A review by laurenleigh
Beloved by Toni Morrison

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.
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