Paradise

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Summary: Paradise: To Dream the Impossible Dream.
Review: The word 'paradise' has utopian and religious connotations. Morrison, in her book, does not hesitate to utilize Biblical allusions - exodus, sin, and salvation. She begins her book with a poem, which I think reinforces the traditional view of a division between the secular and religious worlds. Indeed, the entire book seems to validate this passage; the first line in the section entitled Ruby, "They shoot the white girl first", hints that Paradise critiques those New Age and utopian thinkers who believe that there can be a heaven on Earth. Although the first line has racial and gender connotations, race and gender in the remainder of the book become secondary. For Paradise not only portrays conflicts between whites and blacks and between men and women, but also between vice and virtue, old testament god and new testament god, and tradition and progress. These issues comprise a small part of human existence but they have frequently been raised. Their endurance make any utopia impossible, as the fate of the women in the Convent demonstrate.

What has Paradise accomplished? Mainly, it proves that paradise is not a physical place resembling the Garden of Eden. But more importantly, Paradise criticizes utopian conceptions as delusional and harmful. However, Morrison rescues the pragmatist from despair. I believe that she conceives of paradise on earth as being a state of livelihood. Unfortunately, this is vaguely implied. One criticism of the book is that Morrison fails to adequately discuss as to what constitutes paradise. Overall, Paradise raises disturbing issues and is thought-provoking because it raises doubts about the civility of humans.

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Summary: very dissapointing
Review: I was sorely dissapointed with Paradise.The first page was great, but went down hill from there.I patiently waited for it to get better and expected the last chapters to make it all worthwhile,this novel was my first read of Toni Morrison, will read her again to see if this was just one of her great flops.

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Summary: Paradise less than heavenly
Review: Paradise, Toni Morrison's long awaited novel exhibits a kinder, gentler Morrison. Her writing still has the Ginsu fine edge we expect of Ms. Morrison, but this offering has a greater readability than previous Morrison works ie Tar Baby and Song of Solomon. Actually it doesn't become vintage Morrison until the end and "the great disappearing act." The story of Ruby and it's less than sparkling inhabitants is however, absorbing.

Morrison highlights the history of a town founded by strong righteous men through the lives of wounded, haunted, and finally empowered women. But with Morrison, the story is secondary. You know she can tell a good tale. It is the language, the lyrical linking of words that makes you pick-up and to be honest, sometimes put down a Morrison novel. In Paradise the language is beautiful without being burdonsome, moving without the melodrama in which Morrison sometimes gets lost. Rich with symbolism and cultural references, Paradise should provide rich discussions for book groups and classrooms for years to come.

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Summary: A challange, for a change.
Review: Paradise is a challange. Even Oprah had trouble with it. I was able to reach a deeper level of understanding by researching reviews by critics, reading the reviews on this page, and listening to several TM interviews. I also got the audio version which is read by the author. (Really a great performance.) Speaking for myself, I could not have gained a this level of understanding without assistance. TM's working title was "War." She saw a kind of war between different concepts of Paradise. She says that she poses questions rather than gives answers. The original founders of Ruby were pure, but their survivors became corrupt in their dealings with women and money. The women at the Convent established a kind of passive Paradise which protects them from the cruelties of the outside world. The survivors of the original settlers see their Paradise slipping away and blame the society of women at the Convent. (And was it not the woman Eve who led Adam to the original sin?) In order to maintain their Paradise the men of Ruby agree to perform an evil attack upon the women at the Convent, risking the wrath of the God, (the furrow of his brow), in whose name they created their own Paradise. Theirs is a God of Vengance, and not a God of Mercy. But will God claim his own Vengance because the men of Ruby do not show Mercy? In any case, both Paradises fail. Many of the events of "Paradise" are still not clear, but if you like a challange, go for it.

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Summary: Paradise
Review: This novel had it's moments, powerful moments, but alas, "only moments". I had heard a lot of praise for this novel but maybe I just missed the point. I know it's about the individuals in Ruby and the convent characters too, but it's being touted as this only happened in a small black town. I don't think so. It could have been anywhere, anybody USA. A small town with its own secrets.

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Summary: Not good reading
Review: If a writer can't get me involved in their story in the first 100 pages, I don't finish it. I read half of this book and realized that I was forcing myself to pick it up because of Oprah. I didn't like it and will not read any of her selections again.

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Summary: A Definite Connection
Review: Unlike some of the comments I read concerning this novel, I did not find this a difficult read at all. In fact, this book was able to envelope me into it's spirit almost immediately. I could feel the turmoil of the founding fathers and their fear of change as well as the frustration of those attempting to bring about change. It was as though I could envision the dilemma faced today by those persons struggling with acceptance while faced with pain but lacking the strength to keep fighting.

The characters were complex enough to give the reader a clear picture of their being yet vague enough to represent a multitude of ideas. The story was so well written that time became irrelevant. This was my first novel read for enjoyment after completion of my PHD and it was definitely an excellent choice.

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Summary: Confusion reigns in Paradise
Review: Morrison's new novel begins, "They shoot the white girl first." After that opening statement, it's all downhill. E.B. White once equated fine writing with clarity and simplicity. If indeed these two qualities are the mark of exemplary writing, Morrison's Paradise fails terribly. This tale is twisted and convoluted. There are no turns of phrase that strike this reader (a university literature professor) as exemplary and extraordinary. My thoughts, as I read this work, were thus: (1)if it had been written by a newcomer, it likely would not have been published and (2) Ms. Morrison has probably reached the stage in a literary career when awards and accolades intimidate editors and most reviewers from offering an honest appraisal. In short, confusion reigns in Paradise and, unless you have ample time to waste, it is a book best left on the shelf.

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Summary: Paradise: Morrison's Best , But Not Her Best Story
Review: My first Toni Morrison novel was _Song of Solomon_, which I read several years ago. That novel still resounds in my mind, so much so, that I often get into heated arguments about which is her best. Paradise is not her best story, but it is her best writing. Those who are not able to understand what Toni is doing in this piece, probably cannot stand the intensity of poetry, nor do they understand the collective history and minds of Americans of African descent. This novel is not about events, but rather the states of the minds of the characters and how they got to the way they are. If you are not used to Toni's writing, DO NOT start with this novel. Start with _Song of Solomon_ and work your way back. Only those with patient minds willing to take great leaps will be able to comprehend _Paradise_.

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Summary: I read fiction for entertainment
Review: By the time I got half way through Paradise, I decided to stop wasting my precious time and return the book to the library so someone else could read it. I didn't love or hate any of the characters in the book. I was unable to feel anything for any of them. I'm sure Toni Morrison wrote the book to be dissected by students in literature class. Quite frankly, if I want to dissect a book, it better be nonfiction. I used to be the type of person who would have to finish a book once I started reading it. Paradise has cured me of that. Life is too short to waste.