The Bluest Eye

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable
Review: I read this book for a class in college. Ms. Morrison is amazing in that she had so many layers in this book, so many things that are hinted at and almost unseen. Also, the racism portrayed in this book also hit a strong point in me-- as an Asian American, I know what it is to have that much self-hatred at such a young age. It is bitter, without hope, and depressing, but it wakes people up and hopefully makes them think "why". I read this book two years ago and it has not left me since. The language is beautiful, and although the layout of the chapters was harder to understand, the history (and hence depth) of the characters make the whole book understandable.

Rating:
Summary: Scattered emotions!!!
Review: When reading this novel, 'The Bluest Eyes' by Toni Morrison, my emotions became scattered like the structure of the book. I kept turning the pages waiting for the hope that would come, but never did. The beginning of the book sets you up for the devastation to come, but when it finally hit your outraged twice over. The tragedy comes and there is nothing you can do to stop it and you feel helpless. I think that Toni Morrison left you with no hope, because hope is something that you have to find on your own. You can not sit around and wait for it to come to you. You have to search and fight for hope or you will end up like Mr. and Mrs. Breedlove with no hope and unfulfilled dreams to hand down to your children.

Rating:
Summary: The cruelest emotion: Self-hatred
Review: Although the writing was not as strong as some of Morrison's other works; i.e, Song of Solomon and Beloved, The Bluest Eye is thematically very strong. The main character deeply suffers from extreme self-loathing and Morrison carries out the effects of racial discrimination to the ultimate degree. The book resonated in this reader's mind for days afterward.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful book !!!
Review: This book can show you how sensitive children are at a very young age, especially when they are different than what is considered to be beautiful and attractive. This book should teach parents to build confidence in their children and really pay attention to how they feel about themselves. It is important that all children feel beautiful because they all are, regardless of their eye color, skin color,,,etc,etc,etc. This book was precious. There WERE moments that I got angry or hurt for little Pecola, but it was worth the lessons learned from it. God Bless Toni Morrison!

Rating:
Summary: Racism is directed at all cultures
Review: As a high school student from a mixed background of white and American Indian ancestry, it really made me face the meanness we all face. This wasn't just a story of a little black girl who wants to be white, and therefore only reflects black culture, but a book that moves anyone black, white, Indian, etc. who has been discriminated against. Pecola made me realize how beautiful we all are.

Rating:
Summary: Beautifully written, poetic and insightful.
Review: This is the first time I actually picked up any of Toni Morrison's books. And I am very grateful I finally did. What actually prompted me and my book club members to choose this book was because of the movie "Beloved". "The bluest eye" is an engaging story of a young black girl who wears her "ugliness" in such an astoundingly depressing way, it was terrible. Toni Morrison showed how she came to believe such nonsense from her surroundings, people, her dysfunctional parents, and the list goes on. I was very much engrossed in this book that I knew that the author would make a shift to a metaphoric ending. Yes, Pecola went crazy, but we must remember that the society is not only to blame. She is to blame also. After all, Claudia and her sister, Frieda, were raised in somewhat the same socioeconomic background (minus the riotous behavior of the parents)and still had a very strong sense of self. Toni did a marvelous job weaving the lives of all of these people. It was written very plainly as well as poetic, suttle as well as violent and filled with many truths. As a Nigerian living in this country for the past 12 years, I have learned and experienced a lot from this society that it sometimes shocks me. Toni Morrison showed me more and confirmed many of what I already knew in this book. It is a crying shame that many human beings still thrive on such nonsense as skin color and good/ bad hair in this day and age. After all even when Pecola got her blue eyes, she still worried that someone out there had eyes bluer than hers. So we have to find beauty within ourselves first before we can experience it. I believe that is what "The bluest eye" is all about.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing..
Review: Though Toni Morrison kept on jumping from one sceenary to another and from time to time back and forth, the story still kept it's beauty and wonder. Reading every charachter's background, makes you understand everybody's poin of view, instead of hating Pecola's mother and cursing her drunk father for what he'd done to her!! "The Bluest Eye" brings all type of emotions to you while reading, and that -in my oppenion- is what makes a good book.

Rating:
Summary: How would you like it if you were ugly?
Review: The book I just read was a novel by;Toni Morrison, "The Bluest Eyes." It was a very interesting book. It captivated me and made me become apart of it. I often found myself putting myself in the place of the main character. The character was Pecola Bredlove. She was a black girl living in America. She was eleven years old and often felt like an outcast, because a lot of people thought she was ugly. So she wished to have the bluest eyes, which she thought would turn her pretty and white. The rest of the novel discusses in detail the problems and sufferings this little girl has to endure because of her ugliness. This book often made me mad and frustrated at her family and friends. I would recommend this book to all ages, from 14 years and up. It is a book that will keep your whole mind glued to everything that happens. It is a book all different races and backgrounds can enjoy. This book showed me to love myself and my differences.

Rating:
Summary: Depressing book
Review: Morrison writes well, but why she chose to use her skills to write this hopeless bummer is beyond me. Harsh reality, sure. But why read it if there is no hope, no concept of hope, no reason for hope, none whatsoever?

Rating:
Summary: Small literature circle has mixed feelings
Review: We had mixed feelings about this book. We did agree that Morrison writes vivid-- often graphic--descriptions that really give the reader a detailed mental image. The characters' dialect was also well-written and added to those vivid images. Morrison left us with a lot to think about as far as the black culture-- how blacks were treated and how they treated each other. The content of the book is very disturbing and therefore thought-provoking. After you read this book (whether you like it or not) you have to address the issues presented and how it affects you personally. Several in the group felt the organization of the book was confusing and detracted from the story. As Morrison writes in the afterword, we were touched but not moved because of this confusion. It is definitely a book that can be re-read. This book will have different meanings for everyone. If you are interested in black culture or the role and treatment of women, it's worth checking out. (And if you are in our Social Studies class, I think most of you should read it, but I'm not promising that you will like it!)