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نژاد
آيا ما همان موجودی هستيم كه همه چيزش واقعا وابسته به رنگ پوستش است؟ تونی ماريسن در اين كتاب نكوهنده و داغ‌زنند� نژاد را از دل داستان‌ها� افرادی بيرون می‌كش� كه به خاطر نژادشان تحقير شده و محروم مانده‌ان�. دختر سياه جوانی كه مشتاق چشمان آبی عروسك است، ميان پستی و پريشانی حركتی مارپيچ انجام می‌ده�. يك دوستی بر سر خاطره‌ا� جدال‌برانگي� از هم می‌پاش�. يك برده� سابق كه اسير سبحی پرحرف و تنها شده است، مجبور است خانه� سابق را پيش چشم بياورد. نوشته‌ها� ماريسن درباره� نژاد كه عجيب و نامنتظره، ولی مثل هميشه تكان‌دهند� هستند، ما را تا اعماق دل و ذهن انسانيت رنجيده‌ما� پايين می‌برند�
166 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2017
71 people are currently reading
2,334 people want to read
About the author
Toni Morrison
223books21.8kfollowersChloe Anthony Wofford Morrison, known as Toni Morrison, was an American novelist and editor. Her first novel, The Bluest Eye, was published in 1970. The critically acclaimed Song of Solomon (1977) brought her national attention and won the National Book Critics Circle Award. In 1988, Morrison won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved (1987); she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1993.
Born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison graduated from Howard University in 1953 with a B.A. in English. Morrison earned a master's degree in American Literature from Cornell University in 1955. In 1957 she returned to Howard University, was married, and had two children before divorcing in 1964. Morrison became the first black female editor for fiction at Random House in New York City in the late 1960s. She developed her own reputation as an author in the 1970s and '80s. Her novel Beloved was made into a film in 1998. Morrison's works are praised for addressing the harsh consequences of racism in the United States and the Black American experience.
The National Endowment for the Humanities selected Morrison for the Jefferson Lecture, the U.S. federal government's highest honor for achievement in the humanities, in 1996. She was honored with the National Book Foundation's Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters the same year. President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 29, 2012. She received the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction in 2016. Morrison was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2020.
Born and raised in Lorain, Ohio, Morrison graduated from Howard University in 1953 with a B.A. in English. Morrison earned a master's degree in American Literature from Cornell University in 1955. In 1957 she returned to Howard University, was married, and had two children before divorcing in 1964. Morrison became the first black female editor for fiction at Random House in New York City in the late 1960s. She developed her own reputation as an author in the 1970s and '80s. Her novel Beloved was made into a film in 1998. Morrison's works are praised for addressing the harsh consequences of racism in the United States and the Black American experience.
The National Endowment for the Humanities selected Morrison for the Jefferson Lecture, the U.S. federal government's highest honor for achievement in the humanities, in 1996. She was honored with the National Book Foundation's Medal of Distinguished Contribution to American Letters the same year. President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on May 29, 2012. She received the PEN/Saul Bellow Award for Achievement in American Fiction in 2016. Morrison was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 2020.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 1, 2018
How have I not read any Toni Morrison before? I've been totally missing out!
May 3, 2020
Still annoyed I got sucked into buying some of these Vintage Minis thinking they were full-length essays rather than the excerpts of books that they are.
That being said, the essay that was in here�'Making America White Again' was amazing. It's been a while since I read any Morrison, but I hope this has given me the little push I needed.
That being said, the essay that was in here�'Making America White Again' was amazing. It's been a while since I read any Morrison, but I hope this has given me the little push I needed.
August 9, 2017
'Making America White Again' is a fantastic essay.
January 14, 2018
Opening lines: ‘At fifty-two, Macon Dead was as imposing a man as he had been at forty-two, when Milkman thought he was the biggest thing in the world.�
February 26, 2022
I just can not-
I have wasted all of this time not reading any of Toni Morrison’s works and now I have a lot of catch up to do. I have never read anything that is so articulated and precise- encapsulating every intricate emotion that has made me feel inextricably bound to her writing. Safe to assume that I may have found my new favourite author.
