Song of Solomon

Rating:
Summary: what'd ya thinking?
Review: I thought the book was very interesting. The story line and the character development was truly the work of a masterpiece. Morrison has great talent that is magnified through her stories. Song of Solomon, in particular, is spectacular. I really enjoyed this book and feel that the 5 star rating suffices and is quite an understatment. I can't believe the audacity that people had to rate this book a 2! Who'd ya think you are? You must be insane because you can't even support your argument. Get a life and a brain!!!

Rating:
Summary: one brick short of a full load
Review: I recently read this book in my senior AP English class. Lemme tell ya, it was interesting. This was one of the books I wasn't annoyed with this year, which says a lot. I don't think it was "printed candy", but it deserves a look.

Rating:
Summary: Song of Solomon represents a universal struggle.
Review: My AP English class just finished reading Song of Solomon. Of all the books we've read this year,this book was the most relevant. Coming from a school where there is a very limited minority population, I was forced to look beyond the setting of Black America. I found that the struggles faced by the characters transcend race, age, color and gender. Everyone at some point in their life will face a time where they must seek out their identity. This book is a strong portrayal of a common human experience, and struggle. This book and its author deserve all of the accolades that they have received.

Rating:
Summary: Good use of time
Review: This book has all the material necessary to warrant the time it takes to read. The material is realistic and appropriate for the level of reader the book tries to reach. This book has such a high level of quality it keeps the reader's interest throughout the book. The names of each character are symbolic and coherent through the story. The book gives a realistic and entertaining portrtayal of black life. I am not at all offended by the contents of the book.

Rating:
Summary: Waste of time
Review: This book lacks the material necessary to warrant the time to read this book. This book attempts to make a point, but falls extremly short. The material is vulgar and inappropriate for younger readers. This book lacks the quality to keep the readers interest throughout the book. The names atempt to make a symbolic meaning, but openly contradicts itself thoughout. Furthermore,the book gives unrealistic portaryals of the people of the time period and the setting. I take direct offence from this book and the contents therein.

Rating:
Summary: Could This be the Great American Novel?
Review: I just finished reading "Song of Solomon" for the second time and I was completely blown away. As an aspiring author myself, it is nearly impossible not to feel humbled by Morrison's unbelievable grasp of writing skill. Seldom has a novel grabbed me in such the way that "Song of Solomon" did. I always think of a Morrison novel as an onion. The novel is full of layers of information which the reader must peel away to reach understanding at the center. By the end, Morrison has used her mastery to draw together all of the corners of what may have seemed to be a disjointed narrative. Although some reviews posted here have complained about the way the novel ends, in actuality the ending reveals what the educated reader has assumed all along . . . that Toni Morrison is a treasure and that a book like this doesn't come along every day.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE MOST IMPRESSIVE NOVELS I'VE READ.
Review: Toni Morrison definitely is one of the most talented and most creative novelist of our time. Flashbacks were acutely used in this novel to answer interesting enigmas. Pilate's "don't mess with me" attitude will really catch you. Getting into the novel was quite a challenge at first, but after the first chapter, believe me, you'll be looking forward to the next one. Basically, this novel is about Milkman's journey in life and how he solved the puzzles of his genealogy. Some flavors of Allende's and Garcia's style appears in this amazing literary work, but Morrison's amazing dialogues in this novel shows her brilliance. I've never encountered such an amazing ensemble of characters since THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS and ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE. Toni Morrison truly deserved her Nobel Prize. AN AMAZING READ.

Rating:
Summary: Reading great literature is an active process
Review: After reading a good portion of the reviews of this work, I felt I had to respond to those people who complained that the novel was too confusing, that it left more questions than answers. Well, the reason that it does this is because IT'S SUPPOSED TO. Great works of literature do not provide a blueprint for the emotions and feelings that we, as readers, are SUPPOSED to feel, rather they present ideas that should, gasp, make us think. If you're looking for a light read that will provide a glib, easily understood plot followed by a tidy ending, then Toni Morrison is not the author to read--nor is any type of literature, for that matter. If, however, you want to read difficult, compressed works that force you to draw your own conclusions, then I highly recommend Toni Morrison. The reward far outweighs the investment.

Rating:
Summary: Ahead of our time
Review: I have just spent the last twenty minutes reading the various reviews of this book and frankly it just blows my mind as to how anyone could give it 1 or 2 stars. I honestly cannot comprehend it. Even if one dislikes various aspects of the plot or finds the symbolism difficult, the mastery and overall sheer genius of her writing transcends such details with it's richness. If you dislike her, you better sure as hell have a good reason, and in fact, you better give her another chance as you will be seeing her name for years to come. Song of Solomon lives- and if you can't feel this, can't identify with and immerse yourself in it, then I would recommend checking your pulse.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful novel
Review: I thought this was a wonderful novel. It was hard to get into at first because I kept looking for a deeper meaning then what was really there. You really shouldn't look for the meanings of the novel until the end, otherwise you miss important concepts. I had no idea that this novel was going to jump back and forth so much, which is really why I was confused at first, but then I realized that it was an important point that the author was trying to make. Toni Morrison was trying to show her reader's that time is unidentified to the characters. "My grandfather flew back to Africa," was a quote from the novel, said by Milkman when he was on his quest for gold. This was at the time when Milkman leanred that people could really fly even without leaving the ground, "One may ride air, if one is willing to surrender to it." Morrison throws a wild and twisted plot at you and you as the reader have to figure out what is going on and what everything means. The author didn't make that an easy task, but that's why I loved the novel. It was such a challenge and at the end, when you realize what happened throughout the entire novel you felt rewarded.