I really don't know how to rate this particular book. For the first two hundred pages, it was an absolute struggle. It made my skin crawl, and it took me a whole month to get through those pages. I almost gave up on it countless times. However, something magical happened in the last 100 pages. It completely blew my mind. I found myself unable to put it down, yet at the same time, I needed to distance myself from the story and its characters. It was a strange and intense feeling. On one hand, I hated the book for the first part that made me suffer. But on the other hand, I loved it for the powerful impact it had on me in the end. It was a truly unique reading experience that left me in a state of confusion and admiration.

\\n  February 2025:\\n

Upon a reread, I find this book even better. I wouldn't change my rating. One of the issues I had was the toxicity in the relationship between Jadine and Son, but I now recognize it was meant to display "youthful passion." It truly feels like a slice of life, and I highly appreciated this easy Sunday morning read.

\\n  January 2024:\\n

Toni Morrison's decision to name this book Tar Baby was quite inflammatory. I had certain expectations, but the book was nothing like I imagined. Early on, we learn that Morrison views “tar baby” as a Black woman holding things together. Tar is used for building, and thus Black women are foundational. This is Morrison's fourth book, published in 1981. It may not be the first Morrison novel that comes to mind, but it stood out to me the most, so I was excited to pick it up.

The novel is set in various locations, including Paris, the Caribbean, New York City, and Florida. Jadine, a twenty-five-year-old orphaned Black model working in Paris with a white boyfriend, owes her Sorbonne education to Valerian Street, a kind and rich white Philadelphia native. He employs nearly all the Black characters in the book. Valerian is married to Margaret, his second wife, who is twenty years his junior and the mother of his adult son Michael. Sydney and Ondine, a Black couple, have worked in the Street household for decades and relocated with Valerian to the islands. They are like surrogate parents to Jadine. One day, a young Black man named Son, a fugitive, is found in the Street household as they prepare for Christmas. He begins a relationship with Jadine. Soon after, another Black couple, Gideon the yardman and his wife Thérèse, are fired for stealing food to feed Son when he was a stowaway.

After they're fired, Margaret's much-anticipated Christmas dinner collapses when her son Michael cancels due to being too busy. His relationship with his parents is strained, and his mother was hoping to make amends in person. Ondine reveals details about Margaret's past abuse towards Michael, and Jadine and Son flee to New York City. They're happy for a while, but their relationship sours when they visit Son's hometown in Florida. All the characters reach a crossroads and must decide how to live the rest of their lives.

I don't particularly like any of the characters, but I feel the most sympathy for Ondine and Sydney. They're an elderly Black couple trying to make their way in the world. Their scenes added a lot of heart to the story. I didn't care for Valerian or Margaret. Margaret is racist and frequently uses the N-word, while Valerian is weak and clueless. Jadine and Son are young and passionate, but their relationship is too volatile. My dislike of some characters didn't ruin my reading experience, but I didn't feel as connected to them as I could have. It's not a great love story, but the Sydney and Ondine relationship is one of endurance and understanding.

Toni Morrison is an expert storyteller. Her writing is sharp, poetic, descriptive, and lyrical. I instantly fell in love with the prose and her in-depth character focus. The story is about a group of Americans in the Caribbean islands, exploring the dynamics of white Americans, older Black Americans, and young Black Americans in one house away from the States but still dealing with the American social structure. The relationship between Sydney and Ondine as elders and Jadine and Son as idealistic youngsters was, in my opinion, the more interesting dynamic. There's a moment when Margaret assumes Ondine is over a decade older than her when she's only four years older, highlighting how white people expect Black people, especially Black women, to take care of them. Margaret blames Ondine for not stopping her when it comes to abusing her son because Ondine is older and she was "just a child" at nineteen.

There were times when the book lost me because I could get a little lost in the poetry. Each chapter starts with a few paragraphs that aren't directly related to the previous action, which took away some momentum for me, especially when reading in the 21st century with 2024 eyes. It's a storytelling form I'm not used to anymore. This can be both a good and a bad thing. As I said, Morrison is an expert storyteller. Her books depict the Black American experience almost entirely. I thought it was interesting to put a group of characters in such close quarters to see how they interact. People who love words will love this book. I don't recommend it to those who want something casual. I believe Morrison wrote for people who truly enjoy books.

The characters that color this narrative, from the elusive Marys to the vibrant yet disturbing Jadine, weave a captivating tale of love. It's a love that is forbidden by the strictures of societal morality, a love that remains unbound by the warm caresses of Caribbean nights. The story within this book seems to belong in a summer sands novel, yet the words writhe on the page, pulling the reader into a world filled with pain and devastation. This world has the potential to essentially change the way one speaks to the people who support their life.

