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juushikaTitle: Song of Solomon
Author: Toni Morrison
Published: New York: Everyman's Library, 2003 (1977)
Page Count: 416
Total Page Count: 21,713
Text Number: 62
Read For: my own enjoyment, borrowed from the library
Short review: Unfortunately, my computer ate my first draft, so this is going to be short and sweet. Unlike most of Morrison's novels, Song of Solomon takes place in the north and has a male protagonist, Macon "Milkman" Dead III. In a story of life, death, and family legacy, Milkman must reevaluate his own life as a comparatively privileged, discriminated against black man living in the north. He explores his relationships with his female relatives, father, friends, and death, and journey's south to discover the stories of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Told in Morrison's magical-realistic style, the characters are realistic, the visuals stunning, the subject huge, and the story haunting and engrossing. I enjoy her female protagonists more as well as her usual southern setting, but there's no doubt that this is a good read.
I have read almost every book that Morrison has written. I enjoy her writing style and believe that she is one of the best authors of our day. Song of Solomon was new to me, and I picked it up because I love her work. It isn't may favorite of her books, primarily because I like her female protagonists and southern setting more than I enjoyed Milkman and the north. Indeed, many of the best parts of the novel directly involved Milkman's female relatives or took place in his exploration of the south. Nonetheless, this is still a very good book. Morrison manages to tackle huge topics (life, death, legacy) without any hesitancy and without preaching in an organic, realistic narrative. The book builds upon itself, getting better as it goes along: characters gain backstories, Milkman grows a backbone, secrets are revealed, and the issues of death and family are delved in to with increasing depth. The end of the book manages to conclude all of these main, contrasting themes with grace: Milkman finds the spark and purpose of life, embraces and learns not to fear death, and has gained a respect not only for his family but for the life, death, inspiration and impact that they have imparted upon him.
To be honest, I don't even know if it's possible for Morrison to write a second rate novel. Some of her books fail to achieve the depth of others, some work on a limited scale, some have a larger scale but less depth, but all of them are good. Song of Solomon may not be my favorite of her books, but I very much enjoyed reading it. Her writing style is almost hyper-realistic as far as characters and emotion goes, she tackles huge themes with grace and boldness, and no matter the subject she manges to inspire, even as she studies human frailty and mortality. I highly recommend Morrison as a novel (Sula and Beloved are my favorites and I recommend you at least read the latter), and I recommend this book in particular. Although somewhat different from her usual work, it only gets better as it progresses and by the end it is a very moving, authentic, inspiring text.
Author: Toni Morrison
Published: New York: Everyman's Library, 2003 (1977)
Page Count: 416
Total Page Count: 21,713
Text Number: 62
Read For: my own enjoyment, borrowed from the library
Short review: Unfortunately, my computer ate my first draft, so this is going to be short and sweet. Unlike most of Morrison's novels, Song of Solomon takes place in the north and has a male protagonist, Macon "Milkman" Dead III. In a story of life, death, and family legacy, Milkman must reevaluate his own life as a comparatively privileged, discriminated against black man living in the north. He explores his relationships with his female relatives, father, friends, and death, and journey's south to discover the stories of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Told in Morrison's magical-realistic style, the characters are realistic, the visuals stunning, the subject huge, and the story haunting and engrossing. I enjoy her female protagonists more as well as her usual southern setting, but there's no doubt that this is a good read.
I have read almost every book that Morrison has written. I enjoy her writing style and believe that she is one of the best authors of our day. Song of Solomon was new to me, and I picked it up because I love her work. It isn't may favorite of her books, primarily because I like her female protagonists and southern setting more than I enjoyed Milkman and the north. Indeed, many of the best parts of the novel directly involved Milkman's female relatives or took place in his exploration of the south. Nonetheless, this is still a very good book. Morrison manages to tackle huge topics (life, death, legacy) without any hesitancy and without preaching in an organic, realistic narrative. The book builds upon itself, getting better as it goes along: characters gain backstories, Milkman grows a backbone, secrets are revealed, and the issues of death and family are delved in to with increasing depth. The end of the book manages to conclude all of these main, contrasting themes with grace: Milkman finds the spark and purpose of life, embraces and learns not to fear death, and has gained a respect not only for his family but for the life, death, inspiration and impact that they have imparted upon him.
To be honest, I don't even know if it's possible for Morrison to write a second rate novel. Some of her books fail to achieve the depth of others, some work on a limited scale, some have a larger scale but less depth, but all of them are good. Song of Solomon may not be my favorite of her books, but I very much enjoyed reading it. Her writing style is almost hyper-realistic as far as characters and emotion goes, she tackles huge themes with grace and boldness, and no matter the subject she manges to inspire, even as she studies human frailty and mortality. I highly recommend Morrison as a novel (Sula and Beloved are my favorites and I recommend you at least read the latter), and I recommend this book in particular. Although somewhat different from her usual work, it only gets better as it progresses and by the end it is a very moving, authentic, inspiring text.
