Rating: 
Summary: Poingnant story of
Review: It's hard to believe that this powerful, beautifully written story is Toni Morrison's first novel. As always, Morrison's prose is masterful and her imagery is sublime. It says a lot about Morrison's skill that this is one of the most disturbing books I have ever read. For me, this was essentially a story about how much pain and abuse can be heaped upon one small, innocent child before she breaks. Pecola, the young black girl at the heart of the story, has committed no crime except being ugly. As she is repeatedly hurt, negligected, ostracized and violated by everyone around her, she concludes that if only she had blue eyes, she would suddenly become lovable. Morrison invites all of us to examine our hidden prejudices when it comes to race and appearance. It's not a pleasant experience, but it is a meaningful one. This book stays with you, and you'll be glad it does.
Rating: 
Summary: Difficult
Review: I found this book incredibly hard to get into. Well written, yet too descriptive. I lost myself in the writing, having to reread just to comprehend. I couldn't finish. Barely started. Perhaps when I have the time to sit and read over and over it will be a great one. Oprah(not a fan) usually knows what she is talking about. I have heard good reviews from customers as I work in a book store.. may be worth a try if you are dedicated.
Rating:
Summary: This has stayed with me!
Review: I was 14 years old when I first read this book. "Oh my God, what is wrong with this girl (Pecola)" was the first thing I though when I read about her character. "Why would she want blue eyes, she is definitely crazy". The reason I thought this way was because I was from an island where black is beautiful. Everytime I looked in the mirror, I thought I was beautiful. Later in college, in read this book again and cried for the lost innocence of Pecola and I cried for the self-hate and internalized racism of my people. I realized that no matter how many time or how many ways we said that black was beautiful, too many of our children felt differently. As an English teacher, I have assigned this book for reading and talk, discuss, debate, and flat out argue with my students (all black) about the ways we annihilate ourselves as a people. Who is light skinned, who is dark skinned, good hair, pretty eyes--all designed to tear us apart like it tore Pecola apart. I still cry for Pecola's lost innocence and lost self worth but I use it to teach my students about their own self worth.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing!
Review: This book was a complete letdown! I have read and thoroughly enjoyed all of the other books by Toni Morrison but this one din't do it for me! I had a very hard time getting through to the end. Do not reccomend it to anyone! I only give it 2 stars because of it being written by Morrison. I am so glad she matured in her writng style as years went by.
Rating: 
Summary: all that glitters is not gold
Review: Be careful what you wish for, is what I would tell Pecola Breedlove. I am an African-American female from South Carolina. I thought this book was very realistic. Given the era that the story takes place, I thought it was very well written. This is also my first time reading a Morrison novel and I was thouroughly pleased. As soon as I finished reading it the first time I immediately went back to the beginning for a second helping. I found myself laughing outloud at some of the comments made early on. It reminded me of my own southern roots as a young girl in awe of the adult conversation that I was not aloud to overhear. The story was very realistic in that I feel many of my African American sistas can recall the desire to want to be "better" given what we were taught to believe was elite. Those that did not enjoy this novel, I suggest you do some critical thinking. Open your mind and your heart to try and relate to what the characters in this story were experiencing. You will certainly be enlightened.
Rating:
Summary: Ugly Characters
Review: This is an ugly book with ugly characters that are hard to like and even more difficult to root for. I find this to be a common theme for Toni Morrison (Song of Solomon and Paradise). If you want to read something by her, read Beloved which is an absolute masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Lessons on Life
Review: There are things in life we hide from each other to protect the nobility of our angers and resentments. So, that they may survive instead of finally dissipate due to common grounds and understandings. It is only by reading this book and any other of Toni Morrison's outstanding literature that we may begin to chip away at the wall we have built between each other. Her writing moves past messages of race and deep into the heart of life and all the separations we create to define ourselves. Bravo to one of the most heartfelt and informative novels of our time. The world will never be the same....Thank goodness.
Rating:
Summary: Great writing
Review: The Bluest Eye is a beautifully written book. This was the first time I have read Toni Morrison, and I was amazed by her use of language. This book is really a piece of literary art. There were so many passages in this book that were just wonderful- perhaps my favorite was the description of Pauline losing her front tooth, which actually was symbolic of the decaying of a relationship. However, although the language was incredible, the style and structure of the book were a bit confusing to me. I found myself asking "who is talking now? and what relationship does this person have to the people I already know" at the beginning of each chapter. Then when I finally figured things out, I had to go back and reread. Still, I suppose this was a minor annoyance. The Bluest Eye really is a wonderfully written book about so many things- perhaps most obviously the tragic consequences of living in a day and time when the standards of physical beauty are ridiculous and unachievable. Anyone who has ever felt physically inadequate (and who wouldn't? Just take a look at all of today's media images) will feel for Pecola and wish she could have had a happier ending. But that, I suppose, would have defeated the purpose of the book.
Rating:
Summary: Okay book, amazing author
Review: This book is okay...personally, I would recommend something else by Toni Morrison. It has a lot of sexual scenes in it, and some swearing, which might be offending to some people but to most is really no big deal. The author has an incredible writing style, awesome way of describing things, and is just over all brilliant. I actually thought that the last page and the afterword were the best parts of the entire book, because it made me appreciate the book more and made me realize that it actually was a really cool novel. I have never read anything else by Toni Morrison but I would in a heartbeat. Give this book a chance and see what you think.
Rating:
Summary: My first foray into Toni Morrison's world
Review: "The Bluest Eye" tells of Pecola, a little black girlwho worships Shirley Temple, that paragon of white perfection, anddreams of having the bluest eyes someday so that her life might beperfect.Pecola's self-loathing and racial self-hatred, describedhauntingly in Morrison's first novel which was initially published in1970, reflect the constant struggle of women of all colors against theunrealistic standards of beauty pandered to them by society and themedia. Morrison begins the novel with a clever use of a textresembling that of a Dick and Jane primer ("See Jane. She has ared dress."), pointing out that we all grow up with Dick andJane. We all learn that Dick and Jane - whoare both blond and white,mind you - are the children we should be. What happens, do youthink, when a child can't stop comparing herself to Dick andJane? ...As relevant today as it was when first published,"The Bluest Eye" is a cautionary tale, reminding us that thevalue a society places upon a woman often becomes the value she placesupon herself. A good beginning for a reader unfamiliar withMorrison's powerful, award-winning prose.
|
