sarful's review against another edition
4.0
Wow does Morrison know how to write! This book is, at its very base, how what happens to children has a lasting affect on them. And wow I was not expecting the story she writes, of that notion. She's brilliant, no better word.
rick2's review against another edition
4.0
I love how Toni writes. Each character has a strong perspective and is their own entity.
I love how she paints different scenes from different perspectives, and you get to grow and develop and learn about these people.
What a fantastic book.
I love how she paints different scenes from different perspectives, and you get to grow and develop and learn about these people.
What a fantastic book.
afreema3's review against another edition
4.0
While the first part was a little slow, the second part and onward was so...I'm not entirely sure how to describe it. Toni Morrison's writing is spellbinding I could not put the book down once the story picked up. This is my first fiction book of her's and I can tell that it is not one of her more beloved books there is still so much packed in such a short book.
pjv1013's review against another edition
3.0
Segundo livro que li de Toni Morrison. Fiquei algo desiludido.
leigh_reidelberger's review against another edition
4.0
I'm fairly certain this is the first Toni Morrison novel I've read.
I really enjoyed this book. Very much. Each chapter comes from a different character's perspective and it's such a great device to the timeline back and forth. Initially, it took me a minute to get used to Morrison's style, but ultimately I really enjoyed how free her writing is. Sometimes vague, Sometimes specific, but always in motion.
Bride is probably my favorite character. She is that flawed hero- but her flaws are what ultimately allowed her to grow to the person she was by the need of the book. The end of the book felt more like Booker' s poetry, just like the beginning felt like it was in Sweetness's shadow.
I really enjoyed this book. Very much. Each chapter comes from a different character's perspective and it's such a great device to the timeline back and forth. Initially, it took me a minute to get used to Morrison's style, but ultimately I really enjoyed how free her writing is. Sometimes vague, Sometimes specific, but always in motion.
Bride is probably my favorite character. She is that flawed hero- but her flaws are what ultimately allowed her to grow to the person she was by the need of the book. The end of the book felt more like Booker' s poetry, just like the beginning felt like it was in Sweetness's shadow.
sturgeonfish's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
5.0
ummm absolutely insane experience. thought it was an alright, meandering, confusing book until about 3/4 of the way through and then it all came together...
the different perspectives were all really masterfully written, i think rain's chapter especially is such an amazing work... perfect, perfect capture of the way kids think and write.
one of those books i will be thinking about like every day for a year i think. so stunning and vivid.
the different perspectives were all really masterfully written, i think rain's chapter especially is such an amazing work... perfect, perfect capture of the way kids think and write.
one of those books i will be thinking about like every day for a year i think. so stunning and vivid.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Child abuse, Racial slurs, and Rape
shanviolinlove's review against another edition
3.0
Toni Morrison, it is safe to say, is a master writer whose works are often canonized in American classic literature. I am unsure if God Help the Child will be considered as such; certainly it was hard to put down (my husband was in awe that I read it in one day), but I did finish the novel feeling less impacted than I did finishing Beloved or The Bluest Eye.
This begs the question: is it fair to compare an author to her previous works? Is that the measure of prowess? Hasn't Morrison already proven herself over as a prolific and talented writer? God Help the Child is different; for one thing, the setting is the most contemporary. She uses multiple narratives, repositioning the story constantly to fit different perspectives. We hear Bride speaking (writing?) of her early memories, of her break-up and pursuit of her ex, of her career, and of her reconciliation with the "blue-black" skin that had alienated her mother and attracted the world of fashion. We hear Sweetness, her mother, defending her decisions. Later on, we hear Booker offer his background story.
I would have enjoyed reading this story more, or, to be more specific, believed this story more, had the characters not been so one-dimensional. I think Morrison needed to lengthen this story and offer more background, more insight, on these characters. Some of the most pivotal events in the story are given only a few pages of attention. According to reviewers and the book description, this novel is supposed to comment on the relationship between Bride and her mother Sweetness, how Sweetness' treatment of her impacted her in the long run. But this theme is second to the relationship between Bride and Booker, as the action in the story is fueled by Booker's rejection of Bride. The character Queen - I will no go too in depth, as to avoid spoilers - is thrust so suddenly into the story and so late into it. I do not understand why Booker and Queen could not have been given a voice earlier on; it would have added much-needed substance when revealing the histories and traumas of these characters. It would have made the revelations of Booker and Bride far more crucial, more emotional.
Ultimately, it is not a "bad book." I think if it had been written by someone other than the Toni Morrison, it might have garnered more praise from the critics than it did. Morrison makes strong critiques on the world around her, and she crafts beautiful poetry into her prose. I enjoyed listening to her voice as a writer within her words. Whether or not it is the public's new favorite book of hers and whether or not it merits the attention of the reading world, I am glad that I had read it.
