I'm going to round up because I really, really liked this. With each new book I read by Toni Morrison, I am constantly amazed. She has this incredible ability to spin a fresh and riveting story that delves deeply into the complex themes of race, class, politics, and colorism. It's truly masterfully done.

Some things I particularly loved about the conversation in this book - Tar Baby is, to my knowledge, Toni Morrison's first book with prominent white characters. I think the inclusion of them sets up a really interesting dynamic and conversation around privilege, class, and what I might call strategic benevolence (a term I may have just made up lol). Toni Morrison famously preferred writing about the intricacies of black life and the black community over the dynamics between white and black characters, so this is a rarity and I think it serves the book well.

At the center of this book is Jadine, an orphan whose aunt and uncle become her legal guardians. Her aunt and uncle work as the hired help for a wealthy white couple, The Streets, who left Philadelphia to move into a beautiful mansion in Dominique (Dominica). The Streets also took on the task of sponsoring Jadine's education, going so far as to pay for her to travel to study in France and sponsoring some of her lifestyle when she gets into modeling in Europe.

This book kicks off when Jadine comes back to Dominique to stay with her aunt and uncle. It's this cast of characters that really grounds the discussion of this book. Jadine moves into The Streets' house and lives as if she is a guest, while her aunt and uncle are relegated to the servants' quarters and even have to serve her dinner as she often eats with The Streets. This status quo is disrupted when a runaway named Son is discovered living on the property. The Streets similarly invite him to come into the same spaces as Jadine, and that's when this story gets even more tense.

What blossoms from there is a romance between Jadine and Son that is complicated and tumultuous and exposes their very different thoughts on white people. Son's adamant hatred of white people clashes with Jadine's feelings of gratitude toward and friendship with The Streets. Their relationship easily starts to fracture under the pressure of their fundamentally different beliefs, beliefs about what she owes to her aunt and uncle, how they deserve to be treated by their employer, what it means to feel indebted to someone, and how they value their family's roots.

There are other characters in this book that add even more layers to this conversation. A nephew and his aunt live on the property working as a yardman and a housekeeper. The Streets are estranged from their son Michael and anxiously await his potential return for the holidays.

In comparison to Toni Morrison's other books, this one lacks some of the heavier and more in-your-face content warnings (thank god no incest or pedophilia). But it does have quite a bit of domestic violence (not too hard to read but present), particularly in the back half of the book. So it's very different from the four books I've read by her so far, but I think it's one I'll be thinking about a lot.

It's a rather challenging task for me to pen a favorable review for anything Toni Morrison has penned. This is mainly because, after delving into Beloved, I found myself rather critical of her. However, Tar Baby presented a stark contrast to the experience I endured while reading her most renowned novel. In fact, nearly all the aspects that I loathed about Beloved were almost entirely absent in this book.

Comparing the two novels seems rather senseless. Beloved is firmly rooted in Reconstruction America, while Tar Baby is predominantly set in the circa 1970s Caribbean, with just a few dashes of the Deep South and Manhattan thrown in. Thankfully, there aren't any slaves running amok. Instead, this is the tale of a young woman named Jade/Jadine. She's a model who has graced the pages of international magazines. Her aunt and uncle are in the employ of a white couple, Valerian and Margaret. When the story commences, these four individuals are in the Caribbean. Margaret is considerably younger than her husband and is his second wife. They have a son who rarely comes home, much to his mother's chagrin (and in Valerian's view, she lavishes too much affection on him). Jadine travels to Haiti to visit her relatives and the white family who have treated her so warmly. Shortly thereafter, Margaret discovers a young black man hiding in her closet. He appears to be just hungry and a fugitive. Valerian decides to make him feel at home in the house, and Jadine reluctantly finds herself falling in love with Son.

I truly relished this story due to its emphasis on several key elements: interpersonal relationships, race relations, and feminism. Jadine was a powerful female protagonist, and even though Margaret was a bit unhinged, she was quite strong-willed in her own way. Ondine and Sydney, the aunt and uncle, served as vehicles for exploring race relations, but they were also fascinating as symbols of bourgeois African Americans in the 20th century.

The only aspect that I truly wished for was that the romance between Son and Jadine hadn't been so hastily developed. I understand that in reality, their romance was more of a backdrop, despite being marketed as such. However, I would have preferred it if the majority of it hadn't been condensed into just a few pages.

All in all, it was a pleasant read from Morrison, and I think I might just give her another chance.

One of the most profound quotes that has always intrigued me is - “All narrative begins for me as listening. When I read, I listen. When I write, I listen—for silence, inflection, rhythm, rest.”

This quote emphasizes the crucial role of listening in the process of creating and experiencing a narrative. When we read, we are not just passively looking at the words on the page. Instead, we are actively listening to the story being told, trying to understand the author's intended meaning, and感受the emotions and atmosphere that are being conveyed.

