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21

Read Through Toni Morrison With Me?

2012 at 5am     Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky

Yesterday at Book Riot, we announced the first Riot Reading Day–a holiday we’ve invented to give ourselves (and the reading community) an excuse to take a day off to celebrate the release of a book we’re excited about. Toni Morrison’s forthcoming novel Home is the inaugural selection, and it’s a good thing, too, because I was going to be calling in with a case of the can’t-stop-readings on May 8th whether it was work-approved or not.

In preparation for the big release, I’m re-reading Morrison’s entire backlist, all the way from The Bluest Eye to A Mercy. I’ve been batting around the idea for several years and think I’m finally ready to make good on it. The first time I read any of Morrison’s work was in a senior seminar in college (how did I make it to my last year of college without reading her? HOW?), for which we did exactly what I’m doing to do here–started with the earliest work and read straight through to the most recent, with stops along the way for criticism and commentary. It was an intense and life-changing experience, and I’ve wanted to do it again since the moment I closed the back cover of Love almost seven years ago. I walked out of that seminar rendered inarticulate by the power of Morrison’s work, and I’m hoping that, since I know what I’m getting into this time around, I’ll be better able to give voice to what these books mean to me.

I’ve stocked up on my favorite note-taking pens, picked up The Cambridge Companion to Toni Morrison at Jeff’s suggestion, and already completed my re-read of The Bluest Eye (we’ve been planning this for a while, and I couldn’t wait any longer!), so I’m off to a good start. But I’d love some company! Whether you want to join me for all nine novels (HOLY CATS THERE ARE NINE!) or just one, you’re invited. I’m not planning reading deadlines for this because life just won’t allow for it, so this will be all about reading at our own paces and having discussions on our blogs, Twitter, and wherever else we interact. I’m still working out exactly how I’m going to blog my way through this and divide the material between here and Book Riot, but those are just details. The important thing is that I’m going to do this, and I want you to do it, too. I promise you won’t regret.

So, who’s coming with me?

Related posts:

  1. Toni Morrison and the Problem of Multiple Reading Personalities
  2. Thoughts on A Mercy by Toni Morrison
  3. Reading Notes: SONG OF SOLOMON
Filed Under Reading Life
27 Comments
 

Comments

27 Responses to “Read Through Toni Morrison With Me?”

  1. A Toni Morrison Marathon: Join Me! | Between the Covers on February 21st, 2012 8:24 am

    [...] Manager of Book Riot–is re-reading Morrison’s entire backlist of fiction and has asked interested readers to join her. How could I resist? I love Toni Morrison–she’s one of my favorite authors, and, truth [...]

  2. Sara on February 21st, 2012 8:57 am

    I’m in for A Mercy. It’s on my TBR shelves and on my TPR challenge list AND I couldn’t admire Morrison more if I tried. The perfect storm of reasons to mark this one off, off, and off the lists. Interesting to think about how there are several authors that I simply could not/would not do this with, but Morrison is infinitely rereadable. There is always something new to glean from her work, and each piece is different enough to not feel redundant in close proximity to one another.
    Sara´s last [type] ..The We’re-Moving-and-I-Don’t-Want-to-Pack-All-These-Books Challenge

  3. Julie on February 21st, 2012 9:56 am

    I’m a huge fan of Toni, my favorite book of him is the The Bluest Eye, I can understand why you decided to re-read it:)
    Julie´s last [type] ..dental bridge

  4. Amy Galloway on February 21st, 2012 9:58 am

    I am reading Sula for a novel course I am taking. I just started it and reading for pleasure as well as analysis. I have read Beloved, which tore me apart and Paradise. Started Jazz once but was not able to stick with it. Based on your tweets about The Bluest Eye, I am thinking I must read it! I will be interested in your thoughts about Sula when you get to it.
    ~Amy

  5. Rebecca Joines Schinsky on February 21st, 2012 10:12 am

    Sula is my 2nd-favorite Morrison novel (Paradise is the tops). It’s an interesting progression from The Bluest Eye, so I’ll be equally interested in hearing about your experience reading Sula first then going back to Bluest Eye.

  6. Rebecca Joines Schinsky on February 21st, 2012 10:13 am

    Couldn’t have said it better myself.