I have wasted all of this time not reading any of Toni Morrison’s works and now I have a lot of catch up to do. I have never read anything that is so articulated and precise- encapsulating every intricate emotion that has made me feel inextricably bound to her writing. Safe to assume that I may have found my new favourite author.
October 20, 2018
4.25
Holy moly! I've been reticent about reading Morrison forever. Every time I see one of her books on a bookstore shelf my inner voice says, "nope". If I hadn't been attracted to this little Vintage Mini for Black History month, who knows when/if I would have picked her up. Thank you Vintage Mini for you have opened my mind and my heart! Toni Morrison is truly brilliant! Not only in her mind blowing prose, but she sees peoples souls. Her stories discuss racial, social and political topics most don't want to touch, but she approaches it in a way that teaches, awakens one to the truth, but without turning them off.
This mini contains excerpts from Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye, Beloved (my least favorite), a short, Recitatif and an essay, Making America White Again. I underlined quite a bit in such a little book and made quite a few annotations. Making America White Again had me a bit riled, obviously I still have some lessons to learn, and brought up many questions- which I'm dying to discuss!
I'm going to share some of my favorite/most affecting quotes.
Song of Solomon - the life of a black man in Michigan
"But people who lynch and slice off people's balls- they're crazy, Guitar, crazy. Every time somebody does a thing like that to one of us, they say the people who did it were crazy or ignorant. That's like saying they were drunk. Or constipated. Why isn't cutting a man's eyes out, cutting his nuts off, the kind of thing you never get to drunk or ignorant to do? And more to the point, how come Negroes, the craziest, most ignorant people in America, don't get that crazy and that ignorant? No. White people are unnatural. As a race they are unnatural. And it takes a strong effort of the will to overcome an unnatural enemy."
The Bluest Eye - a story about what a black girl thinks makes one pretty
" He does not see her because there's nothing to see." " She has seen it lurking in the eyes of white people. So. The distaste must be for her, her blackness. All things in her flux and anticipation. But her blackness is static and dread. "
Beloved- told through an escaped slaves perspective- women having equality and choices " ... there was Sweet Home ... It never looked as terrible as it was and it made her wonder if hell was a pretty place too. Fire and brimstone alright, but hidden in lacy groves. Boys hanging from the most beautiful sycamores in the world."
Recitatif - a short
" Racial strife. The word made me think of a bird- a big shrieking bird..."'
Making America White Again - This essay is loaded! I am going to form some questions and if you would like to discuss them I would love to, respectful manner.
1- What are some ways white people try to keep their perception of white superiority?
2- Is America defined by color?
3- Does America expect immigrants to assimilate so "it can hold whiteness as a unifying force"?
Holy moly! I've been reticent about reading Morrison forever. Every time I see one of her books on a bookstore shelf my inner voice says, "nope". If I hadn't been attracted to this little Vintage Mini for Black History month, who knows when/if I would have picked her up. Thank you Vintage Mini for you have opened my mind and my heart! Toni Morrison is truly brilliant! Not only in her mind blowing prose, but she sees peoples souls. Her stories discuss racial, social and political topics most don't want to touch, but she approaches it in a way that teaches, awakens one to the truth, but without turning them off.
This mini contains excerpts from Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye, Beloved (my least favorite), a short, Recitatif and an essay, Making America White Again. I underlined quite a bit in such a little book and made quite a few annotations. Making America White Again had me a bit riled, obviously I still have some lessons to learn, and brought up many questions- which I'm dying to discuss!
I'm going to share some of my favorite/most affecting quotes.
Song of Solomon - the life of a black man in Michigan
"But people who lynch and slice off people's balls- they're crazy, Guitar, crazy. Every time somebody does a thing like that to one of us, they say the people who did it were crazy or ignorant. That's like saying they were drunk. Or constipated. Why isn't cutting a man's eyes out, cutting his nuts off, the kind of thing you never get to drunk or ignorant to do? And more to the point, how come Negroes, the craziest, most ignorant people in America, don't get that crazy and that ignorant? No. White people are unnatural. As a race they are unnatural. And it takes a strong effort of the will to overcome an unnatural enemy."
