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dargan18's review against another edition
5.0
Toni Morrison is such a beautiful writer. This book comes together like a bit of a puzzle -- at some points, you're not sure what you're looking at and how it all fits together, then it suddenly all clicks and the end result is stunning.
The overall story is big and fantastical and went places I never expected -- a search for gold, a secret society, ghosts, stories of supernatural events. But the heart of the story is the changes that happen within Milkman, the main character, who gradually sees how he has been taking people for granted and coasting through life at other people's expense.
I loved this book so much that I decided I'm going to try to read all of Toni Morrison's other books this year too. 4.5 stars.
The overall story is big and fantastical and went places I never expected -- a search for gold, a secret society, ghosts, stories of supernatural events. But the heart of the story is the changes that happen within Milkman, the main character, who gradually sees how he has been taking people for granted and coasting through life at other people's expense.
I loved this book so much that I decided I'm going to try to read all of Toni Morrison's other books this year too. 4.5 stars.
azmoorthegreat's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
quenchgum's review against another edition
4.0
Four stars that were almost five.
Toni’s books are so haunting. This one starts slow and only kicks into a plot once it’s two thirds of the way through. It has a ton of symbolism that added pathos/meaning but that also made it feel kind of.. clunky. I appreciate the themes around flight and the power of a name/history, but Toni’s writing is what I love the most. She focused on male characters in this one but the limited narrative spaces that she did afford to women were blazes of light and compassion. I think - but am not sure- that this story is going to stick with me somehow. It feels significant. I guess I’m just going with the vibe I got from this, which was basically: Toni toni toni and don’t forget Milkman and Guitar when you leave home. You don’t want to forget them. And don’t forget Pilate, too. And her earring and the snuffbox and how she could fly without leaving the ground. Oof. I’m trying to get like you.
These thoughts procured under the influence of ZZZquil: the perfect choice of medicine for those that needed to fall asleep ninety minutes ago but decided to finish this book instead. May we all gracefully pass out immediately after our reviews are written.
Toni’s books are so haunting. This one starts slow and only kicks into a plot once it’s two thirds of the way through. It has a ton of symbolism that added pathos/meaning but that also made it feel kind of.. clunky. I appreciate the themes around flight and the power of a name/history, but Toni’s writing is what I love the most. She focused on male characters in this one but the limited narrative spaces that she did afford to women were blazes of light and compassion. I think - but am not sure- that this story is going to stick with me somehow. It feels significant. I guess I’m just going with the vibe I got from this, which was basically: Toni toni toni and don’t forget Milkman and Guitar when you leave home. You don’t want to forget them. And don’t forget Pilate, too. And her earring and the snuffbox and how she could fly without leaving the ground. Oof. I’m trying to get like you.
These thoughts procured under the influence of ZZZquil: the perfect choice of medicine for those that needed to fall asleep ninety minutes ago but decided to finish this book instead. May we all gracefully pass out immediately after our reviews are written.
haudurn's review against another edition
5.0
Milkman Dead uncovers the truth (the “song”) about his family when he travels south to Virginia.
kittya's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
misterminki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
ambero's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
themes:
- masculinity
- family/lineage
-names (of people and of places)
- race tratiorship as in aspiring to be white through wealth/wealth separating people from others
- love / the lack of it - obsession (hagar)
-flying/travelling/escape
- natural/unnatural - e.g. pilate's lack of a bellybutton, ruth breastfeeding milkman for too long
-motherhood
-death/ghosts
-revenge
-fidelity
there's more i could say and will say later - loved pilate as a character so much, so much depth and warmth and personality
- masculinity
- family/lineage
-names (of people and of places)
- race tratiorship as in aspiring to be white through wealth/wealth separating people from others
- love / the lack of it - obsession (hagar)
-flying/travelling/escape
- natural/unnatural - e.g. pilate's lack of a bellybutton, ruth breastfeeding milkman for too long
-motherhood
-death/ghosts
-revenge
-fidelity
there's more i could say and will say later - loved pilate as a character so much, so much depth and warmth and personality
wintersavenger's review against another edition
3.0
Not my usual kind of read, but a great one nonetheless. Rated lower purely because though the characters are charming and full of depth, I struggled to push my way through this book.
Following the Dead family through various generations and via different methods of storytelling, the main focus of the novel is Macon 'Milkman' Dead III. We follow this boy on a journey of self-discovery, from the moment he earns his unfortunate nickname throughout his boyhood rebellion against his father's wishes, straight to his adult struggles with women and his own identity. As we follow Milkman through the years, the story did get progressively more interesting to me. Milkman's journey south to discover the history of his family was the the part of the tale that most captured my interest and attention.
Following the Dead family through various generations and via different methods of storytelling, the main focus of the novel is Macon 'Milkman' Dead III. We follow this boy on a journey of self-discovery, from the moment he earns his unfortunate nickname throughout his boyhood rebellion against his father's wishes, straight to his adult struggles with women and his own identity. As we follow Milkman through the years, the story did get progressively more interesting to me. Milkman's journey south to discover the history of his family was the the part of the tale that most captured my interest and attention.
tribonyx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0