Just after the American Civil War, Sethe lives with her daughter Denver in a house away from everyone, but they are not alone. When Paul D arrives and sees Sethe for the first time in eighteen years he has his own baggage, but nothing prepares him for the secrets and events that befell Sethe. As he stays around mother and daughter the past has a way of coming to mind for Sethe and Paul D, but when they encounter a young stranger things seem to get more intense.
Although this acclaimed work of literary fiction is centered around the theme of civil rights, the horror within the book evoked a visceral reaction in me and I found the book difficult to put aside but equally difficult to read in long sittings. Not a book that I will easily forget, Beloved is a must read but one that requires a fair amount of emotional resilience.
Dealing with difficult themes like torture, lynching and infanticide this is a memorable read, but one that pulls no punches.
Links To Book:
Ajoobacats Blog 
I TRIED and TRIED to read this years ago. Too distressing. I don’t anticipate going back to it. I just can’t read such things anymore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This book gave me some serious nightmares.
LikeLike
Sex with a cow–that’s in there isn’t it? That made me puke. Truly upchuck. It was downhill from there. Great talent, but oh the topic.
LikeLike
There were worse atrocities to come after that.
LikeLike
No thanks. Books shouldn’t cause PTSD
LikeLike
I don’t think it’s the book as much as it’s the unsanitised, unflinching behaviour of people that disgusted me.
LikeLike
Very good distinction.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brilliant book. Sometimes, all we can do is bear witness to human atrocities and do our darnest to make sure they never happen again. Thank you, Toni Morrison, and thanks, ajoobacats, for reviewing it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for reading. All the best books challenge us on some level.
LikeLike
I had to read this for an English class at university (and I just know realised when never studied it, what a waste of money), and I agree with your statements. It was equal parts difficult to put down and distressing to continue to read. Great review 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re in good company when you say you had to read it for University, a few of my reader friends have said the same. However, not heard many talk about this book considering it was such a celebrated piece of work in 1993. I came across the book and author in a google search I think.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re right, hardly anyone outside of a classroom talks about this novel. It goes to show how many novels, popular at the time of publication, fade from memory after a while. This book is so pertinent, too, which is sad to see it go unrecognized.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ugh I meant *now
LikeLike
This book was an assigned read for my university course last year, but we never got around to finishing it. I remember vividly everything I read but never found the will to finish it.
LikeLike