Beloved

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Summary: Stephanie Drenner - Danbury High School
Review: After reading the novel Beloved, by Toni Morrison, I have come to the conclusion that there is a Beloved in all of us. It does not matter what race or nationality one may be, everyone has a "best thing." That special something that has come back from your past that you never want to lose again. Sethe, upon finding out who Beloved actually was, gave her everything; her attention as well as all of her love. She forsake all others, including Denver, the daughter she had raised from birth. This level of giving is very parallel to matrimony. Spouses forsake all others and think only of their partners needs first, just as Sethe did with Beloved. It was almost like a marriage between a demonic being and one of this world.

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Summary: This work deserves to be in every American's library
Review: The novel Beloved is not a book just about slavery. It is primarily about one's past affecting and influencing the present and possibly the future if it is not dealt with. If one does not make peace with one's past and the decisions that were made then one cannot heal, there can be no hope. The characters;Denver and Sethe were hindered by the past, towards the end, Denver made a decision to help herself and her mother. There is always hope if we faint not.

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Summary: Very difficult book to read -- doesn't capture interest well
Review: The jumbled thought presentation/flow made this one of the most difficult books I have ever read. The subject matter was not disturbing -- just the writer's style. I did finish the book and I can only hope that the movie will be better!

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Summary: It is a very new and different angle on slavery.
Review: I think that it was a great book that strays from the traditional angle on slavery. Never before have authors written about postslavery. Although, "Beloved" is very unorganized in its delivery of information, as a whole it provides new insight into the slavery at that time. After reading it, I did have one thought that I would appreciate peoples views on: Can you specifically explain the significance of why Paul D. repeats "Red heart" during the seduction scene from pages 114-117? Let me know what you think. E-mail me!

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Summary: Good but provokes plenty of reader analysis.
Review: I found that "Beloved" was so filled with important symbolism that in reading the book and watching the movie, I would find it almost impossible for people who have not been culturally tied to the story to understand how very powerful it is.

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Summary: Marvellous : The Best Book I've Read Ever
Review: Beloved is just simply amazing and I think Toni Morisson is the most talented writer ever. Thanks Toni for Beloved..I just can't put the book down and I am rereading it over and over again.

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Summary: Thought Provoking, Historically sound
Review: Beloved is a challenging work of literature. I have read two other novels by Toni Morrison and Beloved by far is the "easier read". Upon completion of Beloved I happened to be vewing a PBS special "Africans in America", this historical documentation so paralled Beloved from an historical perspective it helped me to visualize the taste of iron that Paul D referred to. Ms Morrison uses a lot of symbolism in her writings, however I appreciate the level of intellect that is required to bring her readers to a higher level of awareness. I have just returned home from seeing the movie and it was a pleasure to see how close the movie paralleled the book. This is one book that I wish I had purchased in hard cover.

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Summary: Chilling
Review: This book was great. I had to read it for a class. The only problem I had was that it scared me. I had to stop to relax. The prose is so intense and the emotions are so high. You can truly feel the rage described in the book. I recommend it to all!

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Summary: "Beloved" embraces pain & triumph of the American experience
Review: I loved this novel, because while being aware that this work was something out of the imagination of Toni Morrison, I have also seen "Beloved" like traces in the lives of those around me. It's a wonderful story of history - how the past is always with us and never distant. How in order to get by we have to embrace the treasures as well as the tragedies of our history. We can't selectively choose that which keeps us comfortable. "Beloved" is also about the secrets we carry and how we live among each other and often not have the slightest clue about we're the other has been. Toni's prose is never overbearing or preachy. The characters can sometimes be in surreal circumstances, but their motivations and reactions, and most of all words, are always real and connectable. Paul D is wonderful - who can forget, "you are your own best thing". "Beloved" is one of those stories that after reading it, it stays with you for a while. You may find yourself asking, what is my beloved? The thing which I can't forgive in myself?

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Summary: Beloved was hard to follow, but it truly touched my heart.
Review: I feel that the novel Beloved was very amazing, however it was very difficult to understand at times. One really important thing that the book discussed was the hardships the slaves faced in the late 1800's. I could have never imagined that these people were treated so inhumane just because of their skin color. People should be based on their character and contributions as a person, not on the darkness of their skin. Toni Morrison writing really captures me. She describes things in ways that make me truly feel that I can picture, touch, feel, smell, and hear the events of the story as if I was right there in it. A lot of the events in the story confused me. I know some of the objects in the book actually stood for something bigger, but I think others didn't symbolize anything else. Our class discussions helped me a lot to put together the missing pieces. Overall I really enjoyed the novel Beloved. This is the first book I have read by Toni Morrison, but I'm sure that it won't be my last.