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I found the following parallels in this book particularly interesting and if I had the time, I would expand these topics into full essays.
- Dick & Jane's well-off nuclear white family VS the Breedlove and MacTeer families
- Claudia VS Pecola's self worth and their reaction to white beauty standards
I went into this novel with a vague description of internalized racism and the exploration of girlhood, but wow I did not expect the amount of violence (both sexual and non-sexual) and religion that would be in this book. I highly encourage everyone to read the trigger warnings of this novel before starting. You will be at times reading from the perpetrators of violence. I will say though that personally I found Morrison's writing in those scenes, painfully and morbidly fascinating.
Although I liked how the book was told in a nonlinear fashion with multiple perspectives of people around Pecola, I will admit it was a little difficult at times to figure out who was narrating. Sometimes I wouldn't know who it and when it was until half way into the section.
Overall, this is a very strong novel that has characters with distinct and strong emotions. It adresses the intersectionality of race, gender, class, religion, and generational trauma. A must read for those who want to pick up a Toni Morrison book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault
For being written in 1970 (about 1930s era black communities), this books themes of race/racism, women/femininity, home/family (or the lack of...), and sex/sexuality and how our characters deal with all of these things rings so true in today's world. The characters in this book all carry their stories with them, and are products of their environment and lack of addressing or growing from experiences.
The way that this book focuses on Pecola's story all while telling stories of those around her is astounding and masterful. Each character, possibly aside from Frieda and Claudia, all struggle with ingrained self hatred because of the racism they've encountered in their world. This book highlights how even within a community, especially one so affected by racism, racism exists inside of it, with lighter vs darker skinned African Americans. It shows how they strive for a sense of family and home, but have to distor it and find their own way to create it and "love" or love in their surroundings.
A book everyone should read and learn from.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Vomit, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy
The Bluest Eye is a good book for readers who enjoy historical fiction, stories full of emotionally charging moments exploring the complexity of family, racism, and identity.
Moderate: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Classism
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Grief, Pregnancy, Classism
Graphic: Addiction, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol
Graphic: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death, Hate crime, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Classism
Minor: Bullying
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Incest, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content
It’s incredibly sad to think of any child (or adult) doubting their own self worth because of societal values, and specifically something as beautiful as skin color. I can relate on other levels and certainly as a parent of a child who similarly struggles.
Morrison’s writing is lovely and poetic though, for me, challenging. I did not understand the ending and ended up spending a bit of time online learning more. It then all came together but I would have liked to have been able to decipher that myself.
All in all, I’m glad to have read The Bluest Eye
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Classism