Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I had no idea what this book was about.

I was shocked at all of the people dying - being burnt alive, throwing themselves out windows, throwing kids in rivers, etc etc. There wasn't an ounce of remorse in any of the characters in this book.

I found it hard to like either of the main characters, and in fact hated the title character Sula. I just didn't understand what her problem was. Why did she have to go off taking everyone's husband and act all arrogant?

I feel that this is a "literary" piece - something we would have read in high school and deeply analyzed for meaning. But as something I just picked up off the shelf (I really had this on the shelf for 7 years), I have to say I did not enjoy it at all.

Unless you're the type who likes analyzing crazy characters for some hint of meaning, I doubt you will either. I should have learned my lesson with Beloved. Toni Morrison is just not for me.

Perhaps my lack of knowledge led to my initial confusion about the book. The vivid descriptions of people's deaths were truly horrifying. It seemed as if none of the characters had any sense of guilt or regret.

The main characters failed to win my sympathy, and Sula, in particular, was despised by me. Her actions of stealing husbands and being overly arrogant were completely incomprehensible.

This book appears to be a literary work that might have been studied and analyzed in high school. However, as a random pick from my shelf after 7 years, I can't say that I derived any pleasure from it.

Unless one has a penchant for dissecting the motives and meanings behind the actions of crazy characters, it's likely that they won't enjoy this book either. It seems that I should have remembered my experience with Beloved and realized that Toni Morrison's writing is not to my taste.

I've read this book twice now.

Each time, I find myself in a state of denial regarding human nature.

There's something within me that tells me Ms. Morrison has managed to capture it more accurately than I would ever care to admit.

But when life turns truly awful, and your circumstances are equally dreadful, and all you can think about is simply making it through to the next day, is this really what we are reduced to?

Is this the true face of human nature that emerges in the face of such adversity?

I hope with all my heart that it isn't.

I hope that there is still some glimmer of hope, some shred of goodness within us that can withstand the harshest of times.

That we can rise above the awfulness and find a way to be better, to do better.

Because if this is all there is, then what hope do we have for the future?

I really liked the fact that this book zeroed in on a friendship between two Black women who were residing in a conservative Midwestern town. Toni Morrison does an excellent job of highlighting the profound depth of friendship and the wide gamut of emotions that it can bring forth. There's a sense of connectedness and love, but also betrayal, sadness, wonder, grief, and so much more.

The novel offers some really interesting commentary not only about race but also about the centering of men and how they mistreat Black women for their own gain. However, I felt that the novel was a bit on the lighter side and I craved more depth. I would have loved to have seen more scenes and content that delved deeper into Sula and Nel's friendship. Nevertheless, I fully recognize the importance of this book within the literary canon. It stands as a significant work that explores important themes and offers a unique perspective on the experiences of Black women.

Overall, while it may not have been everything I hoped for in terms of depth, it still holds great value and is definitely worth reading for anyone interested in exploring the complex themes of friendship, race, and gender.

I teach this book in my English classes for several reasons. Firstly, it's short, which helps to reduce the students' complaints to some extent. Secondly, it meets the multi-cultural demands of the college. But mainly, I teach it because it's an outstanding fucking book.

Morrison wrote an introduction in which she stated that she aimed to discuss social problems, which is often a death knell for good stories. However, her literary genius took over from her role as a social activist. In other words, her characters don't pause to berate the reader or endure punishments to highlight social injustices. Instead, they are flawed individuals doing their utmost in their given situations.

The title character, Sula, is a complex figure, an anti-hero in the existential style. Her family, the ironically named Peace family, is murderous and perhaps suicidal, vividly depicted and memorable long after the book is finished. Morrison tells us that Sula is an artist without a specific art form, someone who doesn't bother to validate herself. For Morrison to make her the center of the novel is quite bold considering that American readers typically expect likeable protagonists. I like Sula. She is humorous; her dialogue with Nel is a highlight of the book. And she serves as a catalyst for the people of Bottom to become better. We all need a devil.

I like the book for its Modernist sensibility. It was published during the self-reflective Post Modern period (1973), but its influences must come from Ellison, Faulkner, and Woolf. She loves paradoxes; my favorite being that Sula's hell is a life unchanging, while Nel's hell is change itself. And those who have experienced both know that it's both. She also has great symbols of earth, fire, and water. And she doesn't provide answers to the questions she poses. Did Hanna kill herself or was it an accident? What is that dirtball that Nel sees in her sadness and depression?

