A little masterpiece of a novel, which for many reasons, none of which are a reflection on the work, I didn't enjoy reading, even though I could see Morrison's genius, insight and brilliance all through it. I even marked a couple passages where the prose or an observation made a particular impact on me. Overall, however, I was just not moved by the lives of Sula, Nel, their families and acquaintances. I don't feel that Morrison wanted to elicit sympathy for them, and that may be where she lost me. ( )

Like most people who've earned a degree in literature in the United States since 1990, I've read Toni Morrison's "Beloved" about three times. I really like parts of that one -- mostly the bit where the characters retell their past experiences or when the author goes head-to-head with William Faulkner. Much of the rest of that book seems a bit stagy to me, though, a bit stiff.

So Sula surprised me a little. It's a much looser affair than "Beloved", and while I can't call it a happy book, necessarily, it's got more room for eccentricity and its own sort of humor. Its lens is also a bit wider than that other novel's, too. It takes place over about seventy years -- one human lifespan -- and Morrison takes as her subject the entire black community living in the town of Medallion, Ohio, not just Nell and Sula, the two women at the novel's center. So we hear about war veterans that didn't come back quite right and pool halls and candy stores and small-town gossip even while Morrison works out some of the themes that she'd express more fully in "Beloved." We hear a lot about the characters' houses and their bodies and the all-consuming sense of emptiness some of them contend with. I don't know if I can say that "Sula" is as successful or as ambitious as "Beloved" is: the latter is due for a re-read. But for a novel that clocks at just under two hundred pages, it feels marvelously rich and complete, and features many examples of real high-quality prose, the stuff that separates the pretenders from the contenders, when all is done. This is an astonishingly polished and impressive performance, especially considering it was just Morrison's second novel. Recommended, especially if you couldn't understand why "Beloved" got such great reviews. ( )

One of Toni Morrison's early novels, "Sula" displays flashes of the brilliance of depth to come in "Song of Solomon" and "Beloved". An uncompromising and perplexing portrait of the realtionship between, Nel and Sula, two black girls/women in early 20th century rural Ohio. Tinged with violence and sorrow, and mysticism, it is of course, beautifully written. ( )

By turns lyrical and stark, rooted and fantastical, delicate and painful; Sula is a haunting novel. This is the story of two young girls, best friends, who grow to be very different women. More than that, though, it's the story of a vibrant community.

Nel and Sula are born and come of age in The Bottom (the black community in the hills above the richer, white town of Medallion). Following their lives we bear witness to the complex tapestry of the town which is held together by the shared pain and triumphs of its inhabitants.

Morrison weaves a vibrant tapestry around The Bottom within which the characters leap from the pages. These are real, whole, compelling characters with profound strengths and deep flaws. They wear their pain and loss with honour while moving on through life as best they can. Like all of us, they are simply human.

Toni Morrison has always taken my breath away and this was no exception. ( )

Sula and Nel are friends who grow up in an impoverished black community in Ohio in the 1920s. After their involvement in a tragic event, which they keep secret, their friendship begins to disintegrate. Nel pursues a traditional life, while Sula follows an alternative path. Sula’s actions are seen as immoral and Nel begins to feel a sense of superiority, which is reinforced by the townspeople. Themes include motherhood, friendship, racism, classism, and shame. Morrison’s writing is beautiful even though the topics and events are often horrific. In the end, there is a ray of hope, as one of the characters arrives at understanding and acceptance. I can appreciate the literary merit of this book, while also have difficulties with some of the more gruesome subject matter. ( )