Scan barcode
A review by jennifer_vars
Beloved by Toni Morrison
challenging
dark
sad
slow-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
4.5
Beloved is a complex and carefully crafted novel but also fragmented, and surreal. Honestly though, I think that was Morrison's point? I saw another review state that sometimes reality is too painful to address in plain simple narrative. Sometimes truth has to be approached slowly to get to the heart of the matter. The character's struggles here cannot be addressed with simplistic explanations. This book will require time, patience and probably someone to discuss and decode the messages in this book with.
The novel is a ghost story but not really. What it really delves into is psychological and generational trauma through a lyrical, historical lens. It's part horror and part magical realism. The scary part of this book is not the supernatural aspect, but the horrors humans inflict on one another.
This was my second reading, and probably tougher this time around. I initially picked it up because of all the recent uproar in my state over this particular book. It was the focus of a challenge four years ago but conveniently reimagined for political play this last election cycle.
Surprising to me, I kind of agree that this may not be appropriate for even most high schoolers but not for the reasons used in the challenge. The argument for censorship is that it's too violent and too sexually mature. Well, those are simply bad faith arguments because this book was not assigned to 8 year olds but rather high school students in AP classes (aka college level). Anyone who is being honest knows that teenagers view much worse on their phones that are conveniently available in their pockets at all times. The real reason is Morrison has written a tragic and horrific account of the aftereffects of slavery in America and it makes people uncomfortable.
I wouldn't take it off the list, but the potential problem with assigning the novel is that it is an extremely difficult book to follow. The memories are told in fragmented text and the dialogue of the setting make this book one that requires patience. Some books are meant to be read at the right time in our lives. I'm an avid reader and I'm not sure I would have appreciated or been able to take in all of the nuanced meanings in high school but I don't know. I'm sure having a teacher to guide the book and discussion questions is probably best. Readers should read it when they're ready, and for me that came at my second attempt at 42.
The novel is a ghost story but not really. What it really delves into is psychological and generational trauma through a lyrical, historical lens. It's part horror and part magical realism. The scary part of this book is not the supernatural aspect, but the horrors humans inflict on one another.
This was my second reading, and probably tougher this time around. I initially picked it up because of all the recent uproar in my state over this particular book. It was the focus of a challenge four years ago but conveniently reimagined for political play this last election cycle.
Surprising to me, I kind of agree that this may not be appropriate for even most high schoolers but not for the reasons used in the challenge. The argument for censorship is that it's too violent and too sexually mature. Well, those are simply bad faith arguments because this book was not assigned to 8 year olds but rather high school students in AP classes (aka college level). Anyone who is being honest knows that teenagers view much worse on their phones that are conveniently available in their pockets at all times. The real reason is Morrison has written a tragic and horrific account of the aftereffects of slavery in America and it makes people uncomfortable.
I wouldn't take it off the list, but the potential problem with assigning the novel is that it is an extremely difficult book to follow. The memories are told in fragmented text and the dialogue of the setting make this book one that requires patience. Some books are meant to be read at the right time in our lives. I'm an avid reader and I'm not sure I would have appreciated or been able to take in all of the nuanced meanings in high school but I don't know. I'm sure having a teacher to guide the book and discussion questions is probably best. Readers should read it when they're ready, and for me that came at my second attempt at 42.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Racism, Sexual violence, and Slavery