The Bluest Eye - a story about what a black girl thinks makes one pretty
" He does not see her because there's nothing to see." " She has seen it lurking in the eyes of white people. So. The distaste must be for her, her blackness. All things in her flux and anticipation. But her blackness is static and dread. "
Beloved- told through an escaped slaves perspective- women having equality and choices " ... there was Sweet Home ... It never looked as terrible as it was and it made her wonder if hell was a pretty place too. Fire and brimstone alright, but hidden in lacy groves. Boys hanging from the most beautiful sycamores in the world."
Recitatif - a short
" Racial strife. The word made me think of a bird- a big shrieking bird..."'
Making America White Again - This essay is loaded! I am going to form some questions and if you would like to discuss them I would love to, respectful manner.
1- What are some ways white people try to keep their perception of white superiority?
2- Is America defined by color?
3- Does America expect immigrants to assimilate so "it can hold whiteness as a unifying force"?
June 29, 2020
What a masterful writer. This short book is a collection of a short story, an essay, and extracts from three novels (which I wish were more contextualized, but I am going to read them soon anyways). I can't recall feeling as strongly about any English prose as I do about Morrison's, how it manages to bring together poetry, and cruelty, and intricate images, and very, very deep thinking. I am clearly out of my depth when I read her and I keep her words with me, her questions too, to slowly hear her as fully as I can.
Some quotes:
"When I learned how repulsive this disinterested violence was, that it was repulsive because it was disinterested, my shame floundered about for refuge. The best hiding place was love. Thus the conversion from pristine sadism to fabricated hatred, to fraudulent love. I learned much later to worship her, just as I learned to delight in cleanliness, knowing, even as I learned, that change was adjustment without improvement."
"Somewhere between retina and object, between vision and view, his eyes draw back, hesitate, and hover. At some fixed point in time and space he senses that he need not waste the effort of a glance. He does not see her, because for him there is nothing to see. How can a fifty-two-year-old white immigrant storekeeper with the taste of potatoes and beer in his mouth, his mind honed on the doe-eyed Virgin Mary, his sensibilities blunted by a permanent awareness of loss, /see/ a black girl? Nothing in his life even suggested that the feat was possible, not to say desirable or necessary."
"Here they learn the rest of the lesson begun in those soft houses with porch swings and pots of bleeding heart: how to behave. The careful development of thrift, patience, high morals, and good manners. In short, how to get rid of the funkiness. The dreadful funkiness of passion, the funkiness of nature, the funkiness of the wide range of human emotions. Wherever it erupts, this Funk, they wipe it away; where it crusts, they dissolve it; wherever it drips, flowers, or clings, they find it and fight it until it dies. They fight this battle all the way to the grave. The laugh that is a little too loud; the enunciation a little too round; the gesture a little too generous. They hold their behind in for fear of a sway too free; when they were lipstick, they never cover the entire mouth for fear of lips too thick and they worry, worry, worry about the edges of their hair. they never seem to have boyfriends, but they always marry."
Some quotes:
"When I learned how repulsive this disinterested violence was, that it was repulsive because it was disinterested, my shame floundered about for refuge. The best hiding place was love. Thus the conversion from pristine sadism to fabricated hatred, to fraudulent love. I learned much later to worship her, just as I learned to delight in cleanliness, knowing, even as I learned, that change was adjustment without improvement."
"Somewhere between retina and object, between vision and view, his eyes draw back, hesitate, and hover. At some fixed point in time and space he senses that he need not waste the effort of a glance. He does not see her, because for him there is nothing to see. How can a fifty-two-year-old white immigrant storekeeper with the taste of potatoes and beer in his mouth, his mind honed on the doe-eyed Virgin Mary, his sensibilities blunted by a permanent awareness of loss, /see/ a black girl? Nothing in his life even suggested that the feat was possible, not to say desirable or necessary."
