Reviews

Beloved by Toni Morrison

blowp0p's review against another edition

3.0

This was a hard book to read.

It was also heartbreaking.

For anyone who needs them, this book's triggers are: lynching, rape, & slavery. Also slurs. Particularly for use of the n word.

It's one thing to objectively know that black people are treated like shit and have been for way too many years. It's another for an author to be able to write it in a way that pulls you in and makes you feel like you're there. And that's a huge part of why this book was so hard and heartbreaking for me.

venla_reads's review against another edition

5.0

Brilliant writing and such an important topic! I had a hard time concentrating, because the narrative changes perspectives and timelines so subtly and gracefully, but that's just a me problem. The writing was so good an interesting, that I kinda want to read this in English as well. (That would've been my go-to-choice, but the library only had Finnish copies).
The story is haunting, heartbreaking, and at times, disgusting, yet so important and very well told.

btaylorb's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

I have vague memories of reading this in high school, and only a surface level reading at that; I think the structure and curriculum sucked the joy out of reading a lot of things that I otherwise would have loved. I also remember feeling frustrated by my peers who could only deal with the more difficult and complex passages with uncomfortable squirming or giggling. I’m glad I returned to this work now, and listening to it in Toni Morrison’s own voice was especially powerful.

There were passages that were so stunningly beautiful even when they described horrific things, that I had to pause the book not because they were upsetting but so I that I could sit with the words and marvel at their composition. 

danifueck's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense medium-paced

4.75

andulkaw6's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

tinkbeadlebooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.0

natalielevinson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-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

bbrassfield's review against another edition

5.0

Surely no American writer has ever written a horror novel so devastating. Devastating and horrific because Beloved is a ghost story written out of so much historical bloodshed and terrible truth. An entire race treated as if they are disposable and void of even an ounce of humanity. Beloved is utterly brutal and utterly unforgettable, a uniquely American ghost story that will haunt the reader long after the last page has been turned. As powerful as earlier works The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon are, Beloved might be Morrison's greatest achievement. The novel is certainly one of the greatest works of American literature. Timeless.

missbeet's review against another edition

dark sad medium-paced

4.5

seanajk's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5