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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
The themes expressed in Morrison’s story are very real, factual, incomprehensible consequences of one of America’s darkest times. I went into this book almost blind and was completely wrapped up in how the deep deep traumas of slavery were expressed and imagined in a way I hadn’t been exposed before. Although each characters story was presented with vast differences in what they experienced, the traumas were elicited under the same conditions of extreme racial violence. Morrison focused on the impact of trauma blocking, the human psyches response when faced with the worst, the haunting of trauma and the transformation that occurs when continually faced with the hardest of hardships.
The story that played out throughout the book left me slightly confused with what was actually going on at 124, but I think it only added to the unbelievable reality of slavery and it’s irreversible stain on the African American people. The haunting of beloved was for me, symbolic of the inability to turn away from the fact that this time in history is very real and cannot be forgotten or taken as less than horrific. Denver represented the impact of her mother and fathers trauma and how for the generations to come after the height of enslaved America, life is forever impacted and can not be forgotten.
The story that played out throughout the book left me slightly confused with what was actually going on at 124, but I think it only added to the unbelievable reality of slavery and it’s irreversible stain on the African American people. The haunting of beloved was for me, symbolic of the inability to turn away from the fact that this time in history is very real and cannot be forgotten or taken as less than horrific. Denver represented the impact of her mother and fathers trauma and how for the generations to come after the height of enslaved America, life is forever impacted and can not be forgotten.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The imagery in this book is so vivid. Elaborate descriptions of the horrors visited upon the characters. A haunting ghost story about the damaged slavery inflicted on Black people, and in particular women. The mysteries of the novel are slowly unravelled through the POVs of different characters. A challenging but very worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Slavery, Murder
challenging
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
How can you not rate this tale of sorrow with full marks. It was heavy to read, Toni Morrison's flowing almost mystical prose take you along for a ride you don't really want to be on.