Day 11 – Favorite Toni Morrison:
Today’s photo is from one of my favorite authors. I adore this edition because I love the photo of Toni 
Morrison rocking her afro on the back. Regal! I’ve had the pleasure of reading almost all of her work except Paradise and Love. I hope to get to them both before her new novel is released in March, I believe. The Bluest Eye is Morrison’s first novel and it so happens it is the first Morrison I read. I read it for a Black Women Writers class in my third year of studying English Literature. It opened my eyes to a whole different way of writing and telling a story. I can still remember how blown away by it I was. The writing style, the character the development, the story’s structure, etc. All of that perfection rolled up into a mere 164 pages. If you haven’t read it yet you really need to make the effort to read it before the end of the year. It’s poignant, will break your heart, but mostly make you think profoundly. What’s your favorite Morrison?
My pick is Song of Solomon. Perhaps my favorite because it was my first Toni Morrison read…perhaps my favorite because of the themes of self-realization, life’s purpose, and the complexities of interpersonal relationships: loves and losses….and maybe, I just loved the concept of “flying” and it’s ties and significance to the spiritual hymn, “I’ll Fly Away.”
I love Song of solomon too but I also love Tar Baby. I think it’s because they are literally the first three Morrison’s I read. I must admit I am partial to her earlier work. Of her later work I have a preference for Home. I just read a bit of her new book to come and I can’t wait. So relevant Here’s the link to check out. So good http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/09/sweetness-2
I recently purchased this book. I’ve heard some great things about it and I look forward to reading it.
I really enjoyed reading your post…as always 🙂
Thanks so much Makeda! I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Let me know what you think when you’re done. Is this your first TM? If not what’s your favorite so far?
You’re welcome. This will be my first TM. I’m not sure when I’ll read it, but it will be before the end of the year. I’ll probably do a Booktube video on it when I’m finished.
Well that’s great to hear! Will be looking forward to it. 🙂
My favorite Toni Morrison is Song of Solomon. I love them all, but that’s my favorite.
Hi Heather! I knew you’d say that. I believe a lot of readers love SOS. Who doesn’t! I think it’s number 2 or 3 on my list of loves by TM along with Tar Baby, which I encourage you to pick up at some point too.:)
I’ve read them all at least twice. I’m really looking forward to reading her new one when it comes out–I don’t want to wait!
That’s great! If you’re interested here’s a taste of her new novel http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/09/sweetness-2
Hi Didi and friends! Love the vintage book cover for The Bluest Eye! This is a toughie but I think I have to go with Sula because it was the 1st Toni Morrison book I ever read: this was in the late 1970s and I didn’t know literature could tell a story that way; it knocked me out. Tar Baby is super close second!
Hey Leslie! So funny how everybody is usually super thrown by their first Morrison. lol! get it though. Incredible writing and storytelling. I think Tar Baby is my second favorite too although Song of Solomon is right the in third. Thanks for participating! 🙂
It’s such a long time since I read Beloved, when I was a teenager and I remember having a little difficulty with it and thinking I wasn’t intellectual enough to understand why everyone was raving about it. Every other book after that of hers that I read, made me feel more grown up, since I could understand them more. I’m not sure if that was due to age and maturity or the book itself, I just remember that awkward teenage feeling of not being as sophisticated a reader as my peers. I thought Love was excellent and my most recent read Sula was fabulous. I still have a few unread on the shelf to pick up, I love how prolific she is, such a wonderful writer.
I agree that Beloved is a very difficult novel especially for a teenager. Glad you persevered. It was worth it. I still have Paradise and Love left to read and I want to do that before her new book comes out. Huge TBR at the moment….
Beloved was difficult for me to read in my 20s!
It was difficult for me too but I was so happy that I soldiered through to the end. Powerful read but I’m due for a reread.
Beloved was difficult for me to read when I was in my 20s!