Please Read This Book: Beloved by Toni Morrison (no spoilers)

This is a spoiler-free review of Toni Morrison’s masterpiece, Beloved. I read this in November with Gina @GinaStanyerBooks
To learn more about my Pulitzer Prize Reread Challenge, you can watch my video here:

To check out some other reviews of Beloved here are two that DO contain spoilers:

This was maybe the most difficult video I have made since starting my channel. I just really want to encourage everyone to give Beloved a try. I think the world could be a better place if we all read it. Am I wrong? What did you think of Beloved or is it on your TBR? Tell me down below in the Comments section.

Thank you to the many people who regularly watch and comment on this channel!

[gaildoughty]

That’s an excellent review, Kelly.
I’ve read Beloved twice now, but as an older adult. The appalling truths it expresses moved to tears more than once. I’ve never forgotten the story or the effect that Morrison’s writing had on me.
Thank you for such a heart-felt review.

[travelthroughstories]

Such a great and important book. That people even debate whether this should be in the "canon" or not is pretty insane. Morrison was one of the best American authors of the past 50 years, undoubtedly. Great review!

[lorriemerson]

Great review, Kelly. Such an amazing book. The lack of memorials for former slaves and slavery is shameful. The novel deals with issues of memory, which got me thinking about what I've learned about memory. Memory begins with paying attention. Everyone has problems remembering things they do not (or refuse to) pay attention to or completely ignore. Society should stop ignoring the devastating deeds of slavery and their generational effects.

[angiejones]

Kelly, I like your impassioned response to Beloved. Some really thoughtful ideas. Sina has done a great job of getting a group of us together to read this in March (or later 2022). From the little of the story I've heard, it seemed to me I would prefer to read it with others. It's wonderful that you and Gina benefited from a re-read.

[ramblingraconteur]

So glad a reread brought this appreciation forward for Beloved, Kelly. It is a hard book to read but an absolutely incredible book. Hope you are both well!
Cheers, Jack

[StephanieJCohen]

I have read several of her works, but have not yet made it to Beloved. I definitely plan to soon, it’s just such a difficult subject to read about (though all of her books address difficult subject matters). Glad that you had a good experience on the second reading. I love Morrison’s writing. I will put it on read list for 2022. Great review.

[beatingaroundthebooks]

Wonderful review, Kelly! This is already on my TBR for next year, it's the first of my planned buddyreads with commenters in March, but hearing you speak so passionately about this has made me look forward to it even more 💚

[MarilynMayaMendoza]

Hi Kelly, thank you for your wonderful review of beloved. I've never read it but I need to. Sending warm Aloha your way

[GinaStanyerBooks]

Oh Kelly, I loved this book so much - it was painful and beautiful and confusing and haunting and devastating and I just loved reading it with you.
This is such an important book, but more than that it was a GOOD book.

[TheCodeXCantina]

Love it when people feel compelled to share their reading experience! ❤️

[Silverrsprings]

Loved this. Reading Beloved as we speak. I started Beloved in college and did not understand it. But at 25, going on 26, I had to pick it back up. I don't know if Beloved would resonate with the younger audience, but I do think after growing up a bit and honing in on literary abilities--- most would become more cognizant of the message it is trying to tell you in Morrison supreme way of storytelling. Food for thought. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS REVIEW!

[CourtneyFerriter]

Oh, I'm so glad you reread this and had such a different experience this time! Good point about which should be the harder thing to believe was real - the institution of slavery or the existence of ghosts. I didn't know that about the Toni Morrison Society and the benches, so thanks for sharing.

[readwritecollage]

Kelly, this video was movingly beautiful. I will certainly answer the call and add this to my December list. Sending your kind soul some love and care.

[janepetrie]

Wonderful review Kelly - moving onto my early 2022 TBR pile. Thank you.

[gorvo]

Hey Kelly, Lovely review here. Toni's an author I've long been curious about, and I know this is something that rightly so is mentioned a lot. For a long time I judged the book by it's title, thinking it's was more romantic perhaps. Definitely on the list for a future read now. Thanks for sharing. -Carm

[againstinterpretation]

Beautifully said! I love this book, too. My prized possession is my first edition copy of Beloved. Whoever owned it before me left a clipping of the New York Times Book Review of Beloved by Margaret Atwood inside. Amazing Review!

[nathanfoung]

I haven't read Morrison before, it sounds like something I would enjoy, so it's on the 2022 TBR.

[mikefrost]

It is a great book. I haven't read it in years. Time for a re-read in 2022!

[jimsbooksreadingandstuff]

Beloved is an amazing book, I read it back in August.

[anotherbibliophilereads]

I read Beloved fifteen years ago on audio narrated by the author. I liked it, but I didn’t love it. However, because of the fury it created in the Virginia election for Governor, I want to read it in 2022, and see if I find something different.