"Here they learn the rest of the lesson begun in those soft houses with porch swings and pots of bleeding heart: how to behave. The careful development of thrift, patience, high morals, and good manners. In short, how to get rid of the funkiness. The dreadful funkiness of passion, the funkiness of nature, the funkiness of the wide range of human emotions. Wherever it erupts, this Funk, they wipe it away; where it crusts, they dissolve it; wherever it drips, flowers, or clings, they find it and fight it until it dies. They fight this battle all the way to the grave. The laugh that is a little too loud; the enunciation a little too round; the gesture a little too generous. They hold their behind in for fear of a sway too free; when they were lipstick, they never cover the entire mouth for fear of lips too thick and they worry, worry, worry about the edges of their hair. they never seem to have boyfriends, but they always marry."
July 26, 2020
Half of this were excepts and forewords from her books I had already read. Still good though!
June 19, 2017
*3.5 stars
Nowadays, Race is a touchy subject. And with good reason; having so many negative emotions and experiences connoted with it can make it difficult to discuss, but it's something we should never stop discussing, which is why I'm happy books like this exist.
'Race' consists of 3 Toni Morrison novel extracts, 1 short story to follow up, and a very short essay at the end. While I did very much enjoy the layout of this book, I thought the lengths of each section were out of proportion. There's something to be said about showing as opposed to just telling, which is why I think it was a great idea to open the book with extracts from novels that deal with race, but the final essay should have been a lot longer, or there should have been multiple essays included in place of the short story which I thought was the weakest part of the book.
Showing is essential for this kind of subject yes, but these extracts needed to be put into context more than they were here. I felt the essay at the end didn't do enough to explain why the stories were important, and that people still go through what the fictional characters went through. It focused more on the mindset responsible for electing Trump, which is important, but shouldn't have been the sole focus of the essay.
As for the novel extracts themselves, I thought they were brilliant! Each one followed a different type of character, from a vengeful young black man to a helpless, conflicted little black girl and were all so powerful. They highlighted how anger and racism - more often than not - only breed more of the same, from both sides, from white and black people alike. They highlighted the ways in which black people were forced to adapt to racism before slavery was abolished. And they highlighted how being a victim of racism can haunt you for the rest of your life.
So yeah while I had problems with the final two sections of this book, I still can't help but recommend this to everyone, on the strength of the first three sections, and the fact that it isn't a very long read!
Nowadays, Race is a touchy subject. And with good reason; having so many negative emotions and experiences connoted with it can make it difficult to discuss, but it's something we should never stop discussing, which is why I'm happy books like this exist.
'Race' consists of 3 Toni Morrison novel extracts, 1 short story to follow up, and a very short essay at the end. While I did very much enjoy the layout of this book, I thought the lengths of each section were out of proportion. There's something to be said about showing as opposed to just telling, which is why I think it was a great idea to open the book with extracts from novels that deal with race, but the final essay should have been a lot longer, or there should have been multiple essays included in place of the short story which I thought was the weakest part of the book.
Showing is essential for this kind of subject yes, but these extracts needed to be put into context more than they were here. I felt the essay at the end didn't do enough to explain why the stories were important, and that people still go through what the fictional characters went through. It focused more on the mindset responsible for electing Trump, which is important, but shouldn't have been the sole focus of the essay.
As for the novel extracts themselves, I thought they were brilliant! Each one followed a different type of character, from a vengeful young black man to a helpless, conflicted little black girl and were all so powerful. They highlighted how anger and racism - more often than not - only breed more of the same, from both sides, from white and black people alike. They highlighted the ways in which black people were forced to adapt to racism before slavery was abolished. And they highlighted how being a victim of racism can haunt you for the rest of your life.
So yeah while I had problems with the final two sections of this book, I still can't help but recommend this to everyone, on the strength of the first three sections, and the fact that it isn't a very long read!
