Beloved

I really like the book Beloved. Unlike the other stories that I have read about this time period, Beloved actually brings the reader into the time period and makes historical references that are relevant to the story. I love Morrison's style of writing because it is simple yet very complex. Like Faulkner, Morrison creates many layers to the story. It is also cool that she is writing from an african american's perspective instead of the stereotypical white perspective. The story really gets to the deep struggles that formed slaves faced after they were set free. in the case of Sethe Morrison shows that while slavery may be over in many aspects it still exists due to te scars, both physical and emotional, that haunt her everyday. I also really like that this book is not directly about slavery or the historical aspect of the time and that there is a more personal story going on. I think the way Morrison mashes the personal and historical into one really grabs the readers attention and develops the story more than if the two were separated.

Comments

[Jordan G]

Not only does the personal story make the novel more interesting, but it also (at least for me) makes me read about the historical context more closely as well. I want to read about the characters history because I know the characters before I hear about the history. You can't get that in a history text book.

[Sylvia B.]

What I like, so far, about Beloved, is that it has a really good story, where as many other books about slavery seem like they were only written to show how horrible slavery was. Beloved is able to do this, while also telling an interesting story.

[Josh Levy]

The way that Morrison incorporates elements of history makes the story feel more intense and realistic. The fact that we know that the elements that she is writing about actually existed, allows the reader to appreciate the story on a more intimate level. The relatable nature of the text makes the reader more capable of understanding the characters and their culture. This feature of Morrison's writing makes her stories very approachable and compelling.