This begs the question: is it fair to compare an author to her previous works? Is that the measure of prowess? Hasn't Morrison already proven herself over as a prolific and talented writer? God Help the Child is different; for one thing, the setting is the most contemporary. She uses multiple narratives, repositioning the story constantly to fit different perspectives. We hear Bride speaking (writing?) of her early memories, of her break-up and pursuit of her ex, of her career, and of her reconciliation with the "blue-black" skin that had alienated her mother and attracted the world of fashion. We hear Sweetness, her mother, defending her decisions. Later on, we hear Booker offer his background story.
I would have enjoyed reading this story more, or, to be more specific, believed this story more, had the characters not been so one-dimensional. I think Morrison needed to lengthen this story and offer more background, more insight, on these characters. Some of the most pivotal events in the story are given only a few pages of attention. According to reviewers and the book description, this novel is supposed to comment on the relationship between Bride and her mother Sweetness, how Sweetness' treatment of her impacted her in the long run. But this theme is second to the relationship between Bride and Booker, as the action in the story is fueled by Booker's rejection of Bride. The character Queen - I will no go too in depth, as to avoid spoilers - is thrust so suddenly into the story and so late into it. I do not understand why Booker and Queen could not have been given a voice earlier on; it would have added much-needed substance when revealing the histories and traumas of these characters. It would have made the revelations of Booker and Bride far more crucial, more emotional.
Ultimately, it is not a "bad book." I think if it had been written by someone other than the Toni Morrison, it might have garnered more praise from the critics than it did. Morrison makes strong critiques on the world around her, and she crafts beautiful poetry into her prose. I enjoyed listening to her voice as a writer within her words. Whether or not it is the public's new favorite book of hers and whether or not it merits the attention of the reading world, I am glad that I had read it.
itselv's review against another edition
”لست وحدك من يتألم، الناس ينوحون بأشكالٍ مختلفة.“
وهذا ماهيّ الرواية عليه من وجهة نظري، عن تشرّب الألم وحمله بطرق مختلفة، متضادة ومتشابهة في الوقت ذاته.
في الرواية نوعان من السرد: الأول عدّة شخصيات يتناوبون على سرد الأحداث من وجهة نظرهم. والثاني صوت خارجي يروي لك الأحداث في أحيان قليلة. وهو محير، لكنه اختيار ذكي ومبهر.
الرواية مليئة بالأحداث المختلفة، فمحاولة اختصارها أو كتابة نبذة عنها ستبخس من حقها وستكوّن صورة غير كاملة، أرى أن ذكر أن فكرتها الأساسية هي العنصرية لهو أمر خاطئ، فالرواية تحتوي على ماهو أكبر من مجرد فكرة واحدة، وأرى أنّ الإساءة للأطفال بشتى الأنواع هو الموضوع الأساسي للرواية. رواية صعبة ومليئة بالمآسي شديدة الواقعية، مهمة وملهمة.
”ماتفعله للأطفال يؤثر بهم، وقد لا ينسونه أبدًا.“
تحذير: العنصرية ضد السود، التحرش واغتصاب الأطفال، إساءة معاملة الأطفال، مشاهد عنيفة وقاسية صريحة.
”لست وحدك من يتألم، الناس ينوحون بأشكالٍ مختلفة.“
وهذا ماهيّ الرواية عليه من وجهة نظري، عن تشرّب الألم وحمله بطرق مختلفة، متضادة ومتشابهة في الوقت ذاته.
في الرواية نوعان من السرد: الأول عدّة شخصيات يتناوبون على سرد الأحداث من وجهة نظرهم. والثاني صوت خارجي يروي لك الأحداث في أحيان قليلة. وهو محير، لكنه اختيار ذكي ومبهر.
الرواية مليئة بالأحداث المختلفة، فمحاولة اختصارها أو كتابة نبذة عنها ستبخس من حقها وستكوّن صورة غير كاملة، أرى أن ذكر أن فكرتها الأساسية هي العنصرية لهو أمر خاطئ، فالرواية تحتوي على ماهو أكبر من مجرد فكرة واحدة، وأرى أنّ الإساءة للأطفال بشتى الأنواع هو الموضوع الأساسي للرواية. رواية صعبة ومليئة بالمآسي شديدة الواقعية، مهمة وملهمة.
”ماتفعله للأطفال يؤثر بهم، وقد لا ينسونه أبدًا.“
تحذير: العنصرية ضد السود، التحرش واغتصاب الأطفال، إساءة معاملة الأطفال، مشاهد عنيفة وقاسية صريحة.