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4.35 AVERAGE
4.35 AVERAGE
"All of us, readers and writers, are bereft when criticism remains too polite or too fearful to notice a disrupting darkness before its eyes."
I have been reading a lot of Morrison's essays lately and she makes me regret choosing philosophy over literature
I have been reading a lot of Morrison's essays lately and she makes me regret choosing philosophy over literature
"All of us, readers and writers, are bereft when criticism remains too polite or too fearful to notice a disrupting darkness before its eyes."
I have been reading a lot of Morrison's essays lately and she makes me regret choosing philosophy over literature
I have been reading a lot of Morrison's essays lately and she makes me regret choosing philosophy over literature
'Africanism is the vehicle by which the American self knows itself as not enslaved, but free; not repulsive, but desirable; not helpless, but licensed and powerful; not history-less but historical; not damned, but innocent; not a blind accident of evolution, but a progressive fulfilment of destiny.' (52)
It feels silly to review anything written by Toni Morrison, because she is Toni Morrison and therefore adroit and insightful at all times. But this really is a masterful piece of literary criticism and I think it should be read by anyone who makes a study (academic or personal) of literature from any period. Make sure to be armed with a pencil and page markers.
It's been a while since I read James Baldwin's [b:The Devil Finds Work|743831|The Devil Finds Work|James Baldwin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320539168l/743831._SY75_.jpg|1256898], but I think it converses quite nicely with Playing in the Dark.
It feels silly to review anything written by Toni Morrison, because she is Toni Morrison and therefore adroit and insightful at all times. But this really is a masterful piece of literary criticism and I think it should be read by anyone who makes a study (academic or personal) of literature from any period. Make sure to be armed with a pencil and page markers.
It's been a while since I read James Baldwin's [b:The Devil Finds Work|743831|The Devil Finds Work|James Baldwin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320539168l/743831._SY75_.jpg|1256898], but I think it converses quite nicely with Playing in the Dark.
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Incisive and succinct, but still incredibly generous, these three lecture/essays contain brilliant close readings of white American writers (Hemingway, Poe) and sharp criticism about creating a racialized “other” through fiction. So good, should be required reading in American literature classes
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
If I had any critique it would just be that this book is short and there's so much more to say on this subject. However, as that is not really a critique, I have none.
A lot of what's in this book has been taken up in more depth since 1992 and so in that ways its familiarity is a sign of its prescience. I think this is an important book for those who think they can segregate out Black studies from everything else. As if you don't need to understand African Americans to be able to comment on America. Morrison quickly dispatches with that.
It would be interesting to see how Morrison might have taken up more progressive attempts of white authors to depict Black life. Does she think it's possible? Are these three particularly telling examples, or are they representative of the norm? Is there a point at which this American Africaness becomes less prevalent? Again, not critiques, just some of the places one can go from here.
Overall, I doubt have much to say. It's a fairly straightforward argument borne out by 3 case studies and an important contribution to literary studies and beyond.
A lot of what's in this book has been taken up in more depth since 1992 and so in that ways its familiarity is a sign of its prescience. I think this is an important book for those who think they can segregate out Black studies from everything else. As if you don't need to understand African Americans to be able to comment on America. Morrison quickly dispatches with that.
It would be interesting to see how Morrison might have taken up more progressive attempts of white authors to depict Black life. Does she think it's possible? Are these three particularly telling examples, or are they representative of the norm? Is there a point at which this American Africaness becomes less prevalent? Again, not critiques, just some of the places one can go from here.
Overall, I doubt have much to say. It's a fairly straightforward argument borne out by 3 case studies and an important contribution to literary studies and beyond.
challenging
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Important and insightful: Toni Morrison investigates color blindness and racial othering in American literature.
Definitely will need to do a second read of this at some point, because of how many layers there are. I really loved this.