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froon's review against another edition
4.5
the story itself was also engaging. i LOVED! violet’s character so much, especially her relationship with alice manfred. i could’ve read a whole book about just the two of them⏤which makes me think i need to reread sula soon.
the standout moments were the point of view shifts—violet, joe, and felice were amazing. however, the reason i’m giving this four stars instead of five is because there were moments that dragged a bit for me (sorry golden gray…). i didn’t find myself engaged through all the chapters, especially when we deviated from the main characters of the story.
one last shoutout goes to the exploration of parenthood. it was the strongest theme for me (even stronger than love) and was so resonate and complex without being heavy handed.
overall, i went in knowing i would love this. and, surprise, i loved it. thank you, toni morrison, for reminding me why i was an english major.
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Death of parent
Minor: Miscarriage
kaanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Slavery, Murder, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, Infidelity, Suicide, and Grief
Moderate: Classism, Blood, Abandonment, and Adult/minor relationship
intoblossom's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Racial slurs, Death, Mental illness, Racism, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Infidelity
Moderate: Murder and Misogyny
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Suicide
michaelion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, and Murder
Moderate: Stalking, Slavery, Violence, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, and Racism
Minor: Miscarriage, Abandonment, and War
yinflower's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Abandonment, Body horror, Death of parent, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
kathischm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Grief, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Suicide, and Blood
mysimas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It’s a beauty, though, and I’m glad to have come back. I’m not quite sure what to make of her yet — it unsettles me that she almost makes me forgive characters the unforgiveable. But maybe that’s the point, maybe people do bad things because they’re pushed to them by their circumstances and it takes a lot of work and willpower on their part not to give in — and sometimes they slip, and other times they don’t, and you can feel for them or disapprove of their shortcomings but once you try on their shoes, even if just for a moment, you can’t really go back.
I was so sure it would happen. That the past was an abused record with no choice but to repeat itself at the crack and no power on earth could lift the arm that held the needle. I was so sure, and they danced and walked all over me. Busy, they were, busy being original, complicated, changeable—human, I guess you’d say, while I was the predictable one, confused in my solitude into arrogance, thinking my space, my view was the only one that was or that mattered.
I still don’t know who, or what, the narrator is. I think Morrison tells us right at the end, but I’m still not sure.
The only thing I do know for certain is that there’s a lot of good going on among the grim. It’s no coincidence the story, chronologically, starts in the autumn and ends in the spring. It’s terrible in many parts but also, strangely, cleansing, like cleaning a wound of pus. And screwed up as the relationships in this book are, there are also heartfelt scenes that would’ve shone in a good romance book.
Recommended.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Racism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Violence, Murder, Animal death, and Death of parent
Minor: Gun violence, Miscarriage, Slavery, and Suicide
I’m not sure how old Dorcas was when she started her relationship with Joe — I think she was 18. Technically, their relationship wasn’t one of a minor and an adult then; but it sure read like one. It was her first relationship and Joe was 50 for crying out loud.