The Good Lord Bird

An unusual and detailed perspective on the historic John Brown raid on the US armory at Harper's Ferry. Told from the point of view of a "high yellow" 12 year old boy, as he reflects in old age. While too detailed at times, this re-telling of events related to the pre Civil War pro and anti-slavery mood is a gem.

I usually avoid books written in first person, but I must admit the voice of Onion led us into the story of John Brown and the abolitionist movement like an irrestible stand- up comedian might. Like the ramblings of the Oldest Confederate Widow did, we are drawn into an important era of history with all its pathos and humor -- humor that shines a light on the fallacies and errors of man.

This novel is a marvelous fictionalized account of the events leading up to the rebellion again slavery at Harper's Ferry VA in the 1850s. Marvelous evocative of time and place, with a winning protagonist and narrator, a young boy who poses as a girl under the rebellion's leader, Old John Brown. Highly recommended.

A fantastic story. As a reader, not only can you "enjoy" an interesting but tragic life of young Onion but the history of our nation during the time pre civil war. The names, John Brown, Douglass, were familiar but the actual place they played in our history came to life.

McBride has created a wonderfully unique, humorous and educational depiction of pre-Civil War Days and, notably, the
campaign of John Brown to eliminate slavery from this country. The writing is excellent and the plot is challenging.

The Good Lord Bird is an entertaining journey through America and race relations in the 1850s leading up to the Civil War through the eyes of Henry, aka, the Onion, aka Henrietta, a young black man masquerading as a woman accompanying the fascinating abolitionist lunatic John Brown on his journey from the territories to the East Coast and Harper’s Ferry Armory, and finally to Brown’s hanging. That’s quite a sentence; and The Good Bird is quite a book.

The book raises interesting issues of what it means to pass; and why it is so difficult to raise support for popular and morally unquestionable causes, particularly among those who have the most to gain from a change in their status as slaves.

The Good Lord Bird also makes one think about moral ambiguity, how those of us with little struggle to survive and glory in our minor successes over others similarly oppressed instead of uniting to overthrow our oppressors.

In the book, John Brown’s chance of victory depends upon those he is trying to assist picking up the sword and participating in battle. Brown was “delaying , see, waiting for the Negro. Many a fool has done that, waiting for the Negro to do something, including the Negro himself. And that’s gone on a hundred years.”

Was John Brown a pivotal character in freeing the slaves in this country; or was he just a domestic terrorist, killing those acting in accordance with an immoral law, which with he disagreed? Even more interesting, was Brown morally justified in killing slave owners in his attempts to start a slave uprising to give freedom to those men and women who were being legally oppressed by their owners? The Good Lord Bird raises these questions, and more, and through observational bias readers will probably come to conclusions that mirror the beliefs they had when they opened the book. I hope, and I would guess McBride does too, that some readers will think and have a little deeper insight into society, right, wrong and the role of individuals in history.

On a personal note, I am not a fan of first person dialogue and for that reason I much prefer Tom Sawyer to Huck Finn. The Good Lord Bird, however, may someday be read along with Huck Finn as an entertaining explanation of a time we have moved on from, but whose issues remain near the surface.

Loved the history along with the humor. I both read and listened to the book--loved the reader whose voice was so appropriate for the story teller. Found the history so interesting that I went back and reread parts and sought additional sources regarding the historical facts. Truly enjoyed the book!

From its premise (John Brown's persona, posse, religiosity, and his anti-slavery campaigns) to its remarkable detail, harsh and frontier-esque dialects (Kansas to Harpers Ferry), and interwoven ironic humor, this book is a masterpiece. The narrator is a stolen = "freed"? slave child - a boy hastily mistaken for a girl and then stuck with secretly living out that false identity in compelled cahoots with the crazed John Brown and crew -- and now telling this tale at over 100 years of age. Certainly the art of irony is employed full-bore in Mr. McBride's latest book.

Author McBride's bristly and incisive craft places Good Lord Bird on a shelf alongside work by Mark Twain, Maya Angelou, Alexis de Tocqueville, Alex Haley, and others who have crafted brilliant and important stories (poems/accounts) that capture how slavery, racism, and the harshness of frontier living shape society and relationships in the US through the passageways of time. I continue to be haunted by the association with the (now extinct?) Ivory-Billed Woodpecker whose feather Onion now possesses. That magical sub-theme threads the book -- why does it continue to hold my attention? There's more to learn here.

