Beloved

Rating:
Summary: Shall I quote Ambrose Bierce?
Review: "The covers of this book are too far apart."

Rating:
Summary: One step above monotonous
Review: Yes, Toni Morrison is an American icon. And I'm probably blaspheming when I say this, but the audio tape of BELOVED, which I tried playing as I drove to and from work, is a menace to society. I had to turn it off--could have killed someone else or myself. I found it that hypnotic. Morrison's voice is sort of a forced whisper. Dare I say a monotone? The story itself is all right, but I found it rather uninspired. Obviously the author has an axe to grind about the way African-Americans were treated in the days of slavery (whom among us wouldn't, especially those of African heritage?), but I thought the artifice of using a ghost as a means of addressing the evils of slavery rather far-fetched. In a lot of ways, I think it detracted from the harsh reality that caused the apparition (a child who died as a result of the sick practice of slavery), to exist in the first place. I don't mind a plot with twists and turns, but this book takes forever to get anywhere, drags us through countless descriptive brier-patches, over a virtual nine-man's morris just to arrive at a point we can see before we start the circuitous journey.

I like poetry as much as anyone, and admire the judicious use of it in a novel, but hour after hour of it, especially whispered at the listener with little variance of tone or pitch, is better off played at bedtime as a substitute for counting sheep than in a moving vehicle.

Rating:
Summary: one of Morrison's finest books
Review: As a a high school English teacher, I've reread this book about 8 times and have taught it over the years to many students. Although it's certainly a complex novel, it's basic storyline is not hard to follow -- just the narrative style which shifts voices quite a bit. One thing that helps when reading anything by Morrison, but especially Beloved, is to remember that she herself is a classicist. Do yourself a favor and read the Medea myth -- you will suddenly understand 100 times more than you would if you skip it. I would also recommend NOT watching the movie, particularly if you are looking for explanations. Parts were well done, but the book is so rich that it seems mean to lower the dignity of the prose by showing private scenes. It's an incredibly rich and lyric novel with strains of Morrison's rendition of a kind of Magic Realism style. Don't expect everything to be realistic: there are ghosts and half painted characters that cross our normal boundaries of time. Expect to be disoriented at the beginning, but the plot clears up as you go and then you can go back and re-read the opening chapters. A great work of literature which yields more after every reading.

Rating:
Summary: difficult
Review: I have a very difficult time understanding Toni Morrison's style of writing. Since I could't understand her style I couldn't enjoy the content.I ended up returning it to the library without finishing it because it was horribly over due. I just couldn't bring myself to finish reading it.

Rating:
Summary: beloved
Review: Toni Morrison's "Beloved" was first published in 1987. This novel was set after the Civil War in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is the story about Sethe, an escaped slave, and her family. She survives so much, but when her "dead" child appears into her life, and then disappears just as quickly, she just cannot manage that. Paul D., a friend and former slave, might be her only salvation. This unique novel combines imagination and truths of history and still remains a popular novel through the millenium, speaking to the past of some terrible and so great circumstances. "Beloved" won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. - Doreen Baumgartner

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Summary: Definitely Worth Reading! (^_^)
Review: Beloved, an unimaginable tale of slavery and it's aftermath, is truly a heartwrenching and astounding novel. Sethe, a former slave, escapes from her life of slavery to Ohio only to be haunted by her past all over again. Through all the hardships Sethe has faced, her only weakness is her children. Sethe is haunted by the decision she made years earlier, the decision she believed at the time was best for her child. Sethe's past comes back in the form of a ghost (Beloved) and is determined to never let Sethe forget about her past mistakes. When I first started reading this book, I had a hard time understanding the story line because of the way Toni Morrison brings about her characters and plot. She uses "rememory" and many complicated metaphors to bring up important subjects that are vital to the story. For instance, she constantly and unexpectedly shifts from present to past tenses which often confuses the reader. Also, she introduces new characters into the novel unexpectedly and does not explain them until later on. Extended metaphors are used to force the reader to actually think and try to figure out the true meaning of the book. For example, throughout the book, Sethe keeps mentioning that she has a "tree" growing on her back. Readers are left dumbfounded and curious about what she is talking about. It is not until later in the novel that we find out that the "tree" on Sethe's back is actually the scars and markings from when she was whipped by the schoolmaster and his boys back at Sweet Home, where she used to be enslaved. The permanent scars, which formed the shape of a "chokecherry tree" on Sethe's back, not only refers to the physical scars but also refers to the mental scars that will serve as a reminder of slavery that will never be erased from Sethe's mind. Even though Morrison's use of "rememory" and metaphors can be confusing to some readers, these little touches are also what make's Morrison's style so unique and enjoyable to read. Therefore, when reading Beloved, one feels like they're actually in the book. You get so wrapped up in the novel that it's hard to put it down. Beloved is definitely worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Say What?
Review: As a first year college student, I found Beloved to be a very difficult book to read under time restrictions. To fully appreciate this novel one must be willing to read it numerous times. The content itself was excellent and I found the plot of the story to be very interesting. The story forces the reader to ask theirself many questions with no concete answers. Make sure to pay close attention for the flashbacks, they can really come out of left field.

Rating:
Summary: A Flawless work by this era's best writer
Review: every now and again, i am fortunate enough to find a book that can touch me on an emotional level while captivating me intellectually. Beloved is by far the best book i have ever been privelaged to read as it fulfills both of the above requirments. Morrison's use of unusual diction is the perfect tool to tell a truely unique and heartbreaking story. In the most fascinating chapter of the novel, the title character begins narrating in a stream of conscience that leaves the reader in complete awe of Morrison's raw power. Every generation has an author that will go into history and will be forever taught in English classes across the nation; i am certain that Morrison is our generation's Hurston or Steinbeck. Her ability as a writer and storyteller is unquestionably proven in this beautifuly disturbing work.

Rating:
Summary: Greatest Love
Review: I had the great opportunity to read Beloved about a year ago. Its descriptive, detailed writing was only a hint of the talent and skill that she has. The love that Sethe, the main character had for her children was the most intriguing love story that I have ever read. Toni's sensitivity towards Sethe's character made me compelled to understand her as an African-American, a woman, and a mother. Originally, I judged Sethe for her descision, but as the story line progressed, I began to see myself in this woman, this mother and understood her descision to take the lives of her children as well as her own for the sake of freedom. I believe that God has truly blessed Toni and I hope she continues to bless great lovers of literature with her writing.

Rating:
Summary: beloved
Review: When I first read this book, I didn't quite understand it. After I did reports on it did I finally come to realize the true power of Toni Morrison's words. Her book tells of one woman going through her life as a slave and then as an escapee. The decisions that the main character had to make were heartbraking, including the decision to kill her own daughter to save her from a life of slavery. The way Toni Morrison wrote the story with flash backs of the characters past really help me understand what emotion the characters were feeling and the time. This book has powerful thoughts and emotions about a very touchy time in our history, and I think Toni Morrison did a very good job in writing a story that tells of the past from a certian womans point of view that most people would over look.