Reviews

Recitatif by Toni Morrison

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zellburke's review against another edition

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challenging reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

alicja_p's review against another edition

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challenging inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

susannah_knox's review

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inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The conceit is a puzzle - we know that of Twyla and Roberta, one is Black and one is white, but we don't know which one is which. But rather than swallowing the whole story dropping clues and making the reader obsess over this question, she creates a vivid picture of two parallel lives that feel real and universal.

1moodreader's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

My first Toni Morrison- not sure why I have been waiting so long. However, I am glad that

Recitatif was my introduction.

🏆What I liked:

An excellently well-written and executed writing experiment- on the reader!
I am still thinking about this book months later.

🚩What I didn't like:

heyitsmeshanie's review against another edition

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challenging reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Tony Morrison removed all racial codes from this story leaving the reader with the task of determining which girl was Black and which girl was white. This story really made me stop and think about what I define as Black and White culture because at the end of the story I honestly could not determine the race of either of the main characters. Each time I thought I was certain, Tony Morrison, added another descriptive detail that made me second-guess my decision.