Similarly, when we write, we need to listen carefully to the voices in our heads, the silences between the words, the inflections and rhythms that will bring our story to life. By listening for these elements, we can create a more engaging and powerful narrative that will resonate with our readers.

In conclusion, this quote reminds us that listening is an essential part of the narrative process, and that by being more attuned to the sounds and silences around us, we can become better readers and writers.

Wow, this is an excellent reading.

It truly deserves a 5 out of 5 rating.

The content is engaging and captivating from start to finish.

It presents ideas in a clear and concise manner, making it easy to understand.

The writing style is流畅 and enjoyable, keeping the reader hooked until the very end.

Each paragraph builds upon the previous one, creating a seamless flow of thought.

The author has done a great job of researching and presenting the information.

The examples given are relevant and help to illustrate the points being made.

Overall, this is a top-notch piece of writing that I would highly recommend to others.

It is definitely worth taking the time to read and appreciate.

Five stars all the way!

Toni Morrison's versatility in her writing styles and narration is truly remarkable and continues to blow me away.

Her works are a rich tapestry of emotions, vivid characters, and profound themes. Each time I read her books, I discover something new and am deeply moved by her words.

I can't wait to re-read them in the years to come. I know that with each subsequent reading, I will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of her genius.

Morrison's writing is like a magical journey that takes the reader to different worlds and makes them experience a wide range of human experiences. Her ability to create such powerful and engaging stories is a testament to her incredible talent as a writer.

I am truly grateful to have discovered her works and look forward to many more years of enjoying her literary masterpieces.

The story predominantly centers around Jadine, a strikingly beautiful young woman. She has come to reside for a time at the home of a wealthy white couple, Valerian and Margaret Street, who inhabit their own private island. Jadine is the niece of their servants, Sydney and Ondine, upon whom the white couple are entirely reliant. Jadine is a model who received an education in France, which was financed by the Streets.

One night, a black man named Son, who had fled from a passing ship, is found hiding in Margaret's closet. After the initial astonishment of his discovery, he quickly befriends the others and, initially, has a mostly flirtatious relationship with Jadine. Then, a dramatic confrontation occurs between Ondine and Margaret, sending everyone into a state of turmoil. Jadine and Son then flee together to New York, and matters worsen from there. The ending of the book is, to say the least, strange, but overall, the book is outstanding. There were several sections where Morrison wrote in incredibly poetic descriptive prose, which I found especially delightful.

This novel takes the reader on a captivating journey filled with complex relationships, unexpected twists, and beautiful language. It explores themes of race, class, and love in a way that is both thought-provoking and engaging. Morrison's writing is truly masterful, and this book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates great literature.

In Morrison's fourth novel, two individuals enter Valerian Street's Caribbean mansion. Jadine, an orphaned, beautiful Sorbonne art history graduate and fashion model, was sponsored into wealth and privilege by Street, who employs her aunt and uncle as domestic servants. Son, an uneducated and contemptuous criminal on the run from small-town Florida for killing his wife upon discovering her adultery, is found hiding in Street's wife's closet. Son's arrival and his quickly developing, misguided love affair with Jadine disrupt life at the mansion and shatter relationships.

In an old African American folktale, a tar baby was a doll made of tar and turpentine used by a farmer to trap the cabbage-stealing trickster hero Br’er Rabbit. In modern usage, it refers to a problematic situation that worsens with additional involvement, which suits the novel well. Morrison's foreword makes it clear that the title also refers to the black women who hold things together, like families and different worlds. Ondine Childs, Jadine's aunt, could be considered the tar baby as she kept a white woman's secret and sacrificed her life for her niece's opportunities. However, I think it's Jadine, the bridge between the Streets and Childs, who has to grapple with the restrictions of femininity and feelings of being a race traitor. She has her education paid for by a wealthy old white man, a white lover/prospective husband, and an independent life in Europe that would mean leaving her family behind. Then again, it can be argued that every character in the novel is a tar baby as we are all the result of our circumstances and experiences.

The plot is relatively simple, but there are numerous rich and deep layers of meaning and interpretation. Complex themes such as black and cultural identity, woman- and motherhood, class, trauma, freedom, heritage, and colonialism are expertly explored through gorgeous poetic prose and deft, believable dialogues. I especially loved the descriptions of the island and the surrealist touch of having scenes narrated by butterflies observing through the mansion's windows.
The penetrating observations about the intricacies of race and class in Tar Baby were fascinating, but I couldn't support the toxic relationship between Jadine and Son. She falls in love with him after being sexually assaulted, and all it takes for her to forgive the sexual violence is seeing him look handsome after a bath and haircut. It's a shame because the novel's messages would have worked just as well without the sexual and physical violence. Thankfully, the open ending saves it. Did Son join the mythical wild horsemen, or did he keep trying to track Jadine down after she fled? Morrison leaves it up for debate, and I have my own preference to hold onto, otherwise the trivialization of the sexual assault risks spoiling the book's excellence for me.

