The Bluest Eye

Rating:
Summary: Full of Wonder
Review: Toni Morrison's first novel is masterful with its language, captivating with its characters and intriguing and disturbing with its plot. In short, it touches nerves while opening a reader's mind and heart. Perhaps an easy, but never simple, read...all situations are complex, both drawing the reader in and repelling her at the same time. A truly great piece. You finish it and find yourself opening to page one again.

Rating:
Summary: Actually 1/2 star for Bluest Eye
Review: I'm sorry, but I rate this book 1/2 star, and I am being overly generous at that. It is about the most jumbled up mess of a book I have ever read. Half the time I didn't even know what character they were writing about until I was well into the chapter. Phooey!

Rating:
Summary: bluest book
Review: The Bluest Eye is a book that deals with many sensitive issues, including, race, sexuality, and incest. It is about a young black girl who develops the idea that beauty is to be blonde with blue eyes. The development of her way of thinking is explained through the background of her parents and her own upbringing. This can be confusing to the reader because the plot will start and stop in a completely different place, and it can take awhile for the reader to get on track with what the author is thinking about. This is a different and interesting way of presenting the plot; and although it can be confusing, it gives the reader an inside look at why the girl's life is how it is. It shows how deeply experiences of an adult's childhood can affect them when they are grown and their children. This book gives a sometimes disturbing look at reality, and things that happen that we would never want to beleive. Everyone can relate to the girl's wish to have a different appearance and the thought that everything would be so much easier if you could just change one thing about yourself. This shows the danger of not teaching our children that they are all beautiful in their own way and how important it is for them to love themselves for who they are. The reader gets a first hand look at the effects that racism and racial superiority can have on a person. A major lesson can be learned from this book, and the reader might find that they have more of an understanding of racial beleifs. Despite the gruesomeness of reality, The Bluest Eye is good, but can also leave the reader quite disgusted.

Rating:
Summary: A powerful story
Review: The Bluest Eye, the story of a young girl's tortured life, is not a story you can "like". It reads like your worst nightmares, very disturbing and very graphic. It takes a strong stomach to get through this novel. But, this is just what makes the book a masterpiece, that Ms Morrison can draw such powerful feelings from readers. Toni Morrison has grown as a writer. But this book, her first, takes you to a world most didn't know existed and evokes almost unbearably strong emotions. A must read for lovers of great literature. This is not a book you read for pleasure. It's a book you read for the power of the written word.

Rating:
Summary: not enjoyable at all
Review: If you like to read one long (as in book-length) poem, this is the book for you. Or, if you enjoy reading nothing but "downer" stuff, this book is for you also. I skimmed the last 50 pages to be sure I wasn't going to miss anything. I didn't.

Rating:
Summary: The Bluest Eye
Review: Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye is a wonderful book with a beautifully illustrated depiction of life. Morrison employes words in her novel better than Fitzgerald to emit the resounding voice of poetry. She delves into the minds of characters and explores the reasons for the characters' present personalities. In addition she constructs the novel in such a way that you can not be quite sure of anything until its end. Although she broadly explains everything that will happen within the first chapter, it is not until the end that the reader completely understands what she means by "there were no marigolds in the fall of 1941". I really enjoyed reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: A new fold in Toni Morrison's writing
Review: I was assigned this book as part of a thesis on racism in America. Unlike Toni Morrison's previous works - I've seen 'Song of Solomon' mentioned here, it doesn't contain the hopeful, uplifting notes I expected from her. This author has much to teach, but she does it in an almost cruel way. Don't bring her get too close or you may find parts of yourself on those pages. This story is dark, harsh. Sad. She'll get under your skin,I guarantee.

Rating:
Summary: Disturbing
Review: If there is any novel that is a kaleidoscope of emotions: pain, love, hatred--this is it. If there is any novel that is exquisite and disturbing, it is this novel. It is the story of a little girl that doesn't know how to love herself and is therefore uncapable of loving. Her environment is one of violence and pain and longing. She longs to be loved. I found myself wanting to actually reach out to her and hug her, to show her what love is like. It is a shame that she is never aware how truly wonderful love can be and how it can make her feel--how it can make her self-hatred and low self esteem evaporate. The language--as I always find in Toni Morisson's writing--is beautiful but subtle. The plot is not hard to grasp and stretches itself wonderfully throughout the book. Truths are told; things that society needed to hear then and still need to hear now. But I warn you: this book will rip your heart out.

Rating:
Summary: The unbelievable first effort from a modern master
Review: Nothing can evoke our sympathies like an abused and alone child. The Bluest Eye investigates the effects of racism and poverty on the most vulnerable and the most impressionable. Morrison here is at her psychological best, keeping her focus on the life of Pecola, while conveying the brokenness of the child's world view. As a result, The Bluest Eye is among the most accessible of Morrsion's long fiction and an excellent introduction to this national treasure.

Rating:
Summary: Like I was there
Review: I am so grateful to Toni Morrison for taking me into a world and perspective so vaguely perceived by me before reading her book. The Bluest Eye let me understand a new realm, from the inside out, with wonderful resonance and clarity. Thank you, Toni!