Uncle Tom's Cabin

September 29, 2014
Berneis gives a bravura performance in the latest audio edition of this classic tale. First published in 1851, Stowe’s novel focuses on the stories of two black slaves. The first is young Eliza, who makes a desperate run for freedom when she discovers that her son is about to be sold and taken away from her. The second is Uncle Tom, who is about to be sold by the masters he loves and trusts. Rather than run, he accepts his fate, holding on to his Christian faith to carry him through these tribulations. Both characters long for the peace that would come with the release of their bonds, and both, after much heartbreak, troubles and tears, find that peace, but in very different ways. Berneis is a consummate storyteller. She gives the book’s many characters distinct, individual voices that nimbly flow from one line to another. Her reading is simple and easy to listen to, even when the words and situations are disturbing. This is a powerful antislavery book that still resonates, over 100 years since its initial publication, and Berneis is an excellent choice to bring Stowe’s provocative novel to life.

ikyra_marie - Ok, so I have just watched the rest of Uncle Tom's Cabin and it was heartbreakingly sad for me.Simon Legree is very different from Tom's previous slave owners.He is mean, cruel, and a drunk that doesn't care what happens to his slaves."Once they wear off in 6-7 years, I will dump them and get new ones."He keeps the young girl slave Emmeline inside with him to do you know what.The rest of the slaves are left to work outside in the field and work grueling long days.They get to sleep in a barn with hay.Tom is very helpful and nice to the other slaves.When one woman is ill, he carries her cotton, but later gets into trouble for it.(He gets whipped).I loved how he was assertive and stood up for the other slaves especially the lady who was obviously sick.Cassy and Emmeline later hide in the attic where they know they are safe because it is said that Simon Legree killed a slave up there years before.They narrowly escape while Simon is drunk and knock things over and make strange noises to make Legree seem like he was going insane.In the morning, the overseer reports to Legree that they are gone and they get the horses and dogs to go hunt them down like bounty hunters.Their plan (Cassy and Emmeline) is to run in a circle around the plantation and into the woods to confuse the owners and the dogs.They hide back in the attic and later escape.Simon Legree knows that Tom knows where Cassy and Emmeline went, but will never tell.EVER.Then Simon tells Tom that he will one day break every bone in his body, which, basically means that he is going to kill Tom.The next part is when Tom is hung shirtless and tied by the hads on a wooden post and basically whipped to death.This part was really grueling for me to read and watch because in the movie you can hear and see the whip and his skin after the whipping.Then Tom is seen in the barn all bloody, when his old slave owner's son who is now a young man comes to see him.Legree is too drunk to care when or if Christopher goes.Christopher is appalled at Tom's state and keeps repeating,"Oh, Tom.What have they done to you!"Tom says his last words extremely weakly and dies with Christopher pleading him not to die.The ending is when Christopher takes Tom's body in the wagon he came in and then punches Legree multiple times until he falls face first in the mud, wailing and crying.The last part of the movie was SOO sad for me.I was enjoying it until that part rolled around.But, despite all that bad stuff, it was a great book and movie.But some disturbing moments (for me) I recommned for ages 10-11 and up.Enjoy!