Song of Solomon

Actually, the word "masterpiece" doesn't do this book justice. Toni Morrison, the author, has produced a staggering literary accomplishment with "Song of Solomon," in my opinion.

The genius of the book is that Morrison's account of the life of Macon "Milkman" Dead, a black man, and his family and friends, also exclusively black, almost absolutely ignores white people (white people like me). I'm sure that was her goal, and she accomplished it well.

Morrison also does a splendid job developing the characters in the book. (In my opinion, Pilate is the hero.)

This book has it all: love and hate, revenge and mercy, life and death, friendship and betrayal, regret and indifference, hope and hopelessness, happiness and despair, et al. In short, the book is about life.

Morrison, at least in this book, is what I call a "flat-footed author." That is, she seeks not to impress the reader with her strong vocabulary.

But make no mistake: this book is complex. "Milkman" seeks his family's roots, and it takes him on a journey-the journey of life.

Buy it. Read it. Read it again. You won't be disappointed.

Mrs Morrison has produced a complex, wonderful and imaginative story of epic dimension about the Dead family and thus more generally about the African American experience in the USA. On the one hand, the reader follows the story of Macon Dead and his son who has the same name and who marries Ruth Foster, daughter of Dr Foster, and their children Lena, First Corinthians and Macon "Milkman" and on the other hand the story of Macon Dead's sister Pilate Dead, her daughter Reba and her grand-daughter Hagar.
Thus the plot spans over nearly a century and one is dazzled by the family's spellbinding search for their past and their roots which ends dramatically on the top of Solomon's Leap.
Mrs Morrison put a lot of truth, wisdom and humour in her narrative and "Song of Solomon" is bound to become a classic American tale of the 20th century.

This book has nothing to do with the title, "Song of Solomon." After reading just three chapters I had become nauseated and refused to continue. If do not want your mind invaded and your spirit contaminated you will not read this book. I am appauled of how a person could make a mockery of the Bible and may God have mercy on her. If you decide to read this book or is assigned to read this book and you feel uncomfortable and offended please do not hesitate to refuse to read this book and let the board of education know about it and warn others not to read this book. Regardless is if Oprah has this listed on her book club or that Toni Morrison has been praise to be a important Author, Don't Be Fooled!

Song of Solomon like many of Toni Morrison's novels is a beautiful story, yet filled with tragedy. Wonderfully interwoven themes of racism, abandonment, damaged family relations, and searching for identity are apparent in our world, which makes them still relevant in today's society. Song of Solomon is also similar to her other books in the richness of symbols and the freedom they give to open interpretations. All throughout the book she uses carefully chosen literary elements to help the story unfold and capture the characters and their experiences in an artisitc way. Unlike the majority of her works, the protagonist is a male character known as Milkman, and the story is told in a limited thrid person view. Although she writes in an easy way to understand, the novel flowed and was filled with metaphors and poetic language.

I do not know what I can add that has not already been said thus far by many of the reviewers before me. However, I will start with my history with this book.

Twenty years ago (!), and long before Oprah made Toni Morrison a household name, I was assigned the Song of Solomon in American Literature II as a freshman in college. Although I was an avid reader at that time, I approached this book with trepidation and with the drudgery of something assigned and not chosen. Even though many books I read that semester changed my initial expectation of a certain book from chore to gratification, I still approached Song of Solomon with unease. Neither the description found on the back of my paperback copy, nor the title itself remotely piqued my curiosity with regard to the story contained within. As such, basing my prejudice on this limited knowledge provided by the aforementioned description on the back of the book, and the prosaic titles of the class lectures in the course syllabus scheduled during its reading, I was sure my encounter with it would be a languishing and difficult journey through a morass of metaphors and symbolism.

With the above preamble, you can imagine my utter surprise and delight as I read this even for the first time (I just finished my fourth reading). Yes, there are metaphors and symbolism, but I daresay that as purely a captivating tale, they are not even needed. However, taking everything together, this book becomes an incredibly rich and vibrant story; the imagery, symbolism, and history only enhance it further to the point where the reader's experience with this novel is transformed into-as one reviewer put it-"literary ecstasy".

The story and the depth of the meaning within Song of Solomon--which will be unique to each reader--simultaneously captivates, saddens, and astonishes, as the reader is pulled in by a masterful weaving of story and substance. And when, without any awareness of its arrival, the reader finds themselves immersed into the story, it encourages and beckons relentlessly to continue to its brilliant ending. An ending which is so perfect so as to expect nothing more, yet so ingeniously open so as to allow one to ponder endlessly its many suggestions.