\\"Freeing yourself was one thing: claiming ownership of that freed self was another.\\" This profound statement from Toni Morrison's Beloved has stayed with me since I finished reading the novel last night. I had planned to start another book with the remaining time, but I was so deeply affected by Beloved that I couldn't even think about which one to choose. Instead, I sat there, ruminating over what I had just read.

There were no specific thoughts at first, just a general sense of the book's atmosphere lingering. But after a night of contemplation, some clearer thoughts emerged. I found myself asking the more obvious questions: Did I agree with what Sethe did? Would I respond in a similar way if I were in her situation? My answers were rather noncommittal. I didn't completely agree with Sethe's actions, but I could understand why she did what she did within the context of the novel. And I know that I could never truly know how I would react in such a situation.

I had been looking forward to reading Beloved for a long time, and Toni Morrison's reputation as one of the Great American Novelists did not disappoint. Despite this being the first book of hers that I have read, I had watched several interviews with her and loved her use of language. My high expectations were easily met and exceeded. I was struck by how a relatively short novel (my copy is only 275 pages long) could make me feel like I had spent much longer with the characters. It was similar to that feeling when you've spent 1000+ pages with a group of characters and it's incredibly sad to have to let them go.

My favorite character was Dever, with whom I related quite strongly. There were many elements of her that felt familiar to me, perhaps too familiar at times! However, the character that affected me the most was Sixo. The chapter that described his fate in clear detail was truly dreadful (in terms of content, not the writing). I didn't want to read it, but I had to know. It's this chapter and Sixo's part in it that my mind keeps returning to.

What Paul D says to Sethe in the penultimate chapter of the book was beautiful and powerful in a way I was not prepared for. I kept re-reading it, thinking it over. He leans over and takes her hand. With the other he touches her face. \\"You your best thing, Sethe. You are.\\" His holding fingers are holding hers. \\"Me? Me?\\" There are so many other aspects of the novel that I could write about: the villainy of Schoolteacher, the mystery and fascination of Beloved, the sadness of Baby Suggs. \\"God puzzled her and she was too ashamed of Him to say so.\\" I have so many thoughts about this novel, some of which I've included here and some that I haven't because they don't feel fully formed yet. This is a novel that I expect to re-read many times, if I'm lucky enough to have the time. And of course, I will be reading more of Toni Morrison's writing.

I don't give books low marks lightly. In fact, I am often prone to being carried away by the author's enthusiasm and rate books more highly than they might actually deserve. This is perhaps because I am an aspiring author myself, and that inclination leads me to be kind to the books I read.

That being said, I must admit that I really hated this book.

I have a penchant for fantasy and magical realism. I find the dreams and allegories that lurk just beneath the surface of the world we can more easily see and touch to be endlessly fascinating. I enjoy stories that are intense and emotional, and I relish when characters are so filled with passion that it clouds their perception of the world around them.

Nevertheless, I really hated this book.

I found "Beloved" incomprehensible to the point of absurdity. It's one thing to have a book that is rich in magic and poetry or to have a character's passion intermittently overshadow their ability to describe the world, but I also need to have a clear understanding of what is happening. For a story to truly grip me, I need to know what the story is all about.

Did I mention that I really hated this book?

I am aware that it is trendy to read Toni Morrison, but I would not recommend this book to anyone. I found it to be a borderline insulting waste of my time.

In my opinion, there is no literature of suffering. Reading that requires the reader to intervene with a feeling (however noble it may be considered) in advance, with which he will be baptized in the... pool of the reading method in order to enjoy the literary work, is not understood. In this logic, the passions of a race, a people, a gender, are not reasons for reading, although they certainly are reasons for inspiration.

This is also the main reason why I had not dealt with Morrison's work until now, and especially with her universally recognized masterpiece, "Beloved". I was deterred by the fear that it was just another story about the burden of slavery, an indictment of the horrors, another polemic. Having crossed the Rubicon to a more mature (for my own always given data) stage of reading, I have as a principle to avoid all those works of fiction that impose themselves primarily with the weight of their theme, leaving the way, the narration, to a secondary fate. And, indeed, how great is the weight of slavery (perhaps second only to the Holocaust)...

