Reviews

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

lucyqwang's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

heathero621's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense 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? No

3.5

This book is about a young black girl named Pecola, who thinks that her life would be better if she had blue eyes and therefore she wishes for them.  This book has been on my radar for quite some time and I'm glad that I finally read it.  I've only read this and Beloved by Toni and I liked this book a lot more than Beloved.  It is a devastating read and there are some shocking parts in this book that I didn't expect.  It is a sad read.  

zemily83's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Pedophilia

laurenmcnamara's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest and Rape

catevanam's review against another edition

5.0

made me laugh, made me cry, made me feel human. a masterpiece.

thwhoai's review against another edition

3.75

reading this as the first toni morrison book is a bad idea 😭😭😭

kaiazania's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

catmisae's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad 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

5.0

If you’re wanting to read a frequently banned or challenged book but don’t want to be depressed out of your mind, I would recommend looking elsewhere. But if you’re okay with a sad read this will probably be worth your time. 

This is only the second book I’ve read by Toni Morrison, but her writing style really resonates with me. With any other author, I think the use of the Dick and Jane passage as a framing device would have come off as really ham fisted, but Morrison pulls it off. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse and Racism

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Pedophilia

magnolia4039's review against another edition

dark emotional informative reflective sad

• 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

c1aud55n's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75