Rating: 
Summary: Not a keeper, not up to Nobel Prize standards
Review: I found the novel to be better written than most contemporary novels but typically modern, containing entirely too much vulgarity, sexually graphic descriptions (incest and promiscuity) and obscene language. As my father used to say, those who use obscenity do so because they can not express themselves in any other way; their thinking is too shallow. I much prefer old-fashioned Dickensian style where meaner language and life is characterized fully without affending the sensibilities of ladies and gentlemen. I would give this book a rating of 5, possibly worth a first read, but not a second, and not worthy to take up permanent bookshelf space of which I have a limited amount What is the book about? Toni Morrison weaves a multi-faceted tale of a spoiled young black man trying to find his place in society. As the son of a landlord who owns several properties in "shanty town" this story depicts Milkman's (Macon Dead, Jr.) struggles with his identity as a man (sexual crises, et al.), as a black man, as the son of a "rich" black man without funds of his own. His relationship with his best friend, Guitar, and his non-relationship with his mother, sisters Corinthians and Lena whose given name is Magdalene, and his father, Macon Dead, comprise the substance of the novel. A subplot, the mystery of his father's origins, is the most interesting part of the novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Beautiful, memorable characters
Review: This was the first Toni Morrison book I've read and it's made me a fan. The characters in this book are each so fully developed, you feel like you know them personally and you understand their motives for their actions. There is no one-dimensional character in this book and the plot is totally driven by the characters' flaws and aspirations. I learned so much about early 20th century Black history from reading this book. I really think it should be assigned reading for any student of American history and/or literature. I especially enjoyed the dialogue of the book, it's written in such a real and lively way that I could actually "hear" the different voices of the characters. The style of the book, in that it has elements of magic realism, reminds of the books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, such as One Hundred Years of Solitude. It's a book you have to think through, it's not what I would call light, summer reading. But if you are willing to put in a little more time and energy, you will be rewarded with a well-crafted story that spans several generations.
Rating:
Summary: Toni Morrison: Song ofSolomon
Review: This book is an excellent portrayal of the hopelessness of black life in the days between slavery and civil rights and of the crisis of a man torn between two cultures. A young black man, Macon Dead searches for his own identity. His father, also called Macon Dead, a prosperous real-estate owner in Michigan is eager to leave behind his black roots, the poverty-stricken,violent life of the average negro. He seeks to ape the white man and marries the relatively light-skinned daughter of the respected local doctor. His life, just like his marriage is devoid of warmth, love or any sense of family belonging. Even his daughter, Corinthians, much to his disgrace can only find fulfillment and end her sterile existence in the arms of a low-life killer. Macon comes to know his father's sister, Pilate. For him, she represents the warmth, the rootedness, the closeness to the living earth and the throbbing life force of black culture. Macon, born into but dissatisfied with the sterility of his pseudo-white home now sets out on a search to learn about his origins. Yet in the end, it is the life style of the white man and of Macon's father which survives. Just as such black villages as Shalimar in the American south die and decay, so is the true black himself sucked back into the death-bringing quagmire of the blood which runs through his veins.
Rating:
Summary: Song of Solomon Surpasses Expectations
Review: Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison is a novel that everyone should read. It leads us through the family history, failures, successes, and self-discovery of Macon Dead III (Milkman). Morrison allows the reader a glimpse into the culture and everyday life of black families. We are along for the ride while Milkman discovers mysteries from the past and develops himself into a man. The reader is also given the opportunity to see racism in the worst degree. The retaliation of the Seven Days represents the actions of many early violent civil rights groups. Morrison deals with everyday issues such as love, rejection, depression, and obsession in her telling of Hagar. She depicts the strong bonds made between women through Pilate, Ruth, Hagar, and Reba. The theme of flying is present throughout the novel and relates the characters with slave stories and the belief that humans could fly to escape hardships. Song of Solomon is an excellent novel that I recommend to anyone looking for a book involving drama, mystery, and excitement. Even though Toni Morrison is portrayed as an author whose works represent that black community, Song of Solomon can be related to the lives of anyone: a family history.