Most importantly, I like it because it's a story of friendship. Sula's and Nel's friendship is one that will stand the test of time. They love and betray each other. They resemble each other and yet remain polar opposites. All of this is presented in just 174 pages, which is truly amazing.

Toni Morrison's writing in this work is truly remarkable. The story unfolds in a year-by-year structure, which at first seems a bit drawn-out. There are numerous characters, some just making brief appearances. It's not quite a traditional family saga or a detailed portrait of a community.

\\n  

She went to bed with men as frequently as she could. It was the only place where she could find what she was looking for: misery and the ability to feel deep sorrow. She had not always been aware that it was sadness she yearned for.

\\n As I read this passage, I couldn't help but think of its connection to "Beloved". Morrison has a way of making the story so engaging that before you know it, you're at the end and hit with a wave of emotion.

The relationship between Nel and Sula, while crucial, doesn't take center stage as one might initially expect. Sula is an enigmatic character, and we never fully understand her. But Morrison's emotional imagination shines through, and her writing is already beautifully resonant. Even though she might still be honing her craft, the potential for greatness is clearly there. This is a book where the blurb only gives a hint of what lies within, and it's a must-read for anyone who appreciates powerful and thought-provoking literature.

2023 (2nd Read) Review
I recently listened to Toni Morrison read the audiobook of her work again. This time around, I truly appreciated the beautiful and complex Sula/Nel love story. It made me reflect on how society treats women differently based on whether they conform or refuse to fit into the established norms. The way Morrison portrays this dynamic is both thought-provoking and eye-opening.

2019 (1st Read) Review
I listened to the audiobook, which was expertly narrated by the author herself. The death of Ms. Morrison was a great loss to readers all over the world. It saddens me to think that there won't be any new books from her to anticipate. I decided to start a read/re-read of her novels in the order of their publication, and this one is the second in the series.

This story is set in a small, close-knit community in Ohio. The choice of the title is quite interesting as it is more of a study of the community's characters. Sula doesn't receive equal prominence until almost the halfway point. The two main characters, Sula and Nel, make this in many ways a bildungsroman. The writing is lyrical and vivid, creating each scene so realistically that I felt as if I was actually walking along those streets. The story spans from the 1920s to the 1940s and explores themes such as racial tensions and how the most oppressed often direct their anger towards their own. The main characters are all female, and each one is well-developed and unique. There is a rich tapestry of hardship, grief, love, betrayal, friendship, secrets, and family ties that both bind and break. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of the different paths taken or not taken, especially as it relates to the two girls. Morrison's books are never an easy read. There is so much depth and complexity to this short novel that it requires careful consideration and reflection. It doesn't have a straightforward narrative drive, but rather takes the reader on a journey through time and place. When I finished reading, I felt as if I had returned from a distant world that had left an indelible mark on me. Next up in my reading list is "Song of Solomon".

SULA (1973) was written around the time when the US was increasingly involved in Vietnam. In that war, African American soldiers accounted for a disproportionately high number of casualties. The novel starts by highlighting the injustice that when it comes to sacrificing their lives for the country, black people have no exemptions. However, when it comes to work and economic opportunities, the situation is different.

SULA is a novel that delves into trauma, loss, and pain. Morrison examines the scars left by unassimilated history through the experience of Shadrack, who was traumatized for life by his exposure to the horrors of war in 1919. Shadrack's war experiences introduce the concept of trauma and the madness of attempting to maintain order in a world filled with incalculable loss and death. And the novel is filled with numerous traumatic experiences.

SULA is also the story of Sula and Nel, two extremely close friends during their childhood. Sula appears to be the only character in the novel who can view trauma and pain with indifference. Morrison creates a highly unconventional character: Sula is a woman who refuses to be a mother, nurturer, or wife. She flouts convention and accepted morality. However, without the responsibilities and proprieties of conventional womanhood, Sula also seems to lack feelings. Her detachment and distance from her community make her seem horribly evil. Sula has decided to live her life on her own terms, so it seems that she has to ignore the usual constraints imposed by socialization.

SULA is a novel that explores the individual's relationship with the community, how isolation and connection shape our identity. It is about living in a community and what that means both personally and collectively. Finally, it is an exploration of the pain of missing something that didn't seem valuable enough when you had it. Like all of Morrison's works, it is an unforgettable novel.

4.5/5

It's truly astonishing just how much she managed to pack into such a concise novel.

While this particular work may not be my absolute favorite among hers, the character dynamics she presents are undeniably some of the most captivating I've ever come across in my reading.

