The Bluest Eye is a few stories of how various people grow up. Each story surrounds the same juncture, each story has a different view point on the same juncture. Society creates a value system in the way people think of others. Situations occur with the main characters who do not share the same preferences as others, causing unconformable situations as it is difficult to express how one behaves with what society pretends how one should behave. Pecola takes the differences out on her self more than other people, claiming a lack of blue eyes as the problem and the attainment of them is the cure for many ailments rather then the fact the she does not share other peoples preferences. Not an example of great writing as there is a lack of flow. The author does convey some meaning. ( )

This was my first read by Toni Morrison. I was drawn to it because it is on the endangered book list in my state. I LOVED this book. This woman can write. One of the saddest, most eye opening, and moving books I have ever read. I look forward to diving into more works by her. ( )

I don't even know where to begin. Brutal...yet beautiful. I'll probably never forget this one. ( )

Read this one the old fashioned way: checked the book out from the public library.
Known for its insights into the hearts of people feeling rejected, dejected, and ornery as a result, this is a sure cure if you fear you’re feeling overly ebullient. ( )

READERS SIDENOTE: I feel at times compelled to read a book because of its hype, or it won an award, or it has a snazzy cover; in this case, The Bluest Eye was not only a National Bestseller, it was a winner of The Nobel Prize in Literature - that's a big deal. Unfortunately, this, like many that have caught my eye because of extraneous reasons rather than my gut based on "the back flap," fell flat. This flatness was not because of poor writing or bad subject matter; it was because of the same reason that prompted me to pick it up: the hype, and my, in turn, expectation.

The Bluest Eye is a story of true color; Pecola Breedlove's ebony skin and her desire for blue eyes - to make her beautiful. In the afterward, Ms. Morrison pens that she doesn't want the reader to pity Pecola, but it's hard not to. As a mother, as a person who always found fault in her appearance, I read the book with a mixture of sadness, empathy, pity, and guilt (my eyes are not blue, but my skin is white).

The book was not to derive my guilt but to enlighten me, I'm sure, which it did - I felt deeply for Pecola's dream to be what she could never; in her case, a girl with blue eyes. Ms. Morrison does an exceptional job at causing the reader to see their innocuous fortune through the eyes of those who are told they are not as blessed.

I got lost a couple of times as the book wandered down a path to call out an example or point and then felt jolted back when the scene would shift, and I again understood where I was and with whom I was interacting as the reader. I guess this inability to follow would be my issue, as who am I to discredit or downplay the scholars voting on the highest acclaim in literature.

Would I recommend the Bluest Eye? Yes. I think we all need to be stretched, academically and socially. ( )