In its summary of 2013's best books, the New York Times wrote about Good Lord Bird: "It’s a risky portrait of the radical abolitionist John Brown in which irreverence becomes a new form of ­homage." I was particularly taken by "irreverence becomes a new form of homage." At several moments as I read this book, the "voices" of characters and the dialects overcame the story, jumping out as though I could focus only on the sinews as a runner raced by (instead of the runner). But, I concluded, that's exactly how I might feel if I were the Connecticut Yankee thrust into King Arthur's Court -- in unfamiliar time and place, yet absolutely immersed whether I sought this or not. And thanks to Mr. McBride's storytelling, I am glad I sought this!

I heard a radio interview (NPR?) with Mr. McBride after the National Book Award in November, and recommend that my fellow readers try to catch a bit of the author's own self on YouTube or a podcast. This is an intimate and powerful work and even where (or simply because....) it's a bit zany, it carries deep truths.

Congratulations on receiving the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction. The competition was fierce -- I've never read so much contemporary fiction in 12 months -- and the judges made a wise and telling choice.

For such a serious subject matter, McBride is able to present such bleakness in a funny adventure novel. The narrator Onion, although fictional illustrates the complacency, self hatred of slavery. He is such a complex character as opposed to John Brown who is a one note fanatical character. I speak --of course -- in a literary context, as John Brown was a true national hero who risks everything to end the injustices of slavery

Loved this book. Very interesting history. Characters written so well it was drawn into the story and couldn't put it down until the very end. I want to research John Brown and see if the book's ending agrees with the knowledge we posses of John Brown.

Very entertaining imagining of Sam Brown's raiders and the abolitionist cause leading up to Harper's Ferry. Will likely annoy some, especially those howling about racism and treason after the Charleston, S.C., murders.

The story is great and the writing is terrific, but the narrator's voice is too cute by half. I found it annoying by page 5. If I weren't so interested in John Brown's story, I would've quit reading for that reason alone. I did finish and was glad I did, but I still couldn't stand that voice.

Wonderful. Has sent me on a history reading binge. Although it is often billed as a "dark comedy", it made me profoundly sad. Some would no doubt disagree, but we could still use a John Brown in the country. Thank you, James McBride for you beautiful and touching work.

After reading McBride's novel Song Yet Sung, I became a huge fan. So I was thrilled to learn that he had written a book about John Brown which was being released this year. I rushed to read Good Lord Bird and while I didn't love it in the same way that I did Song Yet Sung, it is a book with merit and which grew on me as I read it.

Good Lord Bird is a coming of age story which begins in the turbulent Kansas Territory with young Henry Shackleford who is "freed" by John Brown. Unfortunately for Henry, Brown mistakes him for a girl and calls him Henrietta or more commonly, Onion. McBride adopts the homespun language of the time and place, which at times though tongue in cheek, sometimes seems a bit forced. Here Henry thinks of confessing to being a boy:

"I was ready to give up the charade then, for while I weren't particular about eating the flea-bitten onion that lived in his pocket, ain't no way in God's kingdom was I gonna pu on that dress and bonnet. Not in no way shape, for or fashion was I gonna do it. But my arse was on the line, and while it's a small arse, it do cover my backside and thus I am fond of it. Plus, he was and outlaw, and I was his prisoner. I was in a quandary, and my tears busted forth again, which worked out perfect for it moved them all to my favor, and I seen right off that crying and squalling was part of the game of being a girl."

Brown, though part of history and drawing the lines of contention between the North and the South, was a bit of a folk hero and tales and songs revolved around him both living and dead. McBride works the story deftly creating a folktale and folk hero in Brown. McBride forced me to consider Brown in a new light and I found I need to do some further reading and research about Brown. He was passionate about the evils of slavery and saw himself as a captain in God's army in his fight against the institution.

I found myself loving the characters which McBride had created in Good Lord Bird, Onion, John Brown and his sons, Fred and Owen.

I encourage anyone who loves this period in history to read this book.

