Maybe Morrison's most overtly confusing novel,

is a work in the lineage of Faulkner that endeavors to shatter culturally fabricated concepts of race, time, place, and history into shards of glass. These shards reflect back that which we would rather avoid seeing. It's like "Recitatif" transformed into a narrative of greater multiplicity. Otherwise, it might have proclaimed a certain objectivity with the assistance of a perspectival pile-on, but Morrison permits no such thing. The omniscient (albeit ever so close) third-person narrator portrays the distinctions of various individuals' subjectivities while bridging these consciousnesses through repeated images/phrases and recurring mythologies.

The town of Ruby presents itself as a paradise for the dark-skinned descendants of freed slaves. However, Morrison's conception of paradise depends on exclusion, which leads to the multilayered scapegoating of the Convent women, who are the victims of violence from the iconic first sentence. There is an abundance of historical and personal pain, a great deal of history weighing heavily, so much to love and hate, and so much to muddy the soul that the men (and many of the women) judge and judge and judge until their souls develop a casing of hardened tar that only violence can crack open. There are sequences and images that I simply feel I will not forget.

And I think Michiko Kakutani's contemporary panning of the novel turns out to be at odds with the novel's actual aims. The didacticism that Kakutani dislikes seems to me a byproduct of a novel positioning itself during the Civil Rights movement. Morrison pseudo-sloganeers. But so much else is happening that I feel like simple conclusions are implausible. The conflict at play here is not merely colorist, misogynistic, and black exclusivity emulating white racism, but a reflection on our inability to self-actualize, to never want to process what's within, to desire to singe another's flesh rather than allow the flame within us to peter out. Among other things. There are many other aspects in this novel. It's a packed novel of place.

3.5 stars, it was good. However, the characters seem quite disjointed.

Once I put down this book, I didn't read anything else for the rest of the day. Since it was Sunday, which is when I usually read the most, but instead, I chose to go out. I left my room, my home, and my society and went to a Japanese film festival to cleanse my mind of the violence that was "Paradise". Personally, I have a detached feeling towards the media that I consume, and it's a very advantageous trait to have when reading emotionally challenging books. But the acts of violence and apathy in this book were a bit too much for me to handle. It's the violence for the sake of violence, using a flimsy excuse.

What a book! It really made me think about the impact of such extreme content on the reader. While I appreciate the author's attempt to explore certain themes, I felt that the execution could have been better. Maybe a more nuanced approach to the characters and their actions would have made the story more engaging and less overwhelming. Nevertheless, it's still a book that left a lasting impression on me.

Paraíso is a story about five women living under two roofs: that of an old convent and that of the town of Ruby, a nonexistent and backward place. It is a place ruled by men. These men have an unrestrained power of control and the audacity to decide what can be and what cannot be. They only see women as saints or as prostitutes. They are driven by their ignorance.

It is a harsh story, and you finish the book with anger and sadness, but it is necessary.

In six words, I can summarize it all: Toni Morrison must be read. Her writing is powerful and thought-provoking, and this book is no exception. It forces us to confront the reality of gender inequality and the damage that can be caused by narrow-mindedness and prejudice. Through the experiences of these five women, we see the importance of standing up for ourselves and for what we believe in. We also see the power of community and the need for support in times of crisis. Overall, Paraíso is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complex issues of gender, power, and identity.

I've now read all but one of Toni Morrison's novels. "Love" is the last one remaining on my list. I must say that "Paradise" might be a contender with "Song of Solomon" for my favorite. In fact, I'd go so far as to suggest that these two could be paired together. They take place at roughly the same time and involve many of the same themes. However, "Paradise," coming almost twenty years after "Song," is deeply evocative and profound in ways that "Song" only hinted at. It's almost sacrilege for me to say that "Paradise" is better, but it's a masterpiece on its own merits and worthy of the comparison.

The inhabitants of Ruby, Oklahoma, have built their town around the myth of the "nine families" that came west. First from slave times and then again from another all-black community in the state, Haven, which they deemed too permissive. Theirs is a patriarchal community where the men control everything and the women must abide by their rules. So, when a mysterious woman uses an old house outside the town, called "the Convent" due to its former ties to the Catholic Church, as a refuge for women who won't conform to the town's tenets, the city fathers feel threatened. Their tensions boil over on a summer day in 1976, unleashing a wave of violence. But, as is often the case in a Toni Morrison novel, it's not what it seems.

