Sula: A Novel (Vintage International)

My second book by Toni Morrison. Glad I bought it. Thanks to the Seller, the quality is “like new”.

Toni Morrison takes us on a journey inside the hearts and souls of black people; specifically the early 20th century rural community of Medallion, Ohio. Morrison is a master of her craft, as is displayed by her brilliant use of metaphors to compliment her eloquent use of the English language. Morrison sheds light on an array of topics, to include Racism, sexual deviance, pride, love, friendship, and even the gentrification of a black community. This story is presented in such a way as to get the intellectual juices flowing. I have read over a dozen books this year on various topics; but I now feel as if this is the only book I read this year. This book reminds me of what good writing looks like. I recommend this book for anyone who appreciates fine literature.

Toni Morrison will always have a pretty special place in my heart based on her talent for writing alone. Written in 1973, but taking place in the 20s-40s, this novel has effortlessly become timeless. Other than the fact that there are no cell phones and there's several mentions of getting ice delivered, you wouldn't be able to place the time period if not for the dates. Morrison easily paints a picture of cultural perfection in the Black community by focusing on two women who grew up together in a place called "the Bottom," though it's in the hills above a valley town in Ohio. Medallion is the actual name of the town where Sula and her friend Nel grow up together. Morrison's introduction in this version of the book helps to set the stage a bit for us as readers. What she set out to accomplish is simple, but also, due to race relations, nearly impossible. She wanted to focus on the relationship between the two girls, Sula and Nel, one of which becomes an outcast and the other integrates herself deeply into the community. She also wanted to focus on the way the relationship between the two women, as they aged, changed and morphed but also remained the same as reflected in a community of Blacks. However, setting out to do this is no easy task as any Black writer, writing about their culture, often becomes pitted against the contrast of White writers and White culture. To simply write a story without politics and without the comparison is a tremendously tenuous task that is often not accomplished. Toni Morrison comes the closest, I think. Instead of a racially laden novel, it's one of feminism. It is one that pits gender ideals against one another as opposed to race, despite the fact that it's still an obviously dichotomized topic in the story itself. Well written with deep contexts, psychology, and beauty, Sula is a transformative novel that speaks with a poignant, beautiful tongue and unfolds a story as shocking as it is heartwarming as it is painful. It focuses on women, their struggles, and their relationships with each other, men, racial differences, and the everyday existence of just plain living. It delves deep into our souls and takes hold unapologetically and is worth every second of reading time.

This book is so good I recommend it for anyone to read it!

This novel describes the significant differences in the upbringings of Nel Wright and Sula Peace, two young girls and best friends who eventually separate due to betrayal and unrealized character. In the community of the Bottom in the city of Medallion, Ohio, Nel Wright was brought up in a conventional household, her mother teaching her to abide to the expectations of society. Sula Peace, on the other hand, was raised in a household as unconventional as can be. Living with her mother Hannah and her grandmother Eva, both who are seen by the town as loose and lacking moral. Despite the major differences in their home-life, and Nel’s mother’s opinion on Hannah Peace, Nel and Sula were inseparable. Following a traumatic incident, the drowning of a child, the two grew apart. Years later, Nel decides to conform to the life that society expects of her as loyal wife and mother. Sula, on the other hand, leads an entirely unconventional life, which is evident when she returns to the Bottom after leaving for 10 years following Nel’s wedding. Sula’s return was seen as a return of evil by the people of the Bottom. As Sula’s return came “accompanied by a plague of robins,” (89) the robins became a sign of evil to the people. The news that Sula had put her grandmother in a home and her involvement in interracial relationships secured the towns view of her as evil. The ending of her and Nel’s friendship, however, came as a result of Sula’s affair with Nel’s husband, who then left Nel. Nel blames Sula for the ending of their friendship, as well as the destruction of her marriage and confronts Sula when visiting after hearing of Sula’s sickness. Sula reveals to her that just because Nel thought she was good, doesn't mean she was the good one. She says “How you know?...About who was good? How you know it was you?” (146). Nel’s encounter with Eva secures this notion of Nel’s skewed perception of her own goodness. As Eva neglects to recognize that Nel is not Sula because they are the same, saying “You. Sula. What’s the difference?” (168). Morrison is making a statement about the ambiguity of good and evil. Though Sula was technically responsible for the death of the child, Nel was no better, feeling pleasure watching the child be engulfed by the surrounding water. Ultimately, Sula refers to the question “what determines good and evil?” through the genius characterization of Nel Wright and deep description of the life of Sula Peace. I rate this book 5 stars and would definitely recommend reading this thought-provoking book.

Tiene una malísima impresión. La portada y contraportada está borrosa y de muy mala calidad. El libro es muy caro para ser una edición de bolsillo de mala calidad

Beautiful tale of growth/friendship/life. A journey through the pages of a time not unlike our time now. Highly recommend this this

１９９３年にノーベル賞を受賞した彼女の作品が評価されたのは、１９世紀の奴隷制を舞台とした『ビラウド』や『ジャズ』があげられ、この作品は大した評価を得られていない部分がままある。現代アメリカ文学ではアフリカ系アメリカ人の葛藤やパッシングする黒人たちの苦難を描く作品が議論の的になり、女性を中心とした作品はあまり注目を浴びなかった。 しかし『スーラ』では、ネルとスーラの関係を祖母のイヴァや母のハナという個性的なキャラクターを通して、どのようなフレームワークで女たちの生を貫くかを探求させてくれるものといえる

Wonderful book .

Just love Toni Morrison