Middle Passage

So far Middle Passage by Charles Johnson is an enjoyable book that I have no problem picking up and reading through. The symbolism of being in the "middle" is constantly reoccurring throughout the novel. Although the plot and symbolism in this book are great, I feel the characters in this novel are flawed. The main characters such as Rutherford, Falcon and Cringle are well developed but I feel the other characters weren't as well throughout. All the minor characters have very similar backgrounds and don't have any real voice in the novel. Aside from that minor setback the novel is very interesting and has a fluid flow to it. The first half of the novel was good but I hope that the second half will be at a quicker pace. The literary techniques in the novel are easily apparent and easy to catch onto. The imagery is very vivid and does a great job of depicting scenes with words that really paint an image in the readers mind. It is also interesting how themes, characters and traits in the novel relate to each other. The connection between the individuality of the sea and the graping bonds of land.