The Bluest Eye (Vintage International)

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It's a hit!

After reading Morrison's Beloved last year for American Literature class, I must admit I selceted reading this book reluctantly.

But.

And the... (show more)

After reading Morrison's Beloved last year for American Literature class, I must admit I selceted reading this book reluctantly.

But.

And there always is a but.

It was incredible.

I would highly reccomend this book to anyone who would like to introduce themselves to Toni Morrison in a non-threatening, non-overwhelming type of way.

There were so many rich characters in this novel, it was a wonder that it was so short. I especially liked the hookers, China, Poland and Marie.

While it seemed to take a long while to circle around the main story of the ugly-duckling character, Pecola, the revolution of the evolution is all necessary for the final outcome (no spoilers here. The back of the book jacket tells you that she gets pregnant by her father. But wait, there's more.)

Also, you might think it's strange that the story is narrated by someone who barely knows Pecola.

But.

Wait.

There's more. (show less)

 

 

by Britton Leigh Cowman

No, it's a flop!

This wasn't too much of an eye-opener. It was quite depressing, actually. I wish Pecola would've kicked Cholly's ass at the end. She was quite p... (show more)

This wasn't too much of an eye-opener. It was quite depressing, actually. I wish Pecola would've kicked Cholly's ass at the end. She was quite pathetic and just an example of what not to be. Sure, Morrison uses great imagery and depicts characters really well. It was well written, it seems like her favorite words is "acquiesce." (show less)

 

 

by Krista-Annikki

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  This is a brash incendiary novel involving seemingly atrocious stereotyyes of African American families. Packed into a thin 160 page book were enough mythically soul crushing scenarios to make even me somewhat uncomfortable.
  Despite the heavy southern gothic tone Toni Morrison allows warmth and color to emerge in the forms of common intoxicating childhood joys, the heavy perfume of blooming lilacs, and a persistent dark humor.
  Some of the passages are extraordinary to have been written by a... (show more)

  This is a brash incendiary novel involving seemingly atrocious stereotyyes of African American families. Packed into a thin 160 page book were enough mythically soul crushing scenarios to make even me somewhat uncomfortable.
  Despite the heavy southern gothic tone Toni Morrison allows warmth and color to emerge in the forms of common intoxicating childhood joys, the heavy perfume of blooming lilacs, and a persistent dark humor.
  Some of the passages are extraordinary to have been written by an African American woman, yet they are so vulgar that for anyone else to have written them may have been indefensible.

  The plot is basically that an ugly black girl is raped by her father and she longs to have blue eyes so that she will no longer be ugly.There is a strong sense of shame and self loathing among the characters in this book. It is an internalized racism which incites parents to hate children, spouses hate eachother, mulattos hate blacks,etc. This is potent stuff. The issue of racism is usually seen as a white vs black, black vs mexican, mexican vs guatemalan, etc.
  This novel focuses on the hatred of one's own race as part of denigrated minority.
  The author, rather than attacking with a deserved rage, approaches even her most vile characters with a tender sympathy and their actions as sad fates.

  This was some remarkable writing but I can't recomend it unless you are prepared for something really dark and passionate. (show less)

   

  by Daniel James on Aug 11, 2009 at 03:33AM

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  A gritty, emotional, timeless story of the proverbial outcast. A modern day "Ugly Duckling" Pecola Breedlove wants nothing more than "pretty blue eyes" - A metaphor for the remedy to her lifelong struggle with deceit, ridicule, racism and self-pity. With "The Bluest Eye", Toni Morrison proves a champion of character development reaching deep beyond the normalcy that would be another writer's content finding layer after layer of description, emotions, insights and... (show more)

  A gritty, emotional, timeless story of the proverbial outcast. A modern day "Ugly Duckling" Pecola Breedlove wants nothing more than "pretty blue eyes" - A metaphor for the remedy to her lifelong struggle with deceit, ridicule, racism and self-pity. With "The Bluest Eye", Toni Morrison proves a champion of character development reaching deep beyond the normalcy that would be another writer's content finding layer after layer of description, emotions, insights and nuance that leaves the reader fully embraced, fully rapt. Before long, Morrison has us completely awash with contempt and outrage for the heroine's abusers and at the same time strangely understanding, slightly sympathetic even, to the pronounced racial and social circumstances - the inequalities of life - the underlying rage that conspire to make Pecola Breedlove a most logical target, the sensible victim. Set in the early 1940's and published in 1970, "The Bluest Eye" remains a poignant and dutiful reminder of the effect the whole of human nature has on the individual soul. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook-gebruiker on May 18, 2009 at 12:21AM

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