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tmosley5's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0
charlottekook's review against another edition
4.0
i liked reading this, though found it quite different from her earlier work which i've read more of. it was quite refreshing to read contemporary references, and though it felt less powerful to me than her older works i think this is because it was more subtle.
near the start of the novel, i found myself thinking that it was unusual to read something written by morrison with a first person narrator integral to the story (rather than a distanced, first or third person narrator), though as soon as i thought this the narrative perspective changed. i like the switches between character, and the bookending of the novel by sweetness - who's actions loom over bride/lu ann for the whole novel - and it felt very authentically "morrison", taking the chair out from under you as soon as you had got comfortable with the narrative. the subject matter was often distressing, but this was always positioned as a memory - so a lot can be unpacked here about trauma, death, abuse and its impact on victims and bystanders. i feel like the novel is more complex than it lets on, which i would again put down to the subtlety and brilliance of morrison's writing.
it felt both similar and completely different from her other works formally (though thematically similar). with the novels of hers i've read (no means an exhaustive list), there always seems to be an element of detachment from events and a displacement of characters - the latter is more obvious here, but the second seems to be tackled formally for bride, with the use of her mother, "friend" and sofia's voice, as well as the third person view of bride, interjecting into her story and making us see her from a distance - frustratingly so as, like i said, it's unusual for a morrison novel to give us a character's first person thoughts. i also think that this fractured/split nature of the narrators, as well as the mirroring(?) with booker's story makes the aims of the novel/morrison more difficult to grasp. there is no resolution to the trauma and the outcome of the accusations so the message (and there always is a message with morrison) has to be picked over later.
the novel intrigued me more than it gave me enjoyment, but i love morrison because - and honestly do not want to be too cringe/corny - she makes you think.
near the start of the novel, i found myself thinking that it was unusual to read something written by morrison with a first person narrator integral to the story (rather than a distanced, first or third person narrator), though as soon as i thought this the narrative perspective changed. i like the switches between character, and the bookending of the novel by sweetness - who's actions loom over bride/lu ann for the whole novel - and it felt very authentically "morrison", taking the chair out from under you as soon as you had got comfortable with the narrative. the subject matter was often distressing, but this was always positioned as a memory - so a lot can be unpacked here about trauma, death, abuse and its impact on victims and bystanders. i feel like the novel is more complex than it lets on, which i would again put down to the subtlety and brilliance of morrison's writing.
it felt both similar and completely different from her other works formally (though thematically similar). with the novels of hers i've read (no means an exhaustive list), there always seems to be an element of detachment from events and a displacement of characters - the latter is more obvious here, but the second seems to be tackled formally for bride, with the use of her mother, "friend" and sofia's voice, as well as the third person view of bride, interjecting into her story and making us see her from a distance - frustratingly so as, like i said, it's unusual for a morrison novel to give us a character's first person thoughts. i also think that this fractured/split nature of the narrators, as well as the mirroring(?) with booker's story makes the aims of the novel/morrison more difficult to grasp. there is no resolution to the trauma and the outcome of the accusations so the message (and there always is a message with morrison) has to be picked over later.
the novel intrigued me more than it gave me enjoyment, but i love morrison because - and honestly do not want to be too cringe/corny - she makes you think.
hillaryreadseverything's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-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
4.5
readmoreyall's review against another edition
4.0
Listened to this audiobook read by Morrison herself all in one day. The book is a excellent and hunting look at the scars parents and adults leave on children and the way that ripples into their futures.
michaelion's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
3.75
So it's come down to this huh. My last Toni Morrison fiction. This is heartbreaking. I liked the book; it's heartbreaking I have no more novels! But it does mean I can reread them for the first time now!
It's not her best work, but it's not her worst either. A breeze to read as usual. It hooked me more towards the end, or more than halfway through the book, which isn't good while reading but the parts before that were pleasant enough I didn't look at the book negatively. I'm sure it wasn't her intention but it is a little sad she didn't go out with a bang. This book is fine. I love Black love, and that was her primary love through all her books in all its different forms. All her books are about love! 🫶🏾
It's not her best work, but it's not her worst either. A breeze to read as usual. It hooked me more towards the end, or more than halfway through the book, which isn't good while reading but the parts before that were pleasant enough I didn't look at the book negatively. I'm sure it wasn't her intention but it is a little sad she didn't go out with a bang. This book is fine. I love Black love, and that was her primary love through all her books in all its different forms. All her books are about love! 🫶🏾
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Car accident, Death, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, Rape, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Racism, Classism, Abandonment, Stalking, and Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Bullying, and Confinement
hienneih's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
alinejg's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-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
4.0
readingwithcoffee's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Please take the trigger warnings seriously
I agree with others that it’s not on par with her best work even if the prose is still there. But also the book reminded how I really think Morrison’s work should be considered magical realism.
I agree with others that it’s not on par with her best work even if the prose is still there. But also the book reminded how I really think Morrison’s work should be considered magical realism.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Toxic friendship, Kidnapping, Grief, Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Death, Body shaming, Abandonment, Death of parent, Child death, Bullying, Body horror, and Car accident
burnutica's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-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? Yes
4.75
kemlynnhotmailcom's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it! Couldn't put it down. First Toni Morrison book I've read. I want to read more.