crying as it is. I can't imagine what reading the book itself would do to me. It'll break me down completely.
However, for all lovers of not just historical fiction and justice, consider reading this emotive book. The themes of racial violence, dehumanisation, sexual exploitation and inhumanity couldn't have been highlighted better in the manner Samuel's book "The Broken Harmonica" revealed. The racial vices and inhumanity alone break the heart, not just a harmonica.

[Ohanele Chinonyerem]

I can't imagine what Cornelius had to go through and the trauma he must have experienced as a result of slavery's abuse.

[Quentin Russel]

While some may find the story heavy and difficult to digest, it stands as a poignant reminder of the dark chapters of history and the need for continued reflection on issues of justice and equality. A deeply moving and educational read.

[Chinedu Umeobika]

A broken harmonica, indeed, I would say. This is a book that appears and sounds as interesting as it can be, and based on samples and reviews, it’s even better than it initially seems. Samuel K. Leonard has written a wonderful book, which is appreciable, although it is filled with strong themes that not everyone might be able to bear, especially the themes of racism and slavery from the 1800s. Huge congrats on BOTD !

[Britenney Twain]

The review of the 'Brocken Harmonica' by Samuel K. Leonard is a thrilling one that depicts the excruciating encounters that the slaves go through in the hands of mostly their overseers and cruel masters. It is a pain wrenching encounter and nobody would wish for anyone to go through such ordeals, that the black men went through in the hands of their masters. Thank you for such a wonderful review.

[Margi zuu202]

compelling saga of Cornelius told by his own earliest coming of age ,,. i recommend