Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Bluest Eye

Reviews tagging 'Racism'

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

799 reviews

disasterri's review against another edition

4.0

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

torismazarine's review against another edition

4.5

dark sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

ashleykhoffman's review against another edition

3.0

emotional sad fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I have mixed feelings about this. You can tell it's an early Toni Morrison work and I think her later works are a much better representation of the voice she developed. I do think this work was poignant and portrayed the message it wanted to, but I agree with the forward of the book that the style might not have been the best fit for the message. I see why this is a classic, but I also see why it sits on banned book lists, because this book did not shy away from hard or despicable topics; it even described pedophilia with an almost reverence through the character's eyes and I found those parts really hard to read.

Content Warnings

starregulus's review against another edition

4.25

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

Content Warnings

theromanticace's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional reflective tense slow-paced

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

author2223's review against another edition

4.75

emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

frwllhppyvlds's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

The worst things that you can imagine happen in this book. I found a lot of parts hard to read, but I understand the experiment of it all. I think it's important to read the Foreward - both before and after to remind yourself - to understand its purpose. While any notes I have about the writing wouldn't do it justice, even Morrison herself admits that she doesn't know if she accomplished her goal, and I think its treatment by the Oprah Winfrey Club is a good example of that. I highly suggest that if you read this book, you read it first with the purpose of engaging with Morrison in her intention and critically analyzing why you think that it worked or did not work. I know that's a lot to ask of all readers, but this book is so full of disturbing subject matter that I think a distanced approach is best.

Content Warnings