Scan barcode
poisonenvy's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
This book, the last in Morrison's loose Beloved trilogy, takes place in the late 60s and early 70s, shortly after the civil rights movement ended. It takes place in the black town of Ruby, where the town elders look only to the past despite the fact that the younger town members keep trying to move toward the future, and the convent, just outside of town, where race doesn't seem to exist (and, in fact, the race of the characters who live there are kept deliberately vague).
This book tackles racism, colourism, and sexism in a stark way, with the poetic language highlighting, rather than diminishing, the horror that all three of those come with. It's not told linearly, and deals with a huge cast of characters, and so it takes some paying attention to really follow it (made even more difficult by the fact that I listened to most of it on audiobook. Morrison reads in way that really highlights how poetic her writing really is, and does not change her voice for dialogue or to differentiate different characters speaking, which also made it a little difficult for me, and I found myself needing to listen to some passages multiple times to fully absorb it, but it did make sure that I was paying A Lot of attention while listening), and it's absolutely worth it.
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Eating disorder, and Slavery
mysimas's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautiful prose, intriguing characterisation of very flawed people, the amazing all-woman convent (or coven?) made it a worthwile read regardless, and reread might grant more clarity. Powerful, brilliant book.
Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Self harm, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Abortion, Murder, Pregnancy, and Colonisation
Moderate: Child death, Incest, Physical abuse, and Rape
Minor: Slavery and War
michaelion's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's beautiful. You can feel where she wanted to go with this book, and the fact that where she wanted to go ended up changing as she wrote, and in Miss Morrison fashion the end is just as marvellous as her other work. I won't put spoilers but there are so many elements in this book that blend together so well, so wonderful, so black and beautiful...
The alternate name for the book War would not have been so fitting as the title of Paradise. The idea of paradise inherently comes with complication and the town of Ruby embodies that. The plights of the characters, even the climax and the ending. So black and beautiful. Miss Morrison girl, you did it again.
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Self harm, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Grief, Abortion, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Classism
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Infertility, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Incest
racheldelaney's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
Placeholder until I can articulate a better review other than “sometimes it’s the roots that turn a bad crop and not the weather”. Wow.
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, Medical trauma, Car accident, and War