The build-up to that fateful moment, along with the history of the town and the families within it, is the focus of this long and beautiful novel. You dread the ending because you think you know how it will turn out, but Morrison is a master of deception. You enter the story thinking you know the ending, but you'd be wrong. There's more going on here than meets the eye. This is a beautiful, haunting, and elegiac work that might very well be among her best. It's certainly the best of her post-"Beloved" work.

Toni Morrison's "Paradise" is a remarkable work that takes readers into a complex and multifaceted world.

Morrison expands her literary canvas, following a diverse cast of characters from different families and backgrounds. This novel doesn't have the same sense of compactness as her previous works.

The story is in large part the history of Ruby, Oklahoma, a town that emerged over 200 years as African Americans sought a place of their own. They fled white oppression and also faced internal divisions, such as colorism. Ruby is a small, insular, and patriarchal town, with comparisons often made to the works of William Faulkner.

The novel is divided into parts named after female characters, although the narratives are not solely from their perspectives. The convent, a mansion on the outskirts of town, provides a contrast to the town. It is a safe haven for outsiders, especially women who have been hurt by men.

Some of the most memorable characters include Mavis and Gigi from the convent, and the Morgan twins and their nephew K.D. in town. Morrison also tackles various issues, such as the impact of historical events like the deaths of the Kennedys and MLK, and the changing attitudes of younger generations.

While "Paradise" may not be everyone's favorite Morrison novel, it offers a wealth of material for exploration and discussion, especially in an English class or a book group. However, one criticism is the lack of a foreword from the author in this special edition.

Overall, "Paradise" is a thought-provoking and engaging work that showcases Morrison's unique literary style and her ability to bring to life a rich and complex world.

I have read all of Toni Morrison’s novels over the years, and now I am rereading them. I first read Paradise in 2001! Just like all the rereads I am doing, this one has been rewarding and has given me a deeper understanding. I have come to the conclusion that when I first read these novels, I was lacking in my knowledge of Black lives and my ability to assimilate literary fiction.

Toni Morrison won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993, becoming the first Black woman to do so. Paradise was the novel she published after winning the prize. It made the top ten on the bestseller list that year. The last sentence I wrote in my reading log after finishing the book this time was: “She goes everywhere, manipulating many stories, characters and issues like a top orchestra conductor and composer.” Indeed, that is precisely what she did!

I was quite confused during my first reading of this novel. This time, I paid more attention and found an immensely helpful character list on Wikipedia. Ruby is an all-black town in Oklahoma, founded by the sons of a man who had created an earlier all-black town called Haven. The history of these towns is gradually revealed throughout the novel. It is a history of the Reconstruction era, post-Civil War, when the emancipated slaves had a brief period of freedom until those freedoms were once again severely restricted. It is now 1976, and the grandchildren of the original founders are questioning everything, as young people tend to do. Turmoil reigns amid the rigid hierarchies and iron control of the town’s leaders.

Then there is the Convent: another kind of haven for women who have had traumatic lives and are being protected by Connie, an adoptee of its former Mother Superior. The four young women whom Connie has accepted there are wild, broken, sometimes hysterical, and fall into a mystical kind of coven. Of course, the male leaders of Ruby decide they must be eliminated.

The novel opens with a gruesomely violent scene and concludes with the outcome of that violence. All the rest is revealed throughout the story. It is not a hopeful tale because even today, despite some progress having been made regarding racism in America, Black lives are still at risk every day. As James Baldwin made clear, racism produces a kind of madness in both the discriminated against and the discriminator. This kind of oppression can be found around the world in every land where humans have perpetrated conquest, colonialism, and genocide.

Is it beneficial to confront, study, and understand this madness? I suppose that depends on who you ask, who can find hope in an increased understanding of the human condition. I am not sure that even Toni Morrison found hope, but she certainly did add to the exposition of our human condition. She also paved the way for many Black voices in American literature to come into print. Apparently, she had strong religious beliefs, and I hope that means she is now a saint.