Rating:
Summary: History Is Identity?
Review: In Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison takes the view - a common one - that we have to know our history to know ourselves. I don't really agree but in this case it makes a great story. The characters in her novel don't make calculations or follow strategies: they do what they have to do. The history that motivates their actions is an emotional, personal one. Morrison's preoccupation with this personal history is reflected in her use of unusual names: names that are given "from yearnings, gestures, flaws, events, mistakes, weaknesses . . . Macon Dead, Sing Byrd, Crowell Byrd, Pilate, Reba, Hagar, Magdalene, First Corinthians, Milkman, Guitar . . . ." Her characters are powerful, larger-than-life people, and clashes between them quickly escalate to life-and-death struggles. At the same time, they have a great capacity for empathy and self-sacrifice. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: One of Toni Morrison's best novels
Review: With passion and a voice that sings with beautiful detail and magic, Toni Morrison's third novel, published in 1977, is a powerful tale that follows the lives of a black family and their friends living in a Michigan city. In 1931, Macon Dead III, later nicknamed Milkman, is prematurely brought into the world, the first black child born in Mercy Hospital, just after his mother witnesses the brief flight of a man determined to fly from the cupola of the hospital. Although the novel revolves around Milkman, the stories spun out from him embrace a wide variety of characters and experiences. Morrison explores the lasting stamp of slavery through the name of Macon Dead; the intimate culture of women through Pilate, Reba, and Hagar; the hunger for property and respectability through Milkman's father; the idea of one's "people" through those in the South who have not forgotten connections; the violence of civil rights through Guitar; and many more issues facing blacks of the times and today. Despite the resonance of history, this novel is ultimately about its people and their eagerly lived lives. Morrison plunges her readers into their hearts with a humanity and skill too few novelists possess. The result is a remarkably emotional and intelligent story that will stay with you for a long time.Readers should not be intimidated by Morrison's Nobel Prize Winner status, as this novel, like most of her others, is written in startling but accessible language. You don't need an advanced degree (or even a specific race or gender) to slip into her magical prose. Her characters are real and fully realized, and feel like friends, even when you might want to shake them to their senses. Although some readers will be puzzled by the end, wanting perhaps the next sentence that explains it all, Morrison has included by her omission the real meaning of her book. Visit with it for a few moments before closing the cover. I highly recommend this book for a wide range of readers, from high school students to adults. Even though it was written in the 1970's, its themes and characters still have relevance today. Morrison is one of the world's literary gifts, and should not be missed. THE SONG OF SOLOMON is one of her best novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Song of Solomon
Review: Toni Morrison's third novel, "Song of Solomon", is one of her more praised novels (but then again which is not). Morrison takes on a third-person limited point of view of Milkman, which is extremely intriguing for it is a black man as her protagonist, not a black woman as with the rest of her works. Evidently though, "Song of Solomon" is more of a communal novel, as seen with the impressive opening chapter with the gathered people viewing the the unfortunate, rough, and yet touching suicide of a local resident. The impressive selection of characters makes it as well planned out as Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio" or anything by William Faulkner. The best parts of this novel are the bookends - the wonderfully constructed, metaphoric, and chaotic opening chapter, and the gutwretching climax that made me see this book as something quite redeemable. Morrison has a knack for poetic writing, much like Virginia Woolf. The middle layers may not be a strong as the bookends, but it is definitely worth the hours you spend devoted to it, for it is a novel that is unforgettable.
Rating:
Summary: best book ever
Review: i highly recommend this book. her writing is absolutely incredible. she "gets it."
Rating:
Summary: POWERFUL!
Review: A MUST READ. IT SHOULD BE MADE INTO A FILM. ONE OF MY FAVORITES. YOU LAUGH, YOU CHEER, YOU CRY. YOU FEEL!
Rating:
Summary: Rich
Review: This book tells the epic story of a African American family during the early part of the twentieth century. The book is rich with African American culture, from naming customs to children's songs, family myths and ancestry, friendships and enemies, and African secret societies.
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