Between the Pages II. --Beloved by Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison introduces the eerie territory of Beloved: “124 was spiteful. Full of a baby’s venom. The women in the house knew it and so did the children. For years each put up with the spite in his own way, but by 1873 Sethe and her daughter Denver were its only victims.”

seasons

“In Ohio seasons are theatrical. Each one enters like a prima donna, convinced its performance is the reason the world has people in it” (137).

Never having read Morrison’s work, I found the language of the novel artful and yet colloquial. The plot—twisted. Tone—creepy. Characters—believable—some pitiful and others spectacularly strong. Morrison crafts a novel that slowly stitches together the past world of southern slavery at Sweet Home and the haunting present at 124 in Ohio.

fire

“First a bit of paper, then a little kindling—not too much—just a taste until it was strong enough for more. She fed its dance until it was wild and fast” (214).

This book required attention…at times I would find myself paying too much attention to the language and losing bits of the convoluted plot.

snow

“Down came the dry flakes, fat enough and heavy enough to crash like nickels on stone. It always surprised him, how quiet it was. Not like rain, but like a secret” (152).