Ruby. A utopia. A paradise meticulously crafted by some, solely for themselves.

A convent, non-conformative and uninhibited, was ingeniously created by some, for all.

The hopes, dreams, fears, and purpose of the town's people of Ruby are all gradually becoming tainted. But the question remains: From what? Are they being contaminated by impure women or by the transformation of the oppressed into the oppressor?

This book truly delves into numerous different aspects of the world, firmly placing it among my top two Morrison reads.

I firmly believe it's no coincidence that the setting of this particular story is during the Civil Rights Movement era. Just as women were unjustly left out of the fight in "purifying" Ruby, they were also shamefully excluded from the patriarchal movement for equality within the Black community. What men think, say, how they plan, and operate is considered no place for a woman's involvement. Females are expected to fight for their own rights later, after the men have achieved theirs.

This story appears to serve as a powerful warning that any fight for equality has the potential to turn repressive. Moreover, when women stand by quietly, believing that they are a threat to progress, destruction can and will inevitably occur to themselves, their families, and all of their surroundings.

This recurring idea of a perfect Paradise not being tainted by impure and free-thinking women was, in fact, ultimately undone by a group of male holy-rollers.

And we come to see that, in the end, the road to Paradise is narrow, yet not insurmountable. It's so deceptively simple, yet still incredibly complex, much like this remarkable novel. From a very young age, I was taught that God is Love and love is the only true path to paradise. So, love—love hard and deep. Love those who look different from you and whose ways may diverge from yours. Love those who don't know how to love themselves. And most importantly, love yourself. That, truly, is Paradise.

There is a particular narrative device that truly annoys me. It occurs when a writer commences the story right at the climax and then retraces the steps to the beginning, revealing to the reader how the characters reached that crucial point. Now, I'm not suggesting that this is necessarily bad storytelling. It's just that it doesn't appeal to my personal preferences.

Toni Morrison employs this device in this book, and it is one of the reasons why I haven't assigned as high a rating to this installment as I did to the first two books in this trilogy. (It should be noted that this is a rather loose trilogy; one could easily read any of them as a standalone novel.) The other factor is that she amps up the "god-botheriness" (yes, it is indeed a word) to an extreme level of eleven, which simply doesn't suit my tastes.

However, aside from these aspects, this is yet another really excellent Toni Morrison book. Her fans are unlikely to be disappointed. The story still manages to captivate with its rich characters, vivid descriptions, and profound themes. Morrison's writing is as powerful as ever, and despite my reservations about certain elements, I can't deny the overall quality of the work.

"Paradise" by the great Toni Morrison was at times quite frustrating to read.

The sudden changes in the narrative made it difficult to follow at times.

However, at other times, the writing was so sublime and hypnotic that it left me speechless.

The last fifty pages are a clinic in what it takes to be a great writer.

Steeped in African-American history, mysticism, and religious beliefs, it is a novel of breathtaking scope and importance.

The town of "Ruby," founded by nine black families escaping prejudice and lack of opportunity in their previous town of Haven, is a prosperous, industrious, independent town without a police force, liquor stores, or motels.

Individuals who are not one-hundred percent black and have lighter skin color are looked down upon.

Whites are literally considered the enemy, and for good reason.

It is a community that takes care of its own and frowns upon the younger generation that doesn't want to follow the rules and desires to move away from the "safe haven of Ruby" and see the outside world.

The first step to that outside world is a large house about ten miles outside the town, called "The Convent."

Originally owned by bootleggers catering to the sexual and perverse desires of men and women, it was then owned by a convent of Catholic nuns who were brought to the house to set up a school for Indian children in the surrounding area.

With no more money to support the school and the nuns, it was left to one of the orphans, Connie, whom the nuns had been taking care of since she was nine years old.

The house becomes a place where all are welcomed, especially downtrodden black women who have been abused in every way imaginable and then some.

Eventually, there is a clash between the sterile, prosperous town of Ruby and the Convent.

It is epic and sad and exposes the darkness beneath the surface of many of the citizens of Ruby.