Although an interesting part of history that I was glad to learn a little bit more about, I thought the book was slow in many places and written in such a way as to make it difficult to read and understand.

The book was narrated by Onion/Henry/Henrietta a teen-aged slave and the author wrote in the appropriate language for the chosen narrator but it took me half the book before I could read without going back over sentences and entire paragraphs to understand what was being said.

Like many people I read for pleasure and much of the time I felt like I was having to work in order to read and understand this book. Coupled with the fact that it was really slow through at least half the book (there were endless descriptions of battles and life on the prairie), I just didn't find this an enjoyable read.

Wonderful music for the soul and mind. At last history from an authentic viewpoint! John Brown 's mad tale told from the viewpoint of a black slave boy disguised, accidentally, as a girl. Great story, accurate history.

Narration was skillfully done to become a little more sophisticated and insightful as the main character grew to greater understanding of John Brown within the cultural context of that time. A great book for the story itself, the history, and the significance of John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry.

I recently discovered James McBride and feel much richer for the reading of his books. "The Good Lord Bird" is a beautiful book with some wonderfully endearing and very human characters. First Class Writing!! I'll be working my through every book he has written!

Good read if you aren't squeamish. Well written story of a young slave "freed" by John Brown in Kansas who saw in Brown's company more than a young boy should! You will want to keep reading and wonder to the end how it will come out.

I cannot say enough about how amazing this book is! After reading the first few lines (not pages) I was captivated. It is absolutely hilarious. I have already recommended it to several people. I picked the book because I'd caught the end of a radio interview with the book's author on his then recent fiction award. I was curious to know how the story of John Brown's exploits would unfold in a comedy. I am glad I went with my gut and picked this one up! Loved it and I'm sure anyone who reads it will love it, too!

If you are intrigued by America's slave history and where it fits in the national psyche, then this book gives some considerable insight into the thinking of the period just prior to the civil war. John Brown, owner of John Browns body and first American home grown terrorist is the central character. Mad or bad? The story of the taking of the national armoury at Harpers Ferry in 1859 is told by a black American boy masquerading as a girl. She/he tells the story in the language and imagery of the period. A fascinating read

A thought-provoking and often very funny perspective on slavery and slave-white relations before the Civil War. It's a rough story told in rough language which took me awhile to accept and welcome. Could have been edited shorter without losing much.

Entertaining account of one person during an important historic period. I recommend: The Unknown World, and Cloudsplitter over this one.
While less amusing they both give a in depth gripping experience of what it was like to be black during these years.

Excellent, humorous book. Although this book was a little longer than I prefer, it was so interesting and humorous that I just had to give it four stars. It kept my interest and is a book that I will remember for a while!

Just a wonderful book, about identity, oppression, integrity and martyrdom, all wrapped up in historical fiction. The language is hilarious and moving, making The Good Lord Bird and its author true originals. I am grateful for this work.

An fictional what-if about the period just before the American Civil War as seen through the eyes of a free black boy (boy, as in child) named Onion as he accompanies John Brown around the country before the raid on the armory at Harper's Ferry, VA. Think black Huck Finn as the book is an honest, humorous and thoughtful coming-of-age story during a volatile era in American history. While many situations in which Onion finds himself are outright funny, others are unsparing in their depiction of the pointless bloodletting that marked this time. Most interesting to me are the insights into how blacks -- free, slave and in bondage -- saw the whole era leading up to emancipation as a way of life not always welcomed, something white "liberators" like Brown could not imagine, being, well, white.

Like Twain's adolescent boy discovering his world, McBride's Onion is smart and ignorant, naive and wise, open and disguised. You will enjoy spending time with him, The Captain, The General, The Train Man, The Coachman, and a host of other fully realized characters in the border wars, abolitionist cells and Northern elite black households and on the roads leading to the raid.

Illuminating in its imaginative weaving of fact and fiction. Rightly earned its National Book Award designation and destined to be a classic. Having also read "Kill 'em and leave" I am awed by McBride's range of voice and brilliance.