\\n  “At some point in life the world’s beauty becomes enough. You don’t need to photograph, paint or even remember it. It is enough. No record of it needs to be kept and you don’t need someone to share it with or tell it to. When that happens—that letting go—you let go because you can. The world will always be there—while you sleep it will be there—when you wake it will be there as well. So you can sleep and there is reason to wake. A dead hydrangea is as intricate and lovely as one in bloom. Bleak sky is as seductive as sunshine, miniature orange trees without blossom or fruit are not defective; they are that.”\\n

Toni Morrison's writing is truly beautiful.

However, the book in question seemed a little overwrought at times.

I'm not sure if this will make any sense to anyone else, but for me, the theme of the story stuck with me more than the story itself.

It was as if the theme was a hidden gem, waiting to be discovered.

There is definitely treasure to be found within the pages of this book, but you have to be willing to dig pretty deep to get to it.

It requires careful reading and thoughtful reflection to fully appreciate the depth and complexity of Morrison's work.

Despite the initial impression of being overwrought, upon closer examination, the beauty and significance of the story begin to emerge.

It's a book that rewards those who are willing to put in the effort and engage with it on a deeper level.

American Nobel laureate Toni Morrison writes wonderful works. In my own bookshelf, in addition to "My People, My Love", there is also "Tar Baby", which has been waiting for its turn in the reading queue. "Tar Baby", like all of Morrison's other works, delves into the lives of blacks and describes the injustices they have experienced. "Tar Baby" particularly delves into the portrayal of the master-servant relationship, but also into many other abhorrent injustices, such as slavery.

The white wealthy couple in the book owns a house on the Caribbean island. The retired and cruel master is very attached to the house, but the wife who is about twenty years younger does not enjoy it at all. They are served by an elderly black couple who have served almost all their lives, and they know all the secrets of the master couple. Their niece Jadine, who makes models in Paris, has come to visit. There is also an intruder living in the house.

When the Christmas storm arrives, there is also a storm inside the house. There are already so many secrets that they crave the light of day. The master and the servant keep secrets from each other, and in addition, Jadine and the intruder fall in love with each other. The story of "Tar Baby" was wonderful, and I got to read incredibly intense and passionate text from Morrison.

As someone who once worked on contract as a teacher in the West Indies in the late 1980s, this book resonated very deeply with me.

I can vividly recall the unique experiences and challenges I faced during that time. The diverse cultures, the warm and vibrant communities, and the educational environment all left a lasting impression on me.

This book seems to capture those very essence and emotions. It takes me back to those days when I was teaching students from different backgrounds, trying to inspire and educate them.

The stories and descriptions in the book are so relatable that it feels as if I am reliving my own memories. It makes me realize how much that experience has shaped me as a person and as an educator.

I am truly grateful to have come across this book, as it has brought back a flood of memories and has given me a new perspective on my time in the West Indies.

The audiobook that I have just listened to received a rating of 3.75⭐.

I must say that the narration was truly stellar. The narrator did an excellent job of bringing the story to life with their engaging voice and perfect intonation.

It was a pleasure to listen to, and I found myself completely immersed in the story from start to finish.

I am looking forward to writing a more detailed review in the future to share my thoughts and feelings about this audiobook with others.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story and enjoys listening to audiobooks.

Each was pulling the other away from the maw of hell— its very ridge top.

Each knew the world as it was meant or ought to be. One had a past, the other a future and each one bore the culture to save the race in his hands. Mama-spoiled black man, will you mature with me? Culture-bearing black woman, whose culture are you bearing?

My experience with every Toni Morrison book is truly remarkable. The longer I sit with what I've read, the more I learn and take away from the reading experience. This particular book really took me on an unforgettable journey, and I just can't stop thinking about it. That's why I'm writing this review.

This book delved deep into the complex dynamics of various relationships. It explored the relationship between black people and white people, the interactions between man and woman, the bond between mother and child, and the power dynamic between master and servant. Morrison also touched on the instability of the nuclear family and the shift from community to individualism. She made me question what it means to belong and not belong to a culture, what it means to be a motherless child, and the relationship one has with their blackness and what that truly implies. And she did all of this with such ease and grace.

I don't think I'll ever cease to be in awe of the way she tells stories. I love how she presents them from a perspective of observation, without passing judgment on her characters in either direction. Morality doesn't exist on a binary scale within her work, and that's one of the things I cherish about it. It always makes me think deeply and I come away from every book changed.

As we all know, I have a profound love for her work, and this book only strengthened that love even more.