I declare, bravely, that I was happy to be wrong in this case. Although this book carries the unspoken weight of its Afro-American heritage, it does not base its value on that fact. It does not exploit the theme to impose itself on the reader - that one who comes undressing his garment of fan/ideologist/devout of worldly or otherworldly religion. On the contrary, the author reigns in a worthy of admiration way over her material, while "much of its merit" is given that she writes about clearly burdensome facts and situations, about wounds and injuries that have left their indelible mark on the life of the people.

It is a laborious work to speak and describe the darkness while being inside it, to adorn the horror with a literary environment, not to let the feeling drown out the word (the main shortcoming of the lesser writers), to avoid the ease that the easy identification of the passive reader with the pornographic description of the physical pain offers, the eye-catcher that includes the torture chamber, which it enjoys through the deflection it suffers in the depths. Where a lower-ranking writer would stand with short steps in the horror, analyzing the pain and its consequences in detail to elicit the tear, the anger, the indignation or the guilt of the reader, Morrison changes course towards other, extremely literary meadows.

She freezes the action at the moment of the explosion, silences the knife when it has already been stuck in the helpless body, takes (along with the reader) a deep breath and holds it for an hour as the body suffocates under the frozen water, seeking that deliverance that is coming but does not come, the scream that does not come out except as a low murmur, the climax that is constantly in vain. The author does not cultivate the intensity page by page, does not escalate the moment, does not push the action to the climax. She constantly interrupts the chronological flow of the narration, with small leaps into the past, pulling up traumatic memories, which she uses literarily in a captivating way.

The reader gradually comes into contact with the story of the protagonist Sethe, the daughter of Denver and the murdered by her own hands mother Beloved, the present and the past alternate, with sporadic low-intensity explosions, with small fractures of revelations that do not occur "after steps" in the form of a theatrical revelation, but are embedded in the flow of the narration - gradual small escalations, like drops of blood on a white sheet.

This way suits perfectly the artistic vision of Morrison, as it allows her to offer in depth what is "lost" from the immediate pleasure of the intensity that peaks momentarily but cools down faster. On the contrary, the periodic revelation, these patches of raw realism, the patient reader feels them inside him as knives in non-vital points and not as mortal deadly blows, which bleed him slowly but steadily, allowing him to reach slowly and painfully to the end, as the author carefully avoids the coup de grâce that would deliver him. My feeling was that Morrison -voluntarily or involuntarily I cannot know- wants to "torture" her reader. By blurring the realistic framework, she aims at a deeper awareness of the drama that unfolds in front of him, at his immersion in the darkness of the era, the souls, the horror of "Homo homini lupus".

Finally, this is the way of literature, the one that proudly bears this title, if it wants to remain vital, contemporary and classic, approaching an audience beyond the space and time where the events on the page take place. Because what will force the reader of the present and the future to dedicate his precious time to a text, if not the deeper pleasure that comes from the aesthetic enjoyment of the narrative fabric of the author? "Beloved" offers its artistic substance to the all-devouring time, constantly reminding us that it is a work of fiction, where everything that is told are fruits of the imagination of its creator (in this the presence-ghost of the dead Beloved helps especially) and not a realistic/historical description of existing facts.

In conclusion, "Beloved" is not an excellent novel because it describes the horrors of slavery and its traumatic consequences, either individually in human souls or in the collective fantasy of an entire country. Nor, of course, because it targets the double (and historically documented) horror of being a slave and at the same time a woman in a racist and patriarchal world that despises you for both your qualities.

"Beloved" burns and in its turn feeds the great river of literature, thanks to Morrison's special, authentic way of narration. From the mud of reality, of the lived drama, she weaves a completely fantastic, magical world where the dream, the action, the characters interact with the reader, not imposing ideas and opinions on him, but immersing him in the moving sand of the narration. And this is a rare and precious pleasure, which we will never be able to repay the author for.

https://fotiskblog.home.blog/2020/03/...