Perhaps if I had read this book in closer to one sitting, I would have been more deeply involved in the tale. However, since I couldn't, I found myself too distant from the characters. I saw them too much in black and white, which made it difficult to truly empathize or even sympathize with any of them.

I wouldn't read this particular book again, but I'll definitely be picking up more of Morrison's works. Her writing has a unique power that draws you in and makes you think, even if this specific story didn't fully resonate with me. I'm eager to explore more of her literary universe and see what other treasures she has in store.

Pretty much any conceivable interaction between blacks and whites, rich and poor, man and woman, is vividly presented in this novel.

There are no definite resolutions, and some of the relationships are exaggerated to an extreme. However, overall, it is an astonishing piece of literature that I envision spending an entire semester studying in college.

It essentially tells the story of the wealthy white Valerian who retires to the Caribbean. His much younger wife is preoccupied with the absence of her college-aged son, who is burdened by white-guilt. Valerian hires a black butler and cook, as well as a yardman and washer. All of them are uneducated, yet they are more divided by class than united by race.

The biracial niece of the butler and cook becomes a model and is educated at the Sorbonne with Valerian's financial support. She then falls helplessly in love with a shipwrecked illiterate from the South. The novel delves into their complex relationships, sometimes attempting to cover a bit too much ground.

I have always found Morrison's descriptive writing to be poetic. In this particular work, I felt she flawlessly captured the often awkward dialogue among the characters. For a thought-provoking exploration of race, class, and gender relations, it would be difficult to make a wrong choice with Tar Baby.

Sometimes, I find myself reluctant to award this beloved work 5 stars. The reason is that my experience with Toni Morrison's books is distinct from that with others.

She is indeed one of my favorite authors, yet not because her writing glides effortlessly and precisely through the plot, as is the case with some of my other favorites. Instead, it is precisely because her prose presents a significant challenge for me to fully comprehend. Generally, I don't take pleasure in books that I feel compelled to "decode." However, Morrison weaves her writing with undercutting messages and double meanings in a manner that is truly powerful once you finally grasp them. That very feeling is what makes her books truly worthwhile.

The title makes reference to an old folktale. In this tale, someone creates a statue using tar and other materials, making it appear alive. A talking bunny happens by and waves at the tar baby, but receives no wave in return. This perceived disrespect angers the bunny, who then becomes obsessed with making the tar baby acknowledge them. The bunny proceeds to punch and kick the tar, and this obsession leads to the animal getting stuck in the tar and being unable to move. Physically, this symbolizes their debilitation due to their obsession. The story concludes with a fox approaching the stuck bunny, but it ends before we learn whether the bunny is eaten or if it was the fox that fabricated the tar baby.

Essentially, Toni Morrison transformed this 5-minute folktale into a captivating love story. Set sometime in the 1980s, the book centers around a Black woman named Jadine (the Tar Baby), who is fixated on luxury and highly integrated into the white elite. It explores the mutual repulsion and attraction between her and a Black fugitive named Son (the bunny), who approaches her vacation home in the Caribbean in search of food and shelter. Initially, they are disgusted and confused by each other, but soon grow fascinated. Although the plot at times seems somewhat unrealistic, it is truly fascinating to witness their relationship unfold and evolve, from the Caribbean to NYC and rural Florida. There are also numerous side plots that can be tricky to follow, but they all come together to offer profound commentary on obligation/betrayal, assimilation, patriarchy, elitism, and racism.

Admittedly, it can be slow and confusing at times, and truly only the second half of the book delves into the relationship between Jadine and Son. However, the last 100 pages are simply amazing. Overall, I liked it a great deal.

**Second Read, July 2020**

I first read this book while vacationing in the Caribbean (oh, how I remember those vacations!). I was completely captivated by this often overlooked gem in Morrison's catalog. The language is as rich and evocative as the lush island setting. The layers of storytelling, especially regarding the racial and class distinctions among the characters, are still deeply thought-provoking and, unfortunately, feel very current, even though Tar Baby was published nearly 40 (!) years ago.

I do think the last third of the book (after the Christmas dinner scene) doesn't quite maintain the same quality, and that ending is a bit silly. But come on, it's Toni freaking Morrison! Even when she's not at her absolute best, she outshines nearly every other writer.

I do wish I hadn't started this right before my move. It was my fault for thinking I could give this book anything less than my full attention. Perhaps the next time I decide to read Tar Baby, I'll be able to return to the Caribbean and read it along a white sand beach with a rum drink in hand. 4/5.

