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rach_fornow's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Morrison wrote 11 books and 1 short story and the short story didn't disappoint!
I do think it's an interesting premise that this story is about race but she took away all obvious markers of who is white and who is Black. I'd love to hear some thoughts from others about this, I certainly had my own assumptions at play when I read about who is who.
Toni Morrison is such a great talent, I am always grateful for her prose.
I do think it's an interesting premise that this story is about race but she took away all obvious markers of who is white and who is Black. I'd love to hear some thoughts from others about this, I certainly had my own assumptions at play when I read about who is who.
Toni Morrison is such a great talent, I am always grateful for her prose.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Violence
emmaopaline's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Violence
cassielaj's review against another edition
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Toni Morrison’s talent and intentionality are once again awe-inspiring, and Zadie Smith’s insightful introduction (which I would recommend reading AFTER reading the story through once) brought so much context and thought to this already excellent story.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Xenophobia, and Classism
robinks's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
When I first heard about the concept of this short story, I was so intrigued. Now having read it, it really made me think about race and class and growing up. I wish the introduction was an afterword, as it contained many spoilers of the content.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Ableism, and Bullying
Moderate: Classism, Abandonment, and Violence
Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, Chronic illness, Death of parent, and Homophobia
ldpaige's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I thoroughly enjoyed both Smith’s essay and Morrison’s only short story. Both made me think about what I would consider Blackness and Whiteness in the case of the two main characters and made me see race in a totally different light than before I read this book.
btw, i think twyla is white and roberta is black.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Racism
Moderate: Violence
orangeoverload's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This is a tale of race, memory and friendship. But the twist? Which woman is black and which woman is white.
At points, I thought that I had it figured out; only for their races to switch after a certain piece of dialogue. And what are these decisions to switch based on. Facts? Stereotypes? My own biases and what I think to be back and white? It was fascinating.
Zadie Smiths introduction was a great read too, though I would read it after reading the main story, and it spoils it massively.
At points, I thought that I had it figured out; only for their races to switch after a certain piece of dialogue. And what are these decisions to switch based on. Facts? Stereotypes? My own biases and what I think to be back and white? It was fascinating.
Zadie Smiths introduction was a great read too, though I would read it after reading the main story, and it spoils it massively.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Classism, Bullying, and Ableism
ulknehs's review against another edition
informative
reflective
fast-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? No
5.0
This is a short story by Toni Morrison (her only short story) and it is incredible. It is accompanied here by an essay by Zadie Smith, which is also very good. I'd recommend this delightful little edition to a fan of either (although definitely read the short story first!).
Recitatif is Morrison's "experiment in the removal of all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial." A tantalising premise rendered extraordinary in that she succeeds.
Recitatif is Morrison's "experiment in the removal of all racial codes from a narrative about two characters of different races for whom racial identity is crucial." A tantalising premise rendered extraordinary in that she succeeds.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Violence
melnally's review against another edition
challenging
informative
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? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Gaslighting, and Violence
eve81's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- 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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Violence, Racism, and Bullying
Moderate: Mental illness
annoyedhumanoid's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
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
4.25
⚠️ i recommend reading the story before Zadie Smith’s introduction.
the story itself was thought provoking, really no flaws, it just wasn’t the most engrossing thing i’ve ever read, but i want to talk about the introduction. at first i was reluctant to read it because i thought it would contain spoilers (it kinda did) and because it’s as long as the short story itself. but after finishing the story i needed some context and explanation, and the introduction came through (without offering some “definitive answer”). it was interesting and insightful and made me appreciate even more the ever-purposeful Toni Morrison (this is her only short story?!), and the excerpt from her speech listing the steps for a racist society really resonated with me. most of all, i enjoyed the new perspective it gave me on the story: the “somebody” in everybody, the value of racially-defined experiences, and the commonality we all share as humans. here’s my take, for what it’s worth: the point is that Twyla’s and Roberta’s respective races are not meant to be concluded (that much is obvious), but overtly interchangeable—not just that readers may interpret it either way, but they should interpret it both ways, in every scenario, and see how the meaning changes. very good
the story itself was thought provoking, really no flaws, it just wasn’t the most engrossing thing i’ve ever read, but i want to talk about the introduction. at first i was reluctant to read it because i thought it would contain spoilers (it kinda did) and because it’s as long as the short story itself. but after finishing the story i needed some context and explanation, and the introduction came through (without offering some “definitive answer”). it was interesting and insightful and made me appreciate even more the ever-purposeful Toni Morrison (this is her only short story?!), and the excerpt from her speech listing the steps for a racist society really resonated with me. most of all, i enjoyed the new perspective it gave me on the story: the “somebody” in everybody, the value of racially-defined experiences, and the commonality we all share as humans. here’s my take, for what it’s worth: the point is that Twyla’s and Roberta’s respective races are not meant to be concluded (that much is obvious), but overtly interchangeable—not just that readers may interpret it either way, but they should interpret it both ways, in every scenario, and see how the meaning changes. very good
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Abandonment, Ableism, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Bullying, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Hate crime
Minor: Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Chronic illness, Cursing, and Death of parent
f-slur out of nowhere