More than just a book, it's a real punch in the stomach on every page.

I have read a great deal about African American slavery and the protagonists who fought against it in their own ways, but few novels have shaken me so deeply.

The story unfolds in small pieces, in little fragments just like the lives of these protagonists, destroyed by prejudice and hatred that never relents.

Flight and expedients are of no use: in life there are experiences that cannot be forgotten and that not even the strenuous struggle to regain one's human dignity can suppress.

These are touching and extremely beautiful pages in which despair and hope vie for every line: where the present and the past level their accusation at an unjust world.

It's a powerful and moving account that forces the reader to confront the harsh realities of history and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice.

This really was an amazing book.

I didn't expect a book that I was required to read for English class to be so good. It truly is a masterpiece.

The story is captivating, the characters are well-developed, and the writing is simply beautiful.

It makes total sense why this book won the Nobel Prize. It is a work of art that deserves all the recognition it has received.

I feel sorry for all of the people in my class who are only reading the SparkNotes. They are missing out on the full experience of this wonderful book.

By only reading the summaries, they are not able to fully appreciate the details, the nuances, and the emotions that the author has put into the story.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves to read. It is a book that will stay with you long after you have finished reading it.

**"Exploring the Depths of 'Beloved'"**

"Working dough. Working, working dough. Nothing better than that to start the day's serious work of beating back the past." - Toni Morrison's words in Beloved set the tone for a profound exploration of the psychological trauma of slavery. The novel delves into a world where the past haunts every moment, even manifesting in the form of a ghost. It is a timely read in light of recent discussions on the Roots reboot and the New York Times article on African-American DNA and slavery.

This book is a tough read, and it only gets more so with each encounter. The horrors of slavery are vividly portrayed, and as one becomes more aware of its true nature, the pain intensifies. Slave narratives always touch on the burdens endured by slaves with little or no help, but "Beloved" also shows the small ways they tried to survive. Their methods may seem unhealthy to us, but as the book reveals, it's impossible to know how we'd react in their situation.

At the beginning, Baby Suggs contemplates color as she faces death, highlighting the limited world of a slave. Even with freedom, the past still lingers. Love is a central theme, and the relationship between Paul D and Sethe is a complex one. Both are broken by their pasts, and their struggle to love and trust is palpable. Denver, Sethe's daughter, also undergoes a transformation, from loneliness to finding strength within herself.

Pain is a constant throughout the book, and the quote "Can't nothing heal without pain, you know" speaks volumes. The characters in "Beloved" have endured more than most, and their journey to healing is a long and arduous one. Overall, this novel is a powerful and poignant reminder of the lasting impact of slavery and the importance of confronting our past.

This novel is, essentially, a powerful drama.

It offers a poetic look at something terrible: the psychological (and physical) aftermath that slavery left on the African American population. Yes, after the Civil War they were free, in theory. They had free will (until a white person suspected them and shot them dead), they could work freely (as long as they found work and were not exploited for a plate of food), political freedom (until the Klan came and lynched you because you had dared to run for political office), or the freedom to think whatever they wanted. Or remember whatever they wanted. And, frankly, since the lives of many of them made Mauthausen seem like a picnic, many decided not to remember. Because the post-traumatic stress of these people must have been enormous. And those who did want to remember... well, you have to know how to write to put your memories in writing and make them last. It is an entire generation, a whole group of people, whose experiences have largely been forgotten. Toni Morrison gives them a voice. A magical voice, full of beauty, pain, trauma, and a great deal of empathy.

I won't lie, it was difficult for me to get into it, but when I did, and especially from the revelation on page 182, it completely captivated me. It is a mixture of magical realism, ghost story, and historical novel.

In 1855, Sethe managed to escape from a Kentucky plantation along with her four children. She made the perilous journey across the river and reached Cincinnati, Ohio. After spending a single, happy month with her mother-in-law, an unthinkable act led to the death of her two-year-old daughter.

