Toni Morrison, an author who now holds a special place on my list of favorite authors and writing inspirations, was an unfamiliar name until a year ago. As a new IB English reader, The Bluest Eye shocked me. As a writer, it left me wanting more. Over the past year, I’ve periodically filled up on Morrison’s powerful prose, detailed characters, and intricate plots, awed by her skills with every turned page. Although it’s easy to understand why Morrison is regarded so highly by critics and readers alike, it can be difficult to pick which of her books to read first. Below is a list of some of Morrison’s most popular titles, complete with a summary and some of the topics explored to help you pick your next thought-provoking read.
(Morrison’s stories are powerful, but contain mature content. Some content may be uncomfortable or disturbing for readers, especially those encountering Morrison for the first time, and reader discretion is advised.)
Beloved
This novel tells the story of Sethe, a former slave who escaped to Ohio but is still haunted by her past, whether it be through memories of her life as a slave or through the ghost of her baby, nameless aside from the word “Beloved” inscribed on her tombstone. Morrison explores the effects of slavery on those who manage to escape, and the way the past can linger well into the future. Beloved won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1988, and is perhaps Morrison’s most well-known novel.
Song of Solomon
Set between the 1930s and 1960s, Song of Solomon follows Macon “Milkman” Dead throughout his life as he learns about his heritage and cultural identity. Shortly before Milkman was born, an eccentric neighbor flung himself from a rooftop in an attempt to fly. Milkman tries to fly for the rest of his life, too, though not in the same way. Song of Solomon is a coming-of-age novel that explores the effects of the past on the direction of our future. Full of magical realism and woven with myths, this novel is a good starting point for new Toni Morrison readers.
The Bluest Eye
The first Toni Morrison book I ever read was The Bluest Eye, a story about the consequences beauty standards have on young Black girls. It focuses on Pecola Breedlove, an eleven-year-old girl who prays for her eyes to turn blue so she will feel beautiful and loved. Pecola’s life, narrated by other young girls, shows the damage the white gaze has on young Black girls’ perceptions of themselves.
Sula
Sula follows the friendship of two Black women, Sula and Nel, from childhood to adulthood. Their paths are closely intertwined throughout childhood, but diverge in adulthood only to return together in a confrontation when Sula betrays Nel and disaster ensues. Sula is a rebel who escaped their small Ohio town, and Nel is a reserved girl who stayed in their small town and became a pillar of its Black community. The novel explores what it means and costs to be a Black woman in America, no matter what path you take.
Jazz
Set in 1920s Harlem, Jazz explores passion, love, and obsession through the lives of Joe and Violet Trace. Joe, a door-to-door salesman, kills his young girlfriend Dorcas, and both he and Violet must confront themselves, their pasts, and each other. Morrison brings readers back and forth through time in this novel as a way to understand the main character’s emotions, hopes, fears, and realities, unraveling just enough at just the right time to help readers comprehend the character’s choices and reasoning.
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