Toni Morrison has an uncanny ability to create a vivid and palpable community, one that feels as alive and breathing as the characters who inhabit it.

Her novels are not just stories; they are entire worlds where her characters can live, love, struggle, and grow.

Each character is carefully crafted, with their own unique personalities, dreams, and flaws.

The relationships between them are complex and multi-faceted, adding depth and richness to the overall narrative.

Morrison's writing is a masterclass in character development and world-building, and this novel is no exception.

It's a testament to her incredible talent and creativity that she can create such a memorable and engaging story in such a short space.

“You think I don’t know what your life is like just because I ain’t living it? I know what every colored woman in this country is doing.”
“What’s that?”
“Dying. Just like me. But the difference is they dying like a stump. Me, I’m going down like one of those redwoods. I sure did live in this world.”
“Really? What have you got to show for it?”
“Show? To who? Girl, I got my mind. And what goes on in it. Which is to say, I got me.”
“Lonely, ain’t it?”
“Yes. But my lonely is mine. Now your lonely is somebody else’s. Made by somebody else and handed to you. Ain’t that something? A secondhand lonely.”

The conversation between the two women reveals a profound understanding of the different experiences of life and loneliness. The first woman seems to have a sense of pride in her own way of living and dying, comparing herself to a majestic redwood. She emphasizes the importance of having one’s own mind and identity. The second woman, on the other hand, questions the first woman’s achievements and points out the loneliness that comes with it. However, the first woman counters by saying that her loneliness is unique and hers alone, while the second woman’s loneliness is a borrowed one. This exchange highlights the complexity of human emotions and the different ways in which people cope with them.

Fuck off. You can’t be this good.

Toni Morrison is a remarkable writer who has the power to set everything on fire with her words. Her works are not just stories but profound explorations of the human condition.

Because each had discovered years before that they were neither white nor male, and that all freedom and triumph was forbidden to them, they had set about creating something else to be. This powerful statement by Morrison reveals the struggles and the determination of those who have been marginalized.

In a society that often discriminates based on race and gender, Morrison's characters find themselves excluded from the mainstream. However, instead of succumbing to despair, they choose to create their own identities and find their own paths to freedom and triumph.

Morrison's writing is a call to action, a reminder that we must all work towards a more just and equal society. By setting everything on fire, she forces us to see the world as it truly is and to take responsibility for making a change.

Lovely, insightful, and biting writing - these are the hallmarks of Morrison's work. Her words have the power to transport readers to different worlds and make them feel a gamut of emotions. However, there are a few parts in her stories that can be rather disturbing. One such instance that really got to me was the absolutely unnecessary killing of a young boy. It felt manipulatively cruel and left a lasting impact on my mind.

Despite these moments, Morrison was an incredible talent. Her ability to create complex and vivid characters, and to weave intricate plots, was truly remarkable. She had a unique perspective on the human condition and was not afraid to explore the darker aspects of it. Her work has had a profound influence on generations of readers and writers alike.

Tragically, Morrison is no longer with us, and she is much missed. Her passing is a great loss to the literary world. But her legacy will live on through her books, which will continue to be read and cherished for years to come.

Behind the narcissistic, hegemonic feminism of the asteroid and beyond the hypocritical white smiles of the celebrities in the suburbs of their spacious homes, there has always been the America of the others - of the outcasts, the paupers, all those whose position in the social pyramid had been predetermined by the color of their skin - those who were either born slaves or simply poor, their wings always clipped. People who were determined to survive, "to live against the floods, the whites, the lynchings, the hunger and the ignorance", who knew anger but not despair, "who did not stone the sinners for the same reason they did not commit suicide - it was beneath them." These people and this America are at the narrative core of the work of (my beloved) Toni Morrison.

In this fictional universe, Sula Peace claims her own unique position. Dark, like all of Morrison's heroines, with two large, quiet eyes. And a birthmark that resembled a rose without a stem, above her right eye and level with her eyebrow. A tomboy, raised without a father in a house full of things, people, voices and noises. Unique, like her mark, she left her hometown, wandered the metropolises of the US, and returned, more to reconnect with her childhood friend, Nel Wright. However, Nel was not the same person she had left behind, nor was the small community of Medallion ready to accept Sula and her difference.

Three years after The Bluest Eye (1970), Toni Morrison, through the telling of the unique story of Sula Peace, welcomed into the literary world yet another subversive heroine, who "lived her life tangibly, as if it were a continuous experiment, willing to feel pain as much as to give pain, to feel pleasure as much as to give pleasure."