**First Read, April 2016**

Reading the reviews for Tar Baby on Goodreads, you'll see that many people don't think highly of this book. They consider it a "lesser Morrison" novel and dismiss the plot because of the romance at its center.

I read those reviews before starting Tar Baby, and I think most of those reviewers completely missed the point. Tar Baby does stand out if you look at the work Morrison had written up to that point (The Bluest Eye, Sula, and Song of Solomon). It may lack the seriousness or importance of those other novels, and structurally, the use of multiple perspectives and dialogue sets it apart.

However, I'd argue that Tar Baby is perhaps, for lack of a better word, the "most fun" or "enjoyable" novel of Morrison's so far. It once again showcases her incredible talent as a storyteller.

It's set mostly on a Caribbean island at a massive house called L'Arbe de la Croix, where Valerian Street, a rich, white retiree, lives with his younger, beauty pageant wife Margaret. Morrison uses an almost excessive amount of dialogue at the beginning to establish the tone of each of the major relationships between Valerian, Margaret, Sydney (Valerian's longtime butler), and his wife Ondine (the Street's cook). I found this to be an interesting way to introduce the major characters, and I was immediately drawn into the story.

I'll refrain from going into more plot details, as I think it's best to start Tar Baby without knowing too much. Morrison's ability to highlight the differences between whites and blacks, rich and poor, Caribbean blacks and American blacks through her writing and all the characters is done extremely well. At this point, I shouldn't be surprised.

I'd argue that the central relationship between Sydney and Ondine's niece Jade and the mysterious Son encompasses all of these aforementioned divisions in a way that is immensely satisfying to read on the page.

Some of the finest writing in the book comes from the vivid descriptions of nature surrounding L'Arbe de la Croix. The interaction and dynamic of man and his environment, as well as nature vs. civilization, are also themes of the book.

There is one particular scene that stands out to me, centered around a Christmas dinner that is so deliciously over-the-top that I was laughing out loud with delight. I'd highly recommend Tar Baby to anyone who has read Morrison (I'd suggest not starting with this one) and is curious to see what a lighter, more fun Morrison novel could look like. It may surprise you, as it did me! 4.5/5

It is extremely challenging to accurately explain the force that pervades Toni Morrison's books. By the conclusion of this book, I found myself intoxicated by the power of her words.

In the foreword of this book, Toni Morrison writes: "All narrative begins for me as listening. When I read, I listen. When I write, I listen—for silence, inflection, rhythm, rest. Then comes the image, the picture of the thing I have to invent to invent: the headless bride in her wedding gown; the forest clearing."

I regarded these words as highly instructive and made an attempt to read this story in this manner. It is far more difficult than one might anticipate to listen before envisioning, but what an incredibly enriching experience it is. It allows one to truly immerse in the text, to feel the nuances and subtleties that might otherwise be overlooked. It is like opening a door to a whole new world of literary exploration and discovery.

Toni Morrison is truly a literary deity. Her works are profound explorations of various themes such as family, belonging, colonialism, isolation, and the arduous yet hopeful pursuit of safety and fulfillment in a world that is both beautiful and flawed.

Morrison's choice of titles is always a masterstroke. It has the power to retrospectively enhance the entire reading experience. When I first embarked on reading Tar Baby, I had anticipated a love story at its core. However, by the time I reached the end, my perception had completely changed.

This book defies easy categorization into a single genre. The setting, characters, and tone all possess a unique blend of the mythical and the imperfectly realistic. The writing is so exquisite that it tantalizes the reader's palate, while the intensity of the plot movement keeps one utterly enthralled.

The passages quoted further exemplify Morrison's remarkable talent. The description of a star throbbing rather than twinkling is a vivid and poignant image. It makes one think about the hidden emotions and struggles within each of us.

The second passage about the world's beauty being enough is equally profound. It speaks of a state of acceptance and liberation, where one realizes that the world will always exist, regardless of our actions or memories. It gives us the freedom to sleep and wake, knowing that there is always something beautiful to discover.

Toni Morrison's works are a treasure trove of wisdom and beauty, and Tar Baby is no exception. It is a book that demands to be read and reread, each time revealing new layers of meaning and depth.

A man sexually assaults and terrifies every woman he meets. This is an extremely disturbing and unacceptable behavior. However, one woman has none of it. She refuses to be a victim and stands up against his actions.

Later, the man takes a shower. Strangely enough, after this, the woman falls in love with him. But this is completely wrong and unjustified. Just because a man takes a shower does not change the fact that he has sexually assaulted and terrified women.

