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michaelion's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sula and Nel, the people of Ruby, Oklahoma, and Violet, Joe, and Dorcas all culminate in this excellently written book, as usual for Miss Morrison, but, just like Jazz, it wasn't for me. And for similar reasons. However, I do like this one more. Probably because it focuses a bit more on the women than it does the man who scorned himself.
The only reason why I'm comparing the books is because I asked myself why am I giving Love a higher rating than I gave Jazz despite the fact that I liked more elements in Jazz than I did in Love? It's because what I liked in Jazz wasn't central to the main story,the back story involving Wild and Golden Gray, mostly, as well as Joe and Violet's history, meanwhile in Love it's all there. Meant to be absorbed at once. The gaps and pieces meant to be glued together or filled in complete everyone's story. The friends / sisters turned enemies are one and the same, not self made victims (like Joe). Something about power dynamics I guess, I think. Anyway.
The only reason why I'm comparing the books is because I asked myself why am I giving Love a higher rating than I gave Jazz despite the fact that I liked more elements in Jazz than I did in Love? It's because what I liked in Jazz wasn't central to the main story,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Classism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Alcohol, Bullying, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Confinement, Death, Grief, Sexual content, and Infidelity
Minor: Religious bigotry, Miscarriage, War, and Slavery
czidya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
First of all, this is the first Morrison novel I’ve read and I recognize that that was probably an unusual choice.
Heart wrenching and beautifully written, Love depicts an extreme example of a family dominated by a patriarch, whose choices have consequences for the women in his life that reverberate for decades after his death. Every character sparkled and leapt off the page. The nonlinear narration challenged me at times but overall made the unfolding of the story so gripping and unique.
I will say that as an enjoyer of slow-paced books, this book started off slow even for my taste. Perhaps as a consequence of the nonlinear, vignette style, there is almost no direct action until the closing sequence of the book, which made it difficult for me to get drawn into the story, despite the gorgeous prose.
Heart wrenching and beautifully written, Love depicts an extreme example of a family dominated by a patriarch, whose choices have consequences for the women in his life that reverberate for decades after his death. Every character sparkled and leapt off the page. The nonlinear narration challenged me at times but overall made the unfolding of the story so gripping and unique.
I will say that as an enjoyer of slow-paced books, this book started off slow even for my taste. Perhaps as a consequence of the nonlinear, vignette style, there is almost no direct action until the closing sequence of the book, which made it difficult for me to get drawn into the story, despite the gorgeous prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pedophilia, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Racism, Alcohol, Child abuse, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Miscarriage, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abortion
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