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toffishay's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I would say of Toni Morrison's bibliography that I have read, this is maybe my least favorite. The writing style was a little more straightforward and less metaphorical. You also get multiple character point of views on the same events, but it didn't seem as if the additional POV illuminated more of the story. Some of the characters are interesting, but then it feels like they kind of go nowhere to me like Junior and L. There are interesting themes of who has power and what is left behind when people leave us. How we might be able to pick up the pieces of our lives and how that is impacted by our circumstances and others choices that may have been made long ago.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Toxic friendship, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, and Pedophilia
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Grief, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Murder, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Violence, Sexism, Mental illness, and Racism
Minor: Vomit, Police brutality, and Fire/Fire injury
ehmannky's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Nothing makes me miss being an English major more than reading Morrison's work. It is so beautiful to read and there's just so much in these relatively short novels and I just want to talk to other people about it with people with hours. It's such a poignant look at the ways that hurt people hurt people, especially those who should be their natural allies and greatest loves. It hurt to read about the ways in which one greedy, selfish, misogynistic man (who did do some good things, and was also just trying to succeed as a Black man in a white world, but also worked to ensure that he was at the top while not helping lift up those in his community) destroys the love between two girls. There was a bit towards the end that I don't want to give away that just took my breath away, it was so beautiful and sad and lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Miscarriage, Infidelity, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Death, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Racism, Infertility, and Mental illness
Minor: Vomit
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