Beloved

Rating:
Summary: This book requires a high level of understanding
Review: This book was rather confusing to me. The style of writing Toni Morrison used, to me is unique, and requires the reader to have a higher level of understanding to completely comprehend the book, and still get the most out of it. The book skips around a lot, refering back to earlier happenings in the story that makes it diffucult to keep up. Along with the literature she used for the characters, made u stop and think about what she is trying to say. This book also took a lot of relating, you would have to put yourself in the time period and position the characters were in to really understand their rationalization and decision making. Overall this book wasn't my personal favorite, but I didn't dislike it either. I would recommend this book to anyone with understanding and compassion.

Rating:
Summary: Beloved was a moving and touching novel. Superb.
Review: The novel, Beloved, gave me a greater understanding of the inhumane treatment of the slaves during the 19th century and the hardships they endured after the war. Of all the characters in the novel, my favorite was Baby Suggs. She had a grasp on reality and wisdom which she shared with those in need. The character of Paul D. also struck a chord with me. All in all, this novel was delightful and a pleasure to read. It was a great contribution to American literature.

Rating:
Summary: I sure hope the movie's better than the book.
Review: What a sorry book to read right after I read Cold Mountain. I'm sorry, but this book does not agree with me!!! It does not make SENSE. The whole ghost concept was simply too unrealistic for me to swallow. It did have moments, like when the book talks about the tree on Sethe's back. Good! Great!!! But honestly, the book was very hard to follow at times. The ending, to me, was more than a little dissapointing. I suppose the overall explanation for the rating is I JUST DIDN'T like it!!! Like I said, Beloved can't even compare with Cold Mountain, which happens to be the best piece of literature on the planet. And if what they say is true, that films never measure up to the novel, oh, gosh... You couldn't PAY me to see that movie.

Rating:
Summary: This novel is dramatic, but allows room for the imagination.
Review: The novel allowed you to view slavery and the life afterwards through the eyes of an ex-slave. This novel moves you because of the vivid pictures that Morrison paints in your head while reading about the experiences of slaves on a plantation and their struggle afterwards. The way she writes is not vulgar;however, and allows you to interpret it as you will. After reading the story, I am a little more sympathetic towards the times of slavery. Even as an African-American I still think that I can constantly be made more aware of what happened during that era.

Rating:
Summary: it was a complete package,emotion,suspense,and power
Review: Toni Morrison is definately an extremely talented woman.Her writting style and technique is unlike anything I've read before.Although the book could get somewhat intrict in the thought and description I never lost interest.Since I was reading it for my senoir English class it was easier to understand some of the more difficult symbols scattered throughout the book. i wouldn't recomend Beloved for anyone looking for entertainment, rather you should read it if you are looking for a deeper meaning in slavery. Morrison captures the thoughts and emotions of the characters so well, you almost feel it yourself. I have to admit the mere idea of slavery was often just that, an idea. I never fully understood how aweful the slave experience must have been, not until now. I was more than moved. Morrison was able to bring the words off the page and into my soul. I am changed.

Rating:
Summary: Educating, yes. Entertaining, maybe.
Review: Personally stories in the slavery time period have never interested me all that much. But I enjoyed Toni Morrison's symbolize,writing style and word usage. Some of Beloved's incoherent babbling was interesting yet unsettling. The book focused on all of the individuals lives and not just centerlized on on person. These characteristics made the book more interesting. As I said before I enjoyed the writing but not so much the subject matter.

Rating:
Summary: this book gave a face to history
Review: I personally think is one of the better books I've read especially at school. It was an excellent depiction of what is was like to be a slave.The agony they experienced came to life with her vivid description of the characters and events of their past and present. It gave more understanding to their history than any history book could ever do!! I really enjoyed how Morrison left things unexplained in the beginning and slowly made it clear. It forced you to remember back to what you had read before.The storline itself was excellent. I also enjoyed the fact that all of the slaves stayed together after they left Sweet Home, and were able to share their livess with one another.I only wished that Beloved would have been able to with the family she had lost at such a young age. It was powerful in every direction that it went. I really enjoyed it!!!

Rating:
Summary: A memorable book.
Review: "Beloved" was my first Toni Morrison book ever, and to be honest, I was greatly surprised by her writing style. The way that she writes, her style, is very different from previous authors I have read, and I like it. This novel was one that helped me understand how slavery affected real people. It made everything more personal, unlike the numbers in history books. I'm not sure that I had a specific favorite part in the book, though I did enjoy reading about the life that Halle and Sethe had had together before they split up. I'm not sure if I would ever have read this book unless I had to in my 12th grade AP English class. I'm glad that I read it, though I didn't like all of the book. I hope everyone learns something when they've finished reading, like I have.

Rating:
Summary: "Beloved" is an educational and exciting book about slavery
Review: "Beloved" wasn't exactly how I expected it to be. I thought that it would just be another story about a haunted house and a ghost. It turned out to be so much more than that. I guess I never really realized what the Africans went through as slaves. Some parts of the book were so vivid and gruesome. It really opened my eyes about how these people were really treated. The book was very well written. Toni Morrison did a great job of detailing things in such a way that they seemed real. It was one of the best fiction novels I have ever read. I would definately recommend "Beloved" to anyone who is looking for a dramatic, eye opening novel.

Rating:
Summary: An insprational novel
Review: From the first page of the book, to the final words, "Beloved", by Toni Morrison is a book that I found impossible to put down. Once you open the book, and start reading, you are pulled into the lives and times of Sethe, and the other characters in the book. The only parts that I didn't understand were the parts when Beloved,herself was speaking. Being that she was speaking of a different place, a place that noone has been to to explain it, it is understandable to me that those parts were confusing. The best part, in my opinion was the end. I loved the book, but the way that the last chapter was written was what made my opinion soar. The story was desturbing, but it also made me think of what the slaves really went through. as Toni Morrison said, "It was not a story to pass on."