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fiveredhens's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
4.0
favorite quotes:
She shook her head from side to side, resigned to her rebellious brain. Why was there nothing it refused? No misery, no regret, no hateful picture too rotten to accept? Like a greedy child it snatched up everything. Just once, could it say, No thank you? I just ate and can’t hold another bite?
She shook her head from side to side, resigned to her rebellious brain. Why was there nothing it refused? No misery, no regret, no hateful picture too rotten to accept? Like a greedy child it snatched up everything. Just once, could it say, No thank you? I just ate and can’t hold another bite?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, and Terminal illness
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Animal death, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, and War
laurenleigh's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There’s no denying that Toni Morrison is a genius. The way she turns words on a page into rhythmic, lyrical, beautiful music is completely wild. I often sat back and wondered to myself how someone could come up with this text! It’s so unique and genre-bending. It was, however, pretty hard for me to follow. Probably shouldn’t have read it as my bedtime book. I tried the audio, but gave up real quick. The plot lines were way too nonlinear and subtle for me to follow by listening. I understood most of it, but it took me a long time to get through it, and I’m sure some points went over my head. I was struck by how much it felt like a play, mainly because almost all the action takes place in one setting, the 124 house. So many lines are sharply condensed with lots of emotion, adding to the dramatic feel. The other note that’s sticking with me is how Morrison frames the big exciting moments. There’s two turning points in particular, scenes with the most violence, but both happen “off stage.” The reader only hears about them after the fact, through others’ accounts. Leaving these scenes more to the imagination gives them even more power and strength. By no means is this an easy read, but it’s a classic for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Racism, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity
Moderate: Murder, Child death, and Sexual assault
_kimb's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I am never recovering.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Murder, Racism, Slavery, and Violence
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Blood, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Minor: Alcohol and Fire/Fire injury
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