William2's Reviews > Middle Passage

Wm.2: This stands as a very brief review & I hope that you will eventually offer a greater commentary on Charles Johnson's Middle Passage, a book I've read twice & very much enjoyed, in spite of some seeming flaws in the way the author cast language in the novel. The book does not have a very strong following at G/R.

Some years ago, I hosted a longtime book discussion group with this & Herman Melville's novella, Billy Budd, two very different nautically-based books. Knowing that the author, then teaching at the Univ. of Washington, was from the area where I live, just near Northwestern Univ., I sent Johnson an invitation to join us, on the long shot that he might be planning a visit to Evanston to see relatives. He responded that he was otherwise engaged at that point in time but also emailed some wonderful images of slave ships that I used during my hosting of his novel, a very pleasant communication with one of his readers. Bill

I hear he’s very approachable. Thanks for sharing the nice story, Quo. Best.

Bill, what a great idea for a book club discussion (as well as a suggested book to read on this same theme). William2 thanks for your suggestions too. I often find it interesting to read books that touch on similar things to see how others view it. I would not have thought of connecting Beloved to this story, which I saw more of a young man’s adventure

Sorry hit post to soon! Don’t. Story in the context of slavery but this is a good reason to reread Morrison’s classic.

Bill, I’m interested in your comment about Johnson’s use of language. The specificity of his descriptions and the evocative way he used language both to tell the story but also to help us get to know Rutherford Calhoun were one of my favorite parts of reading this book.