Reviews

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

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vicariouskat's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

kaitlynaes's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

marc129's review against another edition

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2.0

Morrison can write, for sure. Sometimes she's a bit demanding for her reader, especially when she starts a chapter ahead of things further in time, but after some pages it all gets clear.
This book is about identity, in this case the afro-american Milkman Dead. He's a kind of rich boy, without sorrows, but very dependent on his father. Reaching 30 he becomes aware of the fact that he is a "man without qualities". He's confused by the very contradictary stories his parents tell about each other. In search for a gold treasure, and striving to know more about his family, he goes south in search for an identity and real adulthood. The riddles are (almost) solved by a song sung by children.
The setting reminds me a lot of Faulkner, but also James Baldwin. Interesting, but clearly an early work.