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cardulelia carduelis's Reviews > Sula

Sula by Toni Morrison
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A solid 3.5.

I didn't really understand the point of this book until I read the foreword (and, as an aside, I'm glad I waited because, as is usually the case with forewords, it's replete with spoilers. Why not make it an afterword?) which is written by Morrison.
A book with a name as its title is usually indicative of a character-driven narrative and this is no exception. The problem is that all of these characters are absolutely batshit.
(view spoiler)
I couldn't rationale the behaviour of any of them, apart from the occasional WWI veteran struggling with PTSD.
Another thing that bothered me is that this book should be called Bottom or Medallion but not Sula. Sula features very little in it. It's more a potrait of the town and its people than of one strange character.

That's not to say there aren't things to like about the book though. The writing has an excellent pace and each chapter has different tones and styles of narrative voice. For example, around two thirds of the way through the book Nel goes through a difficult experience and the narrative immediately switches from the third person to the first person. That choice forces the reader to feel her hurt and struggle. It's one of the most powerful passages in the book.

I have to admit too that after reading the Foreword I sympathised with the book a little more and what it was trying to accomplish.
Ultimately though, much of it is too incredible to enjoy.

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Reading Progress

April 19, 2017 – Shelved
April 23, 2017 – Shelved as: picked-up-put-down
April 26, 2017 – Started Reading
May 18, 2017 –
page 30
15.87%
May 18, 2017 – Finished Reading

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