April 15, 2022
*Score: 7.5/10*
This is a collection of few excerpts from other Toni Morrison novels (Beloved, which I have read, The Bluest Eye, and Song of Solomon), as well as one short story called Recitatif, and one essay about "Making America White Again".
I was not a big fan of Beloved, though I appreciated it for what it is. Based on this book, I think I will not enjoy Song of Solomon as well so might avoid it, but I loved what I read here from The Bluest Eye, so that will be one I pick up to read it fully. It had some strong imagery and very focused prose from Toni Morrison.
The Short story was excellent, also plays on Morrison's strength. When she is aiming to be deep like in Beloved, it didn't come very naturual. Here, she writes very simply and hence imo more effectively, and the story comes around full circle in a very organic way. Its about a friendship of a white girl and black girl in an orphanage, and how their lives intersect as they grow older. The essay was very very short, but also interesting, discussing white pride and dignity in a unique twist.
Overall, this books serves as a good preview of what you should expect from Toni Morrison, and how her style can vary. Even though she is not an all time favorite as her style seems to be hit or miss to me, but I have huge respect for her unique flavor on talking about Racial matters.
This is a collection of few excerpts from other Toni Morrison novels (Beloved, which I have read, The Bluest Eye, and Song of Solomon), as well as one short story called Recitatif, and one essay about "Making America White Again".
I was not a big fan of Beloved, though I appreciated it for what it is. Based on this book, I think I will not enjoy Song of Solomon as well so might avoid it, but I loved what I read here from The Bluest Eye, so that will be one I pick up to read it fully. It had some strong imagery and very focused prose from Toni Morrison.
The Short story was excellent, also plays on Morrison's strength. When she is aiming to be deep like in Beloved, it didn't come very naturual. Here, she writes very simply and hence imo more effectively, and the story comes around full circle in a very organic way. Its about a friendship of a white girl and black girl in an orphanage, and how their lives intersect as they grow older. The essay was very very short, but also interesting, discussing white pride and dignity in a unique twist.
Overall, this books serves as a good preview of what you should expect from Toni Morrison, and how her style can vary. Even though she is not an all time favorite as her style seems to be hit or miss to me, but I have huge respect for her unique flavor on talking about Racial matters.
January 2, 2019
This was a very strong collection of stories and essays by Toni Morrison where she discusses race and racism from many different perspectives.
I loved that she was able to show different sides of racism, not only from white people, but black people as well. She was able to convey how much racism or being a product of racism really affects you, and how that stigma never goes away no matter how much time has passed.
My favorite excerpt was from her novel The Bluest Eye, about a young black girl who feels ugly, and has always wished for blue eyes, so that she will be as beautiful and beloved as all the blond, blue-eyed children in America. This story explores the notions of race and beauty and how a woman is adversely affected when she does not fit the stereotypical profile of what constitutes beauty.
Toni Morrison reminds readers how hurtful racism is, and that the effects of racism trickle down to people's self-esteem and confidence and self-worth for the rest of their lives. Morrison brings forward a point of view that is not usually discussed in stories depicting race, and for that I felt that this book and these stories would remain with me much longer than other books would.
I loved that she was able to show different sides of racism, not only from white people, but black people as well. She was able to convey how much racism or being a product of racism really affects you, and how that stigma never goes away no matter how much time has passed.
My favorite excerpt was from her novel The Bluest Eye, about a young black girl who feels ugly, and has always wished for blue eyes, so that she will be as beautiful and beloved as all the blond, blue-eyed children in America. This story explores the notions of race and beauty and how a woman is adversely affected when she does not fit the stereotypical profile of what constitutes beauty.
Toni Morrison reminds readers how hurtful racism is, and that the effects of racism trickle down to people's self-esteem and confidence and self-worth for the rest of their lives. Morrison brings forward a point of view that is not usually discussed in stories depicting race, and for that I felt that this book and these stories would remain with me much longer than other books would.
May 4, 2019
This is a great introduction to Toni Morrison’s work. Race features extracts from Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye, Beloved, the short story Recitatif and the essay Make America White Again.