  7. Jaime on February 21st, 2012 11:08 am

    I’ve never read Morrison. I’m in :)
    Jaime´s last [type] ..Book Review: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

  8. Heather on February 21st, 2012 12:25 pm

    I’m in! I’ll be starting THE BLUEST EYE later today. As it stands right now, SONG OF SOLOMON is my favorite, but I’m interested to see if that changes. I haven’t read THE BLUEST EYE since I was a teenager.

  9. Rebecca Joines Schinsky on February 21st, 2012 3:20 pm

    NEVER?! So glad you’re going to remedy it.

  10. Lydia on February 21st, 2012 5:11 pm

    This sounds like a great idea. I’ve only read two of Toni Morrison’s novels and look forward to reading more.

  11. Joe Wallace on February 21st, 2012 10:36 pm

    Love this idea. I’ve missed a few of the more recent ones, but SONG OF SOLOMON was my favorite too…especially that pitch-perfect ending.

  12. Jaime on February 22nd, 2012 9:35 am

    Dear Book Lady,

    Where o’ where should I start?
    Jaime´s last [type] ..Book Review: Let’s Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson

  13. Jessica on February 22nd, 2012 10:26 am

    I am in as well. I just got Mercy and started in last night. Are you reading in a particular order?

  14. Rebecca Joines Schinsky on February 22nd, 2012 11:23 am

    Never read Morrison at all? I’d say start with The Bluest Eye–it’s her first and most accessible and will introduce you to the way she handles race, class, gender, and culture.

  15. Buried In Print on February 22nd, 2012 12:02 pm

    I’m sorely tempted; I consider her a favourite writer, but I’ve got more of her books on my shelf *to* read than I’ve actually read yet, and the idea of reading through them chronologically as they’ve been written certainly does thrill me. Let me go juggle the TBR stacks and see what happens next. For those who aren’t sure where to start, I started with The Bluest Eye, and fell in love with her voice immediately, just with that one slim volume.
    Buried In Print´s last [type] ..BHM: The Warmth of Other Suns

  16. michele young-stone on February 22nd, 2012 9:53 pm

    Oh, Darling, we discussed this. Please count me in. I won’t fit all 9 in, but I’ll get at least half read.

  17. michele young-stone on February 22nd, 2012 9:55 pm

    Dear Amy, I loved Jazz. Give it another go. Sula is actually my favorite. Then, Paradise. But Jazz was heaven to me… every word and phrase.
    michele young-stone´s last [type] ..Woman Seeking New Adventures

  18. Dani Alexis on February 23rd, 2012 9:15 am

    I’m in. I still haven’t read The Bluest Eye, so I’ll definitely start there. (And I seem to be a few days behind, so I’d better start posthaste.) :)
    Dani Alexis´s last [type] ..Nowhere Novels: Or, Are Any Books Set in Indiana?

  19. Natalie on February 23rd, 2012 4:42 pm

    I love Toni Morrison! Bluest Eye was my fav, but also loved Beloved. Not a huge fan of Song of Solomon.

    Tar Baby is next on my list, then Sula :)
    Natalie´s last [type] ..Swamplandia!

  20. Nod to the Book Lady’s Toni Morrison Read Along « I am Jane's Heart on February 23rd, 2012 6:51 pm

    [...] genres. Rebecca Schinsky (aka The Book Lady) recently announced a Toni Morrison read-along on her blog in celebration of Morrison’s newest book release. Rebecca will re-read Morrison’s [...]

  21. Anti_Intellect on February 26th, 2012 4:16 pm

    I’m re-reading Beloved. I picked it up at a book store, and the foreword just drew in me. I think I am ready to enter that world again, and even more excited about what I will learn about myself and the story. Toni Morrison’s novels teach us as we read them. It really is a mutual experience.
    Anti_Intellect´s last [type] ..A “GOOD WIFE,” ACCORDING TO PATRIARCHY.

  22. Rebecca Joines Schinsky on February 26th, 2012 6:21 pm

    Beautifully stated. Glad you’re joining us!

  23. Liz on February 27th, 2012 12:20 pm

    This is great! I just read Song of Solomon (http://bit.ly/wPY5Ms), and I’m eager to join in (or try to catch up). I don’t know if I’ll go chronologically, though. Based on A Mercy, which I loved, I think I like her more recent stuff better.
    Liz´s last [type] ..What’s in a Name?: Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon

  24. Why I’m Reading Toni Morrison | Michael Nye on February 28th, 2012 10:27 am

    [...] which will be released this year. You can, and should, read the details on Rebecca’s blog here and see if you want to do the same. In summation, Rebecca has read all of Morrison’s books