Toni Morrison- American Author Challenge

"Born on February 18, 1931, in Lorain, Ohio, Toni Morrison is a Nobel Prize- and Pulitzer Prize-winning American novelist, editor and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue and richly detailed black characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Song of Solomon and Beloved. Morrison has won nearly every book prize possible. She has also been awarded honorary degrees."



**This is part of our American Author Challenge 2014. This author will be read in April. The general discussion thread can be found right here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/162960

I have read at least 5 of Morrison's books and each one is wonderful. Much like, Faulkner and McCarthy, she is not always an easy read but her prose is powerful and darkly beautiful.

I will be reading Tar Baby this time around. It's hard to pin-point a favorite to recommend but Jazz could be the one. Beloved, however dark and disturbing, is also a Must-Read.

Song of Solomon is my choice for Morrison. All I need to do is find where it is...somewhere...on my shelves...I'm pretty sure...

Edited to remove nudge to Mark. (You can edit yours now, and I'll take this part off, and no one need ever know!)

Linda- Thanks! I made the correction. The old copy & paste catches you off guard sometime.

The Bluest Eye must be one of the saddest books I ever read, many many years ago. I don't think I've read another Morrison novel since. Maybe I was a little scared to because I, well, would usually rather not read sad stuff. I have, however, had Song of Solomon buried away in the pile for a long time and I have every intention of reading it next month.

Jazz is the one I tentatively have lined up to read.

I have Jazz on my shelf, so I'll probably read it, but I'd really like to read Beloved, which is at the library. If I have a good month, maybe I'll read both.

I read Beloved, probably before I started tracking things on LT. I remember enjoying it.

I read Beloved and thought it was okay (6/10 stars). Not looking forward too much to this month's read. How about something shortish/quick to read by her? Suggestions?

Mark, I may join you on Tar Baby. I also have several others on my shelves I could choose from and may read more than one.

I have read Beloved which I think is absolutely amazing, if difficult to read. Well worth it, but I probably wouldn't suggest it as a starting place.

The Bluest Eye is my other favorite. It's beautiful and heartbreaking - also more accessible than Beloved.

I don't think think she has written an "easy" book. She's written several short ones, but I can't imagine speeding through Morrison's writing. There is too much there.

I am looking forward to this month!

Morphy- I think A Mercy and or Home might work for you. Both are short books, but like Katie mentioned, the prose is very rich and dense at times.

Katie- I have to look in my old library journals, because I thought I had read the Bluest Eye, but I don't have record of it here. Actually, I should go back and read them all from the beginning.

I am looking forward to reading Beloved. I read Love but it was quite a long time ago so this is like another introduction. Thanks for the bio, Mark, I did not know Ms. Morrison is a fellow Ohioan.

I am going to read Paradise; as I picked up a copy. I am also thinking of a re-read of The Bluest Eyes, since it's short. I think that The Blues Eyes is probably what I'd recommend for a first Morrison.

I like Morrison; but some of her work is pretty rugged. I thought Beloved was brilliant, but having read the book couldn't imagine seeing the movie. I think Song of Solomon was my favorite.

Jazz or Beloved for me, I think.

I've read Beloved twice, so not that one for me. I think I'll try to snag a copy of Song of Solomon which I read in 1981 (how do I know this so specifically? you may ask -- I read it when I was in Poland). I recall loving it. I also may read The Bluest Eye which I have never read.

I'll be reading Home for this one as I've been meaning to read it since it came out. Toni Morrison is a favorite of mine and a couple of years ago I did a year-long focus on her work so had a chance to read or reread most of her books.

My favorites are Song of Solomon, Beloved, and Paradise. I also loved Sula. I would like to reread Tar Baby and Jazz and will if time permits.

Starred, Mark, thanks. I had decided to give Sula a go for the AAC, but based on your enthusiasm I'll make Jazz the one of hers I read after that.

I've only read Beloved and although I found Morrison's prose to be beautiful I just did not get this book. I found it totally weird.

Any suggestions as to what I should try in April that might be a bit easier? Seems like you either love her or hate her. Her writing, I mean, not actually her!

I thoroughly enjoyed both Beloved and The Bluest Eye. I found them both beautifully sad and all too real.
I think I'll go for Song of Solomon for April. Been meaning to read it for a while.

I'll read Beloved, but I only could get it in Italian for my Kindle, the beautiful title is Amatissima. I read the test chapter and was quite enchanted with the writing which seems to be very well translated.

I'm pretty sure I have Beloved on a shelf around here but now I'm hesitant about starting with that one.

I am really looking forward to reading Song of Solomon as I think it is one of only two of Toni Morrisons books I have not yet read (although many were read years ago). I may also sneek in a re-read of Beloved during April.