Both Recitatif and Make America White Again were the works that really stood out for me, for the relevance they currently still have.
Recitatif the short story of the friendship between a black and white girl from pre-teens to adulthood, had me confronting my own assumptions and prejudices about race.
From the outset you’re made aware that one of girls are black the other white, however you don’t know if this is Twyla or Roberta.
Make America White Again provides an explanation of where the hate crime against people of colour stems from.
Both Recitatif and Make America White Again were the works that really stood out for me, for the relevance they currently still have.
Recitatif the short story of the friendship between a black and white girl from pre-teens to adulthood, had me confronting my own assumptions and prejudices about race.
From the outset you’re made aware that one of girls are black the other white, however you don’t know if this is Twyla or Roberta.
Make America White Again provides an explanation of where the hate crime against people of colour stems from.
December 26, 2018
I really enjoyed this one, if you can talk about enjoyment when you’re reading stories about race and racism. I also thought it was interesting that she showed the racism of some of the black characters, as well as some of the white ones. It certainly gave me a lot of food for thought.
This is another one of the books in the Vintage Mini Modern series that I’ve been working through, and it features selections from Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye and Beloved, as well as a few other bits and bobs including an essay on racism in Trump’s America. That makes it more relevant than ever, even if it is a little depressing sometimes. Read it!
This is another one of the books in the Vintage Mini Modern series that I’ve been working through, and it features selections from Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye and Beloved, as well as a few other bits and bobs including an essay on racism in Trump’s America. That makes it more relevant than ever, even if it is a little depressing sometimes. Read it!
January 10, 2018
The last essay of the book "Making America White Again" is a must read for everyone interested in the politics of Black oppression and by extension the politics of universal repression and bigotry. The book consists of sections selected from three novels of Morrison viz. The Song of Solomon, Beloved and The Bluest Eye. In addition to this it also comes with a short story all of which presents a scathing commentary on the effects of racial fanaticism and how it effects both white and black lives.
November 17, 2019
“All things in her are flux and anticipation. But her blackness is static and dread.� These small slivers of different books by Toni Morrison focus on the matter of Race. And how. Capturing immeasurable anger as well as equal human empathy, Morrison pushes this theme to the foreground with something like pride felt between the lines. The only disappointment is being thrown from one extract to another, rather than being able to plunge into the entire novel.
June 12, 2020
Reading this just made me want to read all of the books whose excerpts were included. It’s beautiful and powerful writing but, having read Beloved in full, I think it doesn’t contain the power of a full story.
Read this for a work book club where we’re reading several books on race (coincidental timing with the prominence of the BLM movement right now), so will be interested in hearing the perspectives from others on how the contents of this book made them feel about race. Especially the essay Making America White Again, which was written so recently.
Read this for a work book club where we’re reading several books on race (coincidental timing with the prominence of the BLM movement right now), so will be interested in hearing the perspectives from others on how the contents of this book made them feel about race. Especially the essay Making America White Again, which was written so recently.
Read
August 14, 2020I’m having real trouble rating this one. Not because that I absolutely love how Morrison writes. I just didn’t expect this book to be a small collection of earlier works without her own reflections where she discusses why she wrote those passages.
I have to say, though, this is a great introduction to her works and it could be a good basis for discussion about race among those who don’t have that much knowledge about racial issues. But it’s not something I would recommend to those who are already familiar with her work and have read these works before.
I have to say, though, this is a great introduction to her works and it could be a good basis for discussion about race among those who don’t have that much knowledge about racial issues. But it’s not something I would recommend to those who are already familiar with her work and have read these works before.
December 22, 2017
Short excerpts from Toni Morrison's various books.
Biting looks at race and race relations.
Biting looks at race and race relations.
June 2, 2020
The last part was an accurate reflection of our time
January 13, 2021
Toni Morrison's writing is out of this world. Her language goes from concise to ornate and she always knows just what tone to use. She's truly an icon.
November 18, 2021
i need to read more of toni morrison.
