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elisalasater's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Incest, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Alcoholism
okiecozyreader's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
It’s taken me a long time to pick up THE BLUEST EYE, namely because two of my Bookclubs chose it to discuss, and I am so glad I did. I heard a clip of Morrison saying how she wants everyone to read her books and that she wrote them because writing and having children were the two things she felt most called to do.
This is the sad story of Pecola Breedlove, who we learn early on is not beautiful by the world’s standards - but was destroyed by the rape of her father (which we learn on the page before Autumn begins). In that section, Morrison writes,
“There is really nothing more to say - except why. But since why is difficult to handle, one must take refuge in how.”
Through Morrison’s beautiful poetic language we get the story of how all of this came to be, even though it is a tragedy. But it is still the story of our world 50 years later - the story of what is beautiful and how a young Black girl wanted to have blue eyes to be part of the beauty.
“If happiness is anticipation with certainty, we were happy.” P16
“You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that it came from conviction, their conviction. It was as though some mysterious all-knowing master had given each one a cloak of ugliness to wear, and they had each accepted it without question.” P39
“In these violent breaks in routine that were themselves routine, she could display the style and imagination of what she believed to be her own true self.” P41
“Thrown, in this way, into the binding conviction that only a miracle could relieve her, she would never know her beauty. She would see only what there was to see: the eyes of other people.” P46-47
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Incest, Rape, and Violence
ameducharme's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Incest and Pedophilia
Moderate: Body shaming, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, and Violence
amarawristen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Incest, Rape, and Sexual assault
baili's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Incest, Racism, Rape, and Sexual assault
dsuzno's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape
aishallnot's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child death, Incest, Racial slurs, Racism, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
ellakjus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Incest, Pedophilia, and Rape
ealish's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Excrement, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Classism
betag1013's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Classism