No. Just no. We cannot excuse or overlook such heinous behavior. We must always stand up for the rights and safety of women and hold those who commit such acts accountable.

2.5

This novel was just okay. It had its enjoyable moments, which made the reading experience not entirely bad. However, I couldn't help but feel that it was lacking in some aspects. Maybe it was the depth of the characters, or perhaps the plot could have been more developed. There was just something that didn't quite click for me.

While I didn't hate the novel, I also wouldn't necessarily recommend it to others. There are so many great books out there, and this one didn't really stand out enough for me to suggest it as a must-read. It's not a bad choice if you're looking for a light and easy read, but if you're in search of something more substantial and engaging, you might want to look elsewhere.

In conclusion, this novel was an average read for me. It had its pros and cons, but ultimately, it didn't leave a lasting impression.

Finally, it took me a whole 3 weeks to complete this book. I have to say, it was just so damn boring. The characters in it were all so hateful that I simply didn't care what happened to them. It felt like a real chore to keep reading. If it weren't for the fact that I needed to fill the Nobel winner spot on my book bingo, I would have put this book down long ago. I found myself constantly looking at the page count, hoping that it would end soon. The story just didn't engage me at all, and I was left feeling disappointed. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or the plot, but something just didn't click for me. Overall, it was a rather unpleasant reading experience.

The island was a place that exaggerated everything. There was an abundance of light, casting long and deep shadows. The rain fell in torrents, and the foliage grew lush and thick. It was a place where one could easily fall into a state of excessive sleep. This description by Toni Morrison in "Tar Baby" sets the stage for a complex and multi-layered story.

I initially thought that the tropical Caribbean setting, with all its talk of candy and flowers, would make this one of Toni Morrison's simpler reads. However, as with most of her books, it proved impossible to summarize everything. There is just so much to explore and discuss.

In this novel, we are introduced to retired rich American Valerian Street, who lives on the L'Isle des Chevaliers with his much younger wife, Margaret, two African-American servants, and their niece, Jadine, who is visiting from France. The arrival of a sailor, Son, who has abandoned ship, disrupts their lives and brings a new level of interest and tension.

For me, the most important character in the book is Jadine. I have always been drawn to rebel women, and Jadine fits that description perfectly. Unlike the other women in the story, she is not portrayed as maternal. Instead, she has her own unique dreams and aspirations and refuses to be limited by traditional ways of thinking. She is a light-skinned black woman, called "yalla" by the local islanders, and is seen as prim and proper due to her life in France as a fashion model. However, she struggles with her identity as a black woman, her relationship with a white boyfriend in France, having a white patron, and feeling more comfortable in white culture.

Jadine's inner turmoil is palpable as she grapples with questions of authenticity and fetishization. When she wonders if her boyfriend wants to marry her or just a black girl who looks and acts like her, it speaks to the complex and often-conflicting feelings that many black women experience. Her thoughts on her identity and her desire to be just herself, not defined by her race or nationality, are both relatable and thought-provoking.

I felt a great deal of sympathy for Jadine as she wrestled with the idea of being a race traitor for wanting to return to France instead of moving back to the States. I have often been accused of not being black enough, and I understand the importance of recognizing the diversity of black women's upbringings, temperaments, personalities, interests, and more. Son's treatment of Jadine's perceived lack of blackness really bothered me, as I have also experienced similar attitudes, albeit not as harshly. Son, on the other hand, seems to be firmly rooted in his blackness, and it makes one wonder if a relationship between him and Jadine could ever truly work.

Their love story is intense and passionate, but it also raises questions about the role of place in a relationship. The tropical island may seem idyllic, but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear that running away to a different place does not solve our problems. We bring our baggage with us, and our relationships are shaped by the contexts in which they develop. When Son returns to the States, his description of his home is vastly different from what we have seen in the Caribbean, and it makes us wonder how things will change for him and Jadine in this new setting.

I also have to mention Margaret, the wife, who really annoyed me. She seems to be the kind of non-black friend who feels entitled to make disparaging comments about black people, believing that her friendship with a black person somehow exempts her from being racist. Some of the things she says are truly offensive, and I wish Jadine had been more assertive and told her off. Margaret's behavior highlights the importance of being aware of our own biases and the impact our words and actions can have on others.

This was a great reread, and I found myself loving the book even more this time around. I had a better understanding of the complex themes and characters, and I was once again impressed by Toni Morrison's ability to help us understand why her characters are the way they are without expecting us to take sides. "Tar Baby" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that continues to resonate with readers.