Product Description
Staring unflinchingly into the abyss of slavery, this spellbinding novel transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby. Sethe, its protagonist, was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. She has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. And Sethe’s new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved. Filled with bitter poetry and suspense as taut as a rope, Belovedis a towering achievement.
Amazon.com Review
As with the ghost at its center, Beloved has taken many forms--from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel to Oprah Winfrey's decade-in-the-making movie to this challenging audiobook read by Lynn Whitfield. Whitfield, who won an Emmy Award playing the title role in The Josephine Baker Story, has a tough assignment as she guides us back and forth in time with Sethe, an escaped slave who's still shackled by memories of her murdered child. But, as we shift between Sethe's brutal plantation days and her haunted life immediately after the Civil War, we learn one secret after another until, finally, past and present are masterfully reconciled. (Running time: three hours, two cassettes) --Kimberly Heinrichs
Reviews:
Samantha (USA: IL) (2010/03/02): Unfortunately, I couldn't get through this book. Toni Morrison's writing just doesn't work for me. Maybe I'm too lazy and want everything overt and without symbolism - but I was hoping to get more insight to the movie - which I actually did enjoy and have seen several times. I was disappointed that the story didn't pull me in. Confuzzled Shannon (USA: PA) (2015/12/08): A family built during slavery. Beloved is a story central around Sethe, a mother who is left with one daughter and the memory of the one lost. The book moves it’s way through dark past and present.
I first saw the movie of Beloved. I was a fan of Oprah and was curious about the supernatural element. The premise of book and movie is very dark. Sethe is caught in her memories of the past and is missing her present life with the daughter she has. Then mysteriously a young woman appears and stays with the family, the name she goes by is Beloved.
I understood the need to go back and forth to the past and present while telling the story. As usual when I read books like this I have to go back and read words over again. I was reminded by my husband how dark the movie was and he was convinced I would not like it. It is not that I did not like in fact I do like it. I like the darkness of the story, because describes the reality of life at times.
I am also surprised to see on goodreads this considered a first book in series. As of now I do not think I will read the others in the series. I may change my mind if I see recommendations or a movie is to come out.
