Solomons Lied (1978)

There is always a daunted, freighted feeling upon cracking open a [[Toni Morrison]] book, a sense that what lies within may alter perception of reality forever. Few writers have the ability to lull the reader with a narrative so the looming assault is palatable enough to both shift their thinking and keep them coming back for more. The story is far too complicated for any real synopsis but, like most of her books, it is a family epic almost Greek in form. It's a shame we've lost her voice - there aren't enough of Morrison's books in the world. Don't be daunted by what lies within, her parables are necessary to change our world and the writing is a joy.

5 bones!!!!!
Highly recommended. ( )

Macon Dead, Jr. was born the day another man jumped from the cupola of the hospital wearing homemade wings and couldn't fly. When he's a young boy, he gets the nickname "Milkman" when a man comes in and sees that his mother still nurses him. These are just pieces of his story, as he grows up and becomes a man, falls in and out of love, and learns about family.

I am convinced that Toni Morrison writes everything with a precision of language that is truly remarkable. This is only the second novel of hers that I've written besides Beloved. It was written fifteen years earlier and on the surface is very different, with a lot of dialogue and less descriptive passages. But it is stunning. I hesitate to say too much because the way the last third of the book unfolds is amazing. Did I like it? I don't know, but it will definitely stick with me for a long time. An excellent book club pick. ( )

Nice literary book with intriguing characters. The book started off slowly but picked-up halfway through. The last third was fantastic. ( )

A beautiful, deeply moving book about family, relationships, communication, community and belonging, about racism and class. There are characters here I will carry with me for a long time, I am so glad I listened to Toni Morrison reading the book aloud. A beautiful reading voice and perfect sensitivity. ( )

Plot-driven, character-driven, held by history and underlain by myth, with a full command of the possibilities of the written from - at its best, as here, a novel is all these things in creative tension. This is a masterwork. It's been a long time since I have been able to say say that about any novel I've read, particularly any novel written in the last fifty years. ( )