I've been lucky enough to hear Morrison read from her work, and interviewed twice live.

The second time she came to a phrase in reading one of her books, that she said in an ideal world she would wish to change (she didn't tell us what the phrase was!).

I ended up purchasing a copy of Home in the Chicago airport and read most of it on the plane. I will hold up and finish it the first of April.
I still may read Song of Solomon if I run across a copy in the next couple of weeks. :-)

Sula will be my AAC read for April. Last year I read Beloved for a class. I can't remember when a book impressed me so deeply. It was love at first read for me. I'm looking forward to April!

I will be listening to The Bluest Eye for the AAC. I started it because Overdrive sent it and I was stuck in the car without any audios. I'll go slow and let it go over into April.

Sorry, posted to wrong thread.

I'm going to finish Home before Morrison April arrives. Still, it's the AAC that inspired me to get this one at the Chicago airport and so far it's a wonderful little read.

I completed Home and gave it four stars. It's a powerful small novel warranting a re-read.

>28 EBT1002: Wonderful, Ellen--Home is my pick for April and you make we want to get to it right away!

I will be reading Beloved.

Well, I actually located my copy of Song of Solomon, so chances are, I will read it fairly soon.

Yah, for Morrison love! I plan on starting Tar Baby next week. I might just see if I can find Home too, since it's a shorty and getting the LT Seal of Approval.

Toni Morrison narrates her work so well. The Bluest Eye has layer upon layer. She brings you along so smoothly and then she slays with one turn of a phrase.

Why have I never read this woman's work?

I started listening to Sula this morning. It is read by Morrison whose voice is so rich and warm. My only problem is that I tend to only have listening time while driving and working out, and I don't think this is a good book to work out to! I have a hard copy, so may mix it up a bit...

My aim was to read Beloved, but I also picked up Home from the library. I hope to read both, but I am a little unsure if I want to tackle Beloved right now... :/

I've started Jazz and am enjoying it so far.

>36 tymfos: Terri, I finished my NetGalley tonight, so I'll probably try to check it out of the library tomorrow. I'm planning to start something non-fiction in a bit. I haven't decided which one yet! I've got the WWI one I know I want to read this month, but the ones I purchased for my Thingaversary are calling my name too.

I think I'm going to start Jazz this afternoon. Looking forward to it.

>38 lindapanzo: Oops. I forgot to check that one out today. It didn't make it onto my note to myself this morning.

Finished the audiobook of Home. Wasn't blown away, and the author's narration grated on my nerves every sentence of the way. It reminded me of a grumbling, lazy classmate from years gone by. Back then, I always thought, "just open your mouth and speak clearly." The author's voice reminded me so much of that other voice, I couldn't get past it. The story was ok.

>40 countrylife: - I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Morrison's narration. I love her voice, and think the thick, sort of syrupy quality of it, compliments the writing so well. That said, I have not yet read or listened to Home.

I was going to alternate the audio and printed version of Sula but ended up devouring the book in a few short hours of dedicated reading. It was a five star read for me. I just love her writing and the stories she has to tell. They aren't easy or comfortable but her writing carries me along.

I have both Home and Love waiting for me at the library. I couldn't choose between them, and they are both short, so......

>41 katiekrug: I also love Morrison's narration. I finished The Bluest Eye today and I cannot imagine anyone else telling the story.

I have downloaded The Bluest Eye and Sula as audiobooks. Out of my usual lane, but since gardening season is here, I'm going to give audiobooks another try. Both of these are unabridged and narrated by the author herself.

I've started Jazz. What amazing word pictures of life in the city and of Harlem in particular. Very, very different than Beloved, which is the only other Morrison book I've read.

I just finished Home - my first book by Toni Morrisson.

>45 streamsong: What amazing word pictures of life in the city

Well said! Morrison's word craft is amazing -- such vivid imagery.

I now have Jazz checked out. I'm in the middle of two other books so I really should wait until I finish one of the others, but I'm so tempted!

Don't you hate that? I was in the middle of two books, but just had to stop to read Home.

>49 LoisB: Well, I just finished one of them so now maybe I can justify it!

I plan to read The Bluest Eye this month, I think. I actually have a bunch of Toni Morrison books that I've never read (I think it was some sort of special bundle deal with one of the book-a-month clubs years ago), so I may change my mind depending on what people around here have to report.

I have Tar Baby out and ready to roll.

>45 streamsong: Janet- It's been many years but Jazz was one of my favorite Morrison titles.

Sula on audio, narrated by Toni Morrison herself, is wonderful. As long as you are listening distraction-free.

"His gray eyes drifted over the faces of such guests like a four 'o clock shadow on its way to twilight."

"He had a smile like Sunday."