By 1873, Sethe and her now 18-year-old daughter Denver live in social isolation. Their home is believed by them and everyone else to be haunted by the ghost of her dead child, simply known as Beloved. One day, Paul D, another former slave from the Sweet Home plantation, arrives at Sethe’s home and seems to drive away Beloved’s spirit. But just as Sethe begins to adjust to Paul D’s reentry into her life, a distressed young woman appears out of nowhere on Sethe’s doorstep, claiming her name is Beloved. Soon, Sethe and Denver question whether this new Beloved is the reincarnation of Sethe’s dead daughter…

Beloved is a challenging book to read for several reasons. Perspectives change abruptly, and characters often slip into memories of the past, making it necessary to pay close attention to distinguish between past and present events. Then there is the enigma of Beloved herself. Is she a flesh-and-blood person or a ghost? Beloved could be seen as a ghost story. There are no definitive answers to these questions, leaving the meaning ambiguous. In many ways, the deliberate lack of clarity about Beloved reminds me of the Judge from Blood Meridian.

Most importantly, Beloved is a difficult read due to its subject matter. Ms. Morrison is an outstanding writer, and this novel is beautifully crafted, often poetic, and deeply moving. However, her skills bring to life the brutality of plantation life and the cruelties of slavery, as well as the permanent scars left by such inhumanity. I read fiction for pleasure, and this book is deliberately upsetting, the opposite of a typical pleasure read.

Beloved is an important story, a Pulitzer Prize winner, and attempts to ban it from schools and AP classes are misguided efforts to hide the worst aspects of American history. In the end, it reminds me of the movie Schindler’s List, a technical masterpiece, powerful and moving, but about a subject so horrifying that I only wanted to experience it once. The novel is so brutal and dark that I wished I could have enjoyed it more than I actually did. I rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. Recommended.

The CCLaP 100 is an interesting project where the author reads a hundred so-called "classics" for the first time and then writes reports on whether they deserve the label. Book #23 is "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. Before writing this novel, Morrison was already a respected figure in the publishing industry and a highly educated book lover. In the 1970s and '80s, she was frustrated by the lack of books detailing the historical black experience due to past discrimination and withholding of education. "Beloved" is her attempt to right this wrong, using a real historical record. The novel is set in Ohio in the decade following the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. The plotline resembles magical realism, with a woman's house haunted by a poltergeist and a young woman claiming to be the reincarnation of the daughter she killed. The novel tackles many bigger issues such as love, family, responsibility, and the struggle between intelligence and education. It won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize and is considered a major highlight of the postmodern period, ushering in a new golden age for the arts. While some argue against it being a classic, the author's verdict is that it is an undeniable classic, one of the top-20 titles on the CCLaP 100 list.

The argument for "Beloved" being a classic is strong. It won a prestigious Pulitzer Prize and heralded a sea-change in the global arts, being a triumph for black and women artists. It speaks powerfully to people with a certain background and has held up well over time, being made into a high-profile movie and named as one of the best American novels. The argument against is weak and controversial, mainly being an anti-politically-correct stance that some books got too much attention due to a political agenda. However, most people who read the book end up loving it. The author's own experience with the book shows how this essay series has made him have a more patient and expansive view. He was initially biased against books like "Beloved" but has come to appreciate it for its historical accuracy and the rich experience it offers.

In conclusion, "Beloved" is a classic that tackles important issues and offers a unique perspective on the black experience. It has withstood the test of time and continues to be relevant today. The author's high recommendation is well-deserved, and this book is a must-read for anyone interested in literature and history.

"Beloved" is a powerful novel that delves into the history of enslaved Africans in the United States. It tells the story of a people through the eyes of a woman, a slave who was a "breeder," used only to give birth to children who would one day also be slaves. The story is inspired by a real-life incident involving a woman named Margaret Garner, who is named Sethe in Toni Morrison's book.

Sethe was imprisoned and, upon her release, was ostracized by the people in her community. I won't reveal what she did, as I think it spoils some of the magic of the book. However, the most important thing is not what Sethe did, but rather the reasons that led her to commit such an act.

