Reviews

Love by Toni Morrison

amberderuyt's review

3.0

Beautifully written with a truly authentic voice, albeit hard to get back into after putting it down.

banned_book's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• 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

For those saying that this book is too confusing on account of multiple perspective changes, it is intentional because the characters' pain is shared. Just be on the lookout for a new voice to take over whenever Heed, Christine, Junior, or L are in a scene together. You will be fine. The poetic writing will make the temporary confusion worth it. Instead of criticizing the author, who is a proven master of her craft, hold yourself to a higher standard of thinking. You will be thankful for it upon completion of this fantastic book.

elfs29's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

I don’t expect that Toni Morrison has ever written anything that isn’t entirely perfect. This reminded me a lot of Sula; the way Morrison writes female characters is religiously perfect, the way she explores their relationships and the way men infiltrate them is genuinely heartbreaking. Within the political back drop of America through the civil rights movement, this novel draws attention to the shrapnel left behind by the death of a well renowned man in every woman he knew, even women he didn’t. Impeccably crafted, Morrison feeds you this story in pieces that, when they slot together, reveal a complex and emotional portrayal of sex, relationships and of course, love. 

Even in idagay they had never been able to share a certain twin shame. Each one thought the rot was hers alone. Now, sitting on the floor braving the body’s treason, with everything and nothing to lose, they let the phrase take them back once again to a time when innocence did not exist because no one had dreamed up hell. 

444ndromeda's review

challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

3.25

zermeaniekhan's review

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I think if I had just read this in one sitting I would have been less confused but I do want to reread the book in the future so hopefully my opinion changes

eriynali's review

2.0

difficult to get into, and honestly was more interesting towards the end. i started right back at the beginning again, and it was MUCH more fun to read the second time, but my attention eventually started to wane.

buffywantbooks's review

4.0

all I can say pre book club is that I get why Toni Morrison won a Nobel prize

shafnut's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

5.0

now this is a perfect book about female friendships and surviving the patriarchy 

kamrynharned's review

challenging dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.5

I don’t know what possessed me to read another Toni Morrison book, especially in the middle of a book slump, but being on theme was important to me and it actually paid off.  While I’ll never be Toni Morrison’s biggest fan, there’s something irresistible about her stories.  While there’s always content in her books that makes me deeply uncomfortable, she doesn’t just uncover the nastiness but the unexpected beauty in people as well. Romen choosing to save the girl in distress, Heed and Christine coming together in the end. I liked the mystery element and how the story was slowly revealed. First person to third person was actually a very interesting narrative choice and it worked well. 

tsymonevisuals's review

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0