I love historical fiction, so thought this book might be good. I enjoyed it, it was slow going a bit at first, but by the end I couldn't put it down. As with all good historical fiction, it has now given me an interesting topic (in abolitionist John Brown) to pursue for some non-fiction reading. This book was often funny, and helped to humanize John Brown through the eyes of a child.

I especially love the language of the book. Also the look Sibonia gave me of the awfulness of slavery. This was a book group choice that engendered terrific discussion. John Brown was truly a crazy guy -- bent on changing people whether they wanted change or not.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It is a book worth keeping. I was familiar with the places that the characters traveled in the story. It gives a clear insight of John Brown's personality. It is a very funny book with phrases in there that were creative and priceless when McBride did his comparisons of things. I loved this book!

A truly original approach to telling the life and describing the faith of John Brown whose body may be moldering in the grave but whose abolitionist fervor fired freedom shots well before slave owners fired on Ft. Sumter.

Superb writing!! This was a wonderful way of learning about John Brown's history from Kansas to Harper's Ferry. Delighted with the humor and insight of the storyteller, a black child "freed" by Brown. Oh do read it!

wonderfully written historical fiction. school books should be written this way, my public school education would have been worth the time! highly recommend. rich story and characters. makes me want to not only read more by the author but more on john brown.

Very good read. Makes you think about the period before the Civil War. It was very well written and
very descriptive. True to period. Loved the language which was expressed as if it were the 1850's.

The author had an insightful command of the language used by the characters, and his descriptions were entertaining and humorous. The story of John Brown and his slave revolt is controversial and depressing. McBride helps the reader keep perspective by injecting humor into different situations. His historical accounts are balanced; the book reveals the complexity of the issues.

Really, really good! Very different from what I usually read and by the end I found myself using vernacular from the book! Learned a little something and could truly imagine the conditions back then! Recommend!

Very imaginative. Generally true to history. Delightful language. Gave an insight into the 1850s world of pro and anti slavery people. Actually had a strong underlying spiritual message. I enjoyed it.

Good, good read. Author sometimes lost the third person's personality in an attempt to explain history but this is a minor issue. Fascinating glimpse into a legendary event, humorous, violent, insightful. I would have loved to have more background info on the writing of the book and I'm dying to hear the author's experience as to why and how the book was written. Recommend this book highly to all who love a good read and who cherish American History.

This book provided tales of white-knuckle adventure, heart-wrenching cruelty, and hair-raising surprise. It's an entertaining look at a complicated period of our history, told from the perspective of a unique and likeable narrator.
I had issues only with some elements if plausibility, especially toward the end, but this seems to have been part of McBride's intention - to tell this as a tall tale of sorts in the tradition of some of the very best Tall Tales out there. Definitely worth a read.

This strange tale follows Onion, a snippy, young, black teenage slave who gets "liberated" against his better judgement by none other than John Brown. You watch through Onion's eyes as he gets swept along through the vicious free-state/slave-state wars in Kansas to the inevitable confrontation at Harpers Ferry. Throw in a bit of coming of age, some months working in a Kansas brothel, and a first-though-impossible love, and you have yourself a fine literary stew. McBride has a wonderful touch with Onion's language, sustaining a level of teenage optimism and egocentricity in spite of truly grim circumstances. The portrait of Brown, the heroism and madness, the character studies of abolitionists and Underground Railroad organizers and slaves, are painted in fine detail. It is a compelling tale that won't fade quickly from memory.

Interesting format -- I didn't know too many details about John Brown & his crew. So I enjoyed the historical background, but did find it about 100 pages too long. Otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.

Well written and accurately portrays the issues of that day. Dialogue, I believe, is portrayed accurately. The book also follows the real John Brown's life fairly accurately, even thought Brown was much more eloquent than he appears in the book, and was well acquainted with other Abolitionist of the day, including Henry D. Thoreau and Fredrick Douglas. Douglas tried to dissuade Brown from attacking Harper's Ferry, and even worked behind the scenes to convince many of Brown's followers too not take part in the raid.

I am only about half way through the book, and I am looking forward to the section that addresses the raid.
Very highly recommended. My only negative is the portrayal of Brown as an uneducated bumpkin, when in reality, he was known country wide as one of the top wool growing figures in the country, and was well spoken. He was just too much of a zealot to take any other course than bloodshed.