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December 22, 2023i didnt realise this was just extracts from her books which ive already mostly read, but it still slayed
June 12, 2020
Powerful! A great introduction into Toni Morrison's work. I have already read Beloved and now I really want to read more by her.
August 18, 2024
I think this book is a brief for the books that Toni has written. I am planning to read her books that were mentioned here. such a strong writing!
These kind of books are a slap to every human being who claim that we are civilized! civilization can't coexist with discrimination!
These kind of books are a slap to every human being who claim that we are civilized! civilization can't coexist with discrimination!
September 1, 2017
Toni Morrison is a great writer, no doubt about that, and I really enjoyed the included short story Recitatif, but I must admit that I struggled with the excerpts of her novels. As I'm not American I didn't recognize immediately all name or event references and thus I could not easily understand what period of time she was talking about - and that seems to change quite often.
What is it that keeps the idea of white supremacy so alive, not only in the USA? Changing the laws obviously wasn't enough.
What is it that keeps the idea of white supremacy so alive, not only in the USA? Changing the laws obviously wasn't enough.
January 6, 2022
'What good is a man's life if he can't even choose what to die for?'.
These powerfully written assays (extracts from her books) are an accurate reflection of our times.
These powerfully written assays (extracts from her books) are an accurate reflection of our times.
January 30, 2022
astounding. an incredible piece, one that everyone should read.
August 26, 2017
'What good is a man's life if he can't even choose what to die for?'.
I don't normally read minis, and feel cheated if I just read parts of novels (probably an OCD thing- which, however didn't prevent me from giving back on books in the past because they just weren't worth it), but - as I normally do - I wandered into a bookshop on my travels, saw the pertinence of this to both the world and my life, and picked it up.
I've never read Toni Morrison before, but I was especially intrigued by the excerpt from The Bluest Eye. She captures with delicate precision the insecurities and pangs of one who grows up different from the majority. What I also liked is that she tackles the kind of racism that is rampant between non-whites, that we also tend to ignore; abhorring those of our race who are darker or lighter than us.
Recitatif is a smartly written short-story where the reader is kept guessing about the racial identity of the two main characters. In essence, it helps to strip away the stereotypes we tend to apportion to characters based on their colour or background.
The collection ends with a thought-provoking, balanced essay about what America is coming to. I've always had a special place in my heart for the country, but recent events have challenged this; a rottenness seems to have set in, leading to ugly confrontations.
One can only hope that mutual understanding emerges from this confrontation. Perhaps such a book in the hand might enlighten the ignorant, assuming they are literate or intelligent enough.
Somehow, that's highly in doubt.
I don't normally read minis, and feel cheated if I just read parts of novels (probably an OCD thing- which, however didn't prevent me from giving back on books in the past because they just weren't worth it), but - as I normally do - I wandered into a bookshop on my travels, saw the pertinence of this to both the world and my life, and picked it up.
I've never read Toni Morrison before, but I was especially intrigued by the excerpt from The Bluest Eye. She captures with delicate precision the insecurities and pangs of one who grows up different from the majority. What I also liked is that she tackles the kind of racism that is rampant between non-whites, that we also tend to ignore; abhorring those of our race who are darker or lighter than us.
Recitatif is a smartly written short-story where the reader is kept guessing about the racial identity of the two main characters. In essence, it helps to strip away the stereotypes we tend to apportion to characters based on their colour or background.
The collection ends with a thought-provoking, balanced essay about what America is coming to. I've always had a special place in my heart for the country, but recent events have challenged this; a rottenness seems to have set in, leading to ugly confrontations.
One can only hope that mutual understanding emerges from this confrontation. Perhaps such a book in the hand might enlighten the ignorant, assuming they are literate or intelligent enough.
Somehow, that's highly in doubt.
May 2, 2020
Et par, tre smakebiter av Morrison som forfatter. Dette er det første jeg leser av henne, men definitivt ikke det siste! «The Bluest Eye» og «Believe» blir neste Morrison-prosjekter!
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