Brilliant

An amazing book. Can't recommend it more. A must have for any library. Honest and moving.

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1 person found this helpful

Gritty story about effect of slavery on one woman

I’m glad it was read by the author, and she did a great job, she has a soothing voice. The story is quite traumatic but then slavery was traumatic. The language was very poetic and sometimes I found it hard to work out what was actually happening, and had to listen again. But overall a great book

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Astounding

The style, subject matter and structure of this book demanded a re-read; listening to it, after 3 attempts has transformed my understanding and appreciation of it. The author has an important 'voice' and hearing her read her own work is a potent experience in itself.

This book records slavery from the slave perspective. At times harrowing and frightening it is illuminating of the slave world and humanity in general. The characterisation is strong and meaningful and Morrison's use of included and deliberately excluded elements brings the reader to the heart of the tale and lives of the characters. The style and use of language is powerful, both difficult and confusing at times but the Audible edition almost eliminates these difficulties. Having 'read' this novel before I matched what I was hearing to the text and a real sense of dawning understanding overtook me.

Not a light listen but an incredibly important one, moving and life enhancing, it demands time and concentration; you might feel as though you'd like to give up: but perseverance and acceptance of the challenge will reward you. A truly truly a great book, made greater in this format.

Toni Morrison is a complex and contraversial writer and this her most gritty book would be a good starting choice; introducing all the themes of her writing. As long as the plight of the dispossessed and down trodden remain at the heart of our world Morrison enables the reader to understand what it is to have nothing to fall back on except raw human nature, good or evil - somewhere in this tale is a lesson for each of us, but Morrison leaves us to work out what.

Give this a go - it will not disappoint or fail to move you.

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28 people found this helpful

Brilliant

Loved it as expected. Didn't want it to finish. At first struggled with the book but after listening to a couple hours was compelled to use both versions, book and audio. Toni Morrison reading it was a bonus.

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Masterpiece

What a beautiful piece of literature. Amazing work, beautiful narration, elegantly woven storyline. Thoroughly enjoyed it with all the pain it carries within it. It makes one pauses to think, question and reflect.

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Slavery's haunting!

This book tops my list of the many excellent references on the subject of the cost of slavery to our humanity and the light it shone on our inhumanity.

It is so beautiful and yet very chilling that it's hard to merely talk about what I've just experienced on these pages. It scared and succoured me. Enraged and soothed me. Bewildered and enlightened me. I unashamedly re-read pages like the keenest of students scouting for clues to humanity's greatest riddle.

Reading this book will lead to change. I suspect Toni Morrison knew this.

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One to remember

Excellent book worth the listen if like myself you are always on the go. I listened with interest makesure you have good headphones

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Important

Years ago, I read The Bluest Eye, but I never got around to reading Beloved until now. It's not an easy read but Toni Morrison is as wonderful a reader and storyteller as you would expect.
The book broke my heart, I honestly think it's the most powerful I've ever read and I don't understand why I was given To Kill A Mockingbird to study TWICE at school, but never this. Beloved is a beautiful and important book, and puts Morrison up there with George Eliot, Dickens, and Sebald, as far as I'm concerned. It's incredible.

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Wow

Beloved writing indeed. I take this with me wherever I go. The more I reread the more I want to read some more

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An epic piece of work

So much hurt, so much suffering, so much pain. One of the most moving pieces of literature that I have ever read. Some of the most powerful reading (listening) that I have ever done on the subject of slavery. Characters so heavily weighted and dealing with such incredible pain. Written with outrageous skill. Feeling a little wobbly at the end of it. Ms Morriston is a genius

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