Just as I did the first time I read it, I found it extremely difficult to enter into the story. Toni Morrison's writing is challenging, and it took me some time to get into the rhythm. But what a story it is! So intense, so cruel...

This is a book filled with suffering, pain, and sadness. It is not an easy read, not only because of the author's narrative style, but also because of the themes it explores. It depicts not only physical violence, but also psychological violence, and the violence of whites towards blacks.

"Beloved" is the invisible person, the one who cannot be spoken of, the one who has been forgotten. Throughout history, blacks have been invisible, silenced, and their stories have not been told. This book is a fight for dignity, respect, and the power of memory and love.

The narrative is not linear, and it requires the reader's attention. However, the way Toni Morrison constructs this story is brilliant. It is a book about ghosts, memory, trauma, and suffering.

The characters are extraordinary, complex, and well-developed. Sethe, Denver, Baby Suggs, Paul D., are all characters full of depth and nuance.

Toni Morrison takes us out of our comfortable white world and into a dark, uncomfortable place. She makes us, as white people in the 21st century, feel what it was like to live as a black person in the southern United States during one of the most horrific periods in human history. Books like this are and will always be necessary.

What an amazing book!

Slavery is indeed one of those complex topics that we might assume we have a certain understanding of. However, until we read a masterpiece like this, our perception remains incomplete. This book approaches the subject matter with absolute authenticity, devoid of pity, scandal, or self-pity.

This unique approach makes the book truly incredible. It tells the story as it is, without reproach, condemnation, or hatred towards white people, the Klu Klux Klan, or anything else. It presents a raw and unfiltered account of the horrors of slavery.

In contrast, when we read other books on slavery, we often encounter an abundance of recriminations for every instance of unacceptable treatment. It seems as if the writers are seeking acknowledgment for the past or reimbursement for the inherited suffering.

I have the utmost respect for Toni Morrison. Through her natural and unrestricted writing, she has helped me gain a deeper understanding of the horrific nature of slavery. She allows us to step into the lives of the characters, witness their relationships, and yet she rarely becomes haughty or bitter, despite the unfair treatment they endure. It is an extraordinary feat of unbiased literature, considering the wealth of emotions and biases that could have influenced her.

The writing style of this book is at times rambling, incoherent, and almost surreal, as if we are in a dreamworld or on a distant planet. And yet, it is also direct and vivid, painting a powerful picture in our minds.

This book was published in 1987, two years after Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian in 1985. The bleak and marauding writing styles of the two books are eerily similar, and in some places, one could easily classify Beloved as belonging to the horror genre. It is brutally honest and unflinching.

But beneath the brutality, there is also friendship, love, atonement, forgiveness, and a whole range of other emotions that we are capable of experiencing under extreme stress and duress.

I absolutely loved this book for the vivid picture it painted of something I knew so little about: man's inhumanity to man. Thanks to this book, I now have a much deeper understanding.

This book is highly recommended, and it has definitely piqued my interest in exploring other works by Toni Morrison.

The story is about a black-skinned and enslaved woman named Sethe and her family. After the death of the plantation owner where Sethe has been enslaved, the plantation is transferred to someone else. Due to the bad behavior of the new plantation owner, Sethe, along with her children and husband, decides to escape from the plantation. However, various events cause them to escape separately and scatter, and they end up at the home of Sethe's mother-in-law. But in the meantime, Sethe's husband disappears and her youngest daughter dies. The spirit of the youngest daughter takes over the house and causes discomfort to the residents of the house and the neighbors...

Personal opinion: The book starts with the sentence "124 was spiteful. Full of a baby's venom...". 124 is the name of the house where Sethe and her children live after escaping. This first sentence made me realize that I had picked up a different kind of book that was going to be a powerful account of shocking realities.

The pain and suffering that slaves and black people endured over the years was so shocking that at some points I would close the book and start thinking, and in some cases, I would go back a few pages to read again and see if I really understood what had happened to them...