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clara_mai's review against another edition
5.0
What a brilliant, complex and powerful novel. While telling the coming-of-age story of the protagonist Milkman, how he grows up in Michigan and eventually moves from North to South in a hunt for gold and a discovery of his ancestry, Morrison also fans out the narrative and introduces about a dozen side characters. They and their stories, and relationships add layer after layer and the further you get into this story, the more connections are revealed to you, if you just read carefully enough. I definitly had to focus and work quite a bit to keep up the level of attention this book demands and it was quite a challenging read. The second half of the book was significantly easier for me and towards the end I coninued to be even more captivated than before. This is the first book by Toni Morrison that I read in the English original (I read an older German translation of Beloved last year and had a feeling that it did not do justice to the original, the newer ones might be better though) and it was such a pleasure to experience the beauty and power of her prose first hand. I won't even try to sum up all the themes and symbolism Morrison incorporated into this story and would instead suggest to everyone to pick up the book and embark on the absolutely wild and enriching journey that is Song of Solomon.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Hate crime, Murder, Racial slurs, Violence, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, and Suicide
noonjinx's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A beautifully written book.
The novel follows Macon “Milkman” Dead as he struggles to trace his families’ history and find his place within it. He starts out selfish and alienated, but learns to love and value the people around him as he goes.
The book explores racism and it’s legacy within black communities as well as across society. The characters are all wonderful (especially the older women). The story is full of powerful allusions and symbols. It’s at turns funny, exciting, brutal and sad, but ultimately a story of freedom and hope.
Definitely one I will read again one day
The novel follows Macon “Milkman” Dead as he struggles to trace his families’ history and find his place within it. He starts out selfish and alienated, but learns to love and value the people around him as he goes.
The book explores racism and it’s legacy within black communities as well as across society. The characters are all wonderful (especially the older women). The story is full of powerful allusions and symbols. It’s at turns funny, exciting, brutal and sad, but ultimately a story of freedom and hope.
Definitely one I will read again one day
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Murder
avasbookmark's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
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
5.0
Toni Morrison’s writing is so evocative (I love all the allusions to African American folklore- I learned a lot)! The incestuous elements of the book and the homophobic undertones struck me as unnecessary and out of place, though. I wish the female characters had more of a voice in the novel, but the glimpses we get into Pilate’s past, Lena’s rage, and Ruth’s heartbreak resonated with me. This is a modern classic!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abortion and Incest
Moderate: Death, Grief, Murder, Racial slurs, and Rape
lanid's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Racial slurs, Death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Infidelity, Incest, Murder, Racism, Misogyny, Slavery, Abortion, and Gun violence
shoshin's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
4.0
Toni Morrison writes about deeply wounded people. This is her first book that I've read that I've liked. I'm not sure why. I think she doesn't always give herself time to fully develop her characters in the shorter books, and I've only read her shorter books.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence and Murder
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Child death
Minor: Abandonment
gw7's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time.
Masterfully weaved. There were times when I wasn't sure if it was going to be, after being let down by so many supposed 'masterpieces' that were just ignorant. I don't think I've ever read such a book about inter-generational trauma and, honestly, it was convicting. Because I didn't know where it was going or what type of book it was (this was my first Morrison) she did nearly lose me a few times towards the middle of the book and then going into part 2, and I even read through some reviews to decide whether or not to even carry on, but if that's where you are but are, like myself, interested in the themes of the book, I would encourage you to keep reading.
I don't often/ever really say that a I was too dumb for a book, as I generally feel like that's rarely the case for anyone aside from literally just above our understanding non-fiction for instance, but yeah, I was too dumb for this book. Specifically the ending but also just throughout: I'm too young, too dumb, did not give enough time or thought or attention to it. But all I mean by that is that I'm sure this book will continue to unfold in my mind throughout my lifetime and I feel I could genuinely glean something new from it every re-read.
Masterfully weaved. There were times when I wasn't sure if it was going to be, after being let down by so many supposed 'masterpieces' that were just ignorant. I don't think I've ever read such a book about inter-generational trauma and, honestly, it was convicting. Because I didn't know where it was going or what type of book it was (this was my first Morrison) she did nearly lose me a few times towards the middle of the book and then going into part 2, and I even read through some reviews to decide whether or not to even carry on, but if that's where you are but are, like myself, interested in the themes of the book, I would encourage you to keep reading.
I don't often/ever really say that a I was too dumb for a book, as I generally feel like that's rarely the case for anyone aside from literally just above our understanding non-fiction for instance, but yeah, I was too dumb for this book. Specifically the ending but also just throughout: I'm too young, too dumb, did not give enough time or thought or attention to it. But all I mean by that is that I'm sure this book will continue to unfold in my mind throughout my lifetime and I feel I could genuinely glean something new from it every re-read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Animal death, Murder, and Pedophilia
Minor: Domestic abuse and Homophobia
_dakota_h_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
there are so many layers it is mind boggling...and the way it all comes together omg
the ending...
the ending...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Murder, and Toxic relationship
rexpostfacto's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-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
4.5
This was a slow read at times, but the last bit of it was a rush.
The plot dragged sometimes but Morrison's gift of prose made it easy to push forward.
The plot dragged sometimes but Morrison's gift of prose made it easy to push forward.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Racial slurs, and Sexual content
Moderate: Mental illness, Murder, Racism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Blood and Suicidal thoughts
michaelion's review against another edition
mysterious
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
4.5
I can confidently say: I was touched. I don't know if I was moved, but in another life I'm sure there's a version of me, either in another universe or that lives hidden in the back of my own mind now, who would have weeped. Maybe I was moved. I get it. I think I know what that feels like.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Classism, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Stalking, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, and Alcohol
Minor: Abortion, Homophobia, Murder, Rape, and Violence
wormgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery and Racial slurs
Moderate: Suicide, Death of parent, Classism, Incest, Murder, Stalking, Racism, Cursing, and Toxic relationship