A review by mmatti300
Tar Baby by Toni Morrison

challenging dark reflective 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

4.5

In the beginning of Tar Baby, I was shocked by how uninterested I was and was thinking this would be my least favorite Toni Morrison yet. And yet, I kept going because I am in love with Toni Morrison and am on a mission to read every one of her works. (I mention this to note that I am incredibly biased towards loving this story). I thought it was going to be below Jazz in my rankings of the four I've read so far. But somewhere near the halfway point, I became entranced. I began to gel with Jadine, sympathize and root for Sydney and Odine. I almost cried over Valerian? I was confused by Son and wanted to love him, while also wanting to hate him. I felt the class consciousness that Toni knows and imbues in her work so well come through the surface. Basically, this is probably my second favorite Toni Morrison, right behind Sula and shockingly above Beloved(in the moment, by tomorrow I may not be feeling that way). So, for what it's worth, I loved it, I think it's worth sticking around for. I also think that this was one in which Morrison really explored the dynamics between Black and white people in a way that Jazz, Sula, and Beloved (the other three I've read) don't (while also exploring deeper Black relationships and dynamics). This one also didn't have Morrison's iconic birthing scenes or as much body horror as her others so it's a little more of an actual literary fiction in my opinion.
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