Before reading this book, I had read three other works by Morrison and was quite familiar with her narrative style. The major event at the end, without the reader knowing the characters or having knowledge of the plot, is described in the very first chapter. Then, gradually in each chapter, the characters are introduced and the puzzle pieces of the plot are pieced together until we reach that event. Because of this order, the excitement and appeal of Morrison's stories are high. Due to her non-linear narrative, reading her stories is not an easy task, but this complexity reaches its peak in "Paradise". There were both a large number of characters and a very extensive plot being discussed. Reading "Paradise", despite all its excitement and appeal, was a very, very difficult task and it's possible that I need to read it one or even two more times to carefully and accurately piece together the puzzle pieces of the story and distinguish the characters from each other.

Morrison always follows the storyline of African Americans and talks about the fictional history of a group of African Americans who, after being driven out by whites, migrated to another point and built a city of their own. The founding family of the city gains a high position among the people and it is decided that no white person should have access to the city, all marriages should be among themselves, and purity is emphasized first. With the passage of years and the change of generations, values have changed and a deep gap has been created between the thoughts of the second and third generations, and the utopian city that was supposed to be permanent is facing the decline of its initial dreams. On the other hand, a little further away from this city is an old convent building that is a refuge for several homeless women, women whose behavior is not to the liking of the men in the city and they see them as a threat to their city - their paradise - and the continuation of the plot

A large number of the city's residents play a major role in the progression of the story and, on the other hand, each of the women living in the convent also has a past for themselves that has led them to this unknown and unfortunate point, a point that is only seemingly safe for them in paradise. So the number of characters and additional stories is very large and Morrison's complex, ambiguous, and non-linear narrative makes understanding the story even harder. That is, to understand a character or to be aware of each individual event, sometimes one has to persevere until the end of the book. Morrison, in addition to the narrative she gives of the present and past of the characters, also flashes back to a very distant past and describes the history of the founding of the city of Ruby. Although the society that Morrison depicts is still involved in a war for basic rights and a struggle against racism, Morrison has paid special attention to the role of women. Until the point that, except for the first chapter which is named after the city "Ruby", the rest of the chapters are named after one of the women in the convent or the city. The women in this story are unfortunate, they are in search of "love", they have no rights and they don't even think that they could have rights.

"Paradise" is the third part of a trilogy by Morrison after "Beloved" and "Jazz". Reading it, although difficult, is very sweet. The concepts that Morrison has approached with this story are worth reading several times and have depth.

P.S: Don't look for the white girl who is first killed in the shooting incident. No one knows among Caney, Sena, Palaces, Mawewes, and Gigi who that is.

Toni Morrison is not an easy read.

At one point, I found myself making notes to keep track of the detailed backgrounds of the women.

The complexity of her writing can be overwhelming, but don't let this deter you from reading this novel.

It is truly thought-provoking and the stories of its characters come alive within its covers.

Morrison's ability to create vivid and multi-dimensional characters is remarkable.

Each woman in the novel has her own unique story, filled with pain, joy, and struggle.

By taking the time to understand their backgrounds and experiences, we gain a deeper appreciation for the novel as a whole.

Although it may require some effort, reading Toni Morrison's work is well worth it.

It challenges us to think about issues such as race, gender, and identity, and forces us to confront our own prejudices and assumptions.

So, don't be afraid to pick up one of her novels and embark on a journey of discovery.

You may be surprised at what you find.

Somewhat weird, somewhat creepy,

a mansion located near a town called Ruby,

stands as an enigma. It is occupied by a group of women who are distinct in their own ways.

To some men living in Ruby, these women seem to pose a threat. I initially found it so strange that I wanted to simply give up on it,

but I kept putting it down and then picking it up again. There is no doubt that the author has crafted a very creative and enthralling work of literature.

Despite its strangeness, I ultimately, for the most part, thought it was a well-written story.

The characters and the setting are vividly described, drawing the reader in and making them eager to uncover the mysteries that lie within the mansion and the relationships of the women who inhabit it.

It's a tale that challenges the reader's perceptions and keeps them engaged from start to finish.