- Tar Baby

^Read another nice chunk of this one today. If anyone is looking for something a bit more accessible, by Morrison, this one might fit the bill.

OK, I finished Jazz. I'm going to try to link to my comments on my thread:

https://www.librarything.com/topic/172156#4650641

I may start Beloved before the month is done, but I need a little break for some lighter fiction first.

ETA to add Hey, I think the link works! :)

>56 tymfos: I'm reading the part about Golden Gray right now.

Jazz came alive for me when I discovered (with online help) that you can consider the book a jazz performance with each of the players taking a lick - some giving their take on the original, other improvising into totally new melody lines and bits of the original being repeated. Since reading that, I've been having a great time with its structure. I've been pondering whether I can discern various instruments in the various stories, but so far, I'm not ready to commit. Fun to consider while reading, though.

>57 streamsong: That's great to know. I've been to a few Wynton Marsalis performances in my day. I'll have to keep that in mind.

I'm only on about page 22. Slow going for me. The writing is terrific but, as I say, I'm having a tough time getting going with it.

>57 streamsong: As I stated in my review, I'm not sure that I'm willing to commit to a re-read just to pick up on those nuances that I'm certain are there. I probably should have found that site before I began reading.

>59 thornton37814: My feelings exactly!

I just finished Home, which was a short listen and while I found it very good and had planned to read Sula this month as well, Morrison's novels reflect such harsh realities that I think I need to take her in small, well-spaced doses.

>61 Smiler69: I agree. After finishing Home, I started Beloved, but just couldn't get into it.

>62 LoisB: That was a valiant attempt on your part. I took a Coursera course last summer during which several books featured were rereads which I was happy to pick up again, but when it came to reading Beloved all over again, I balked and opted to read the SparkNotes instead. I found it so disturbing the first time, I had no desire at all to plunge myself back in that world. On the other hand, I look forward to revisiting The Bluest Eye eventually, although it's by no means lightweight either; not this month though!

i am well into Song of Solomon, and enjoying it immensely.

I finished Song of Solomon. It just keeps getting better, don't you think, Linda?

It's full of little surprises, that's for sure!

I'm really liking The Bluest Eye. Anyone read this one for a TIOLI challenge? Which one?

I don't think I saw anyone post this new picture book that Toni Morrison did with her son Slade, who is an artist:


Please Louise is about a timid girl who finds comfort and knowledge in a special place -- her local library. The book is dedicated "For librarians everywhere."

It's the kind of book that, IMO, should warm the heart of any book/library lover.

ETA to fix touchstone

I can't believe I've never read Morrison before this month. Beloved was so eerily haunting.... I've never read anything like it before.

I will definitely be reading more of her work!!

I finished Song of Solomon last week, and reviewed it on my thread, but forgot to put my thoughts here. SOoooo....here:

Macon Dead, III, is coming of age in the Southside of Chicago (you know, the "baddest part of town"), where his father is a prosperous and respected man of property (read "landlord"), his mother is the daughter of the first black physician in the city, and his two older sisters make velvet roses to sell to department stores while drifting into terminal spinsterhood. His parents' loveless marriage occasionally erupts into low-level violence. None of this seems to matter much to Macon (who is known in the community as "Milkman", for reasons unknown to him), until one night at the dinner table, when without forethought, he decks his father for hitting his mother. From that moment on, spurred partly by his father's peculiar version of the "she had it coming" speech, Milkman becomes more interested in his family, his identity, his life. He learns bits and pieces of his family history from various individuals; sometimes the pieces fit, but often they contradict one another and raise more questions than they answer. As Milkman grows older he becomes more and more determined to sort out his place in his "tribe", to learn why names are so important, and what Life and Love are really worth. His roots-journeys to his family's former homes in Danville, PA, and Shalimar, VA, as well as into his own head and heart, make for a captivating and beautiful story.

I completed Paradise today--better late than never! Morrison's writing is fantastic, and the setting was very intriguing, but I must confess that I found it difficult to follow the storyline and the number of characters. I was surprised, as I hadn't had that experience with other books by Morrison.

I thought Song of Solomon was a very fine novel, with complex well drawn characters. It had been on my shelf for some years, and was a treat to have such a good Morrison to read fresh for the first time.

I started Amatissima/Beloved last month but then had to put it on hold soon, I simply had no time for reading in April. Now I picked it up again 2 days ago and after having liked it much initially, I now (at about 45%) don't know what to think. There's so much I don't understand and I am not sure it's a language issue. what about that cherry tree (ciliegio) on her back? How do I have to imagine that?. Since the character Beloved turned up I like the book less. The language still flows beautifully though, also in Italian.
I'll certainly read more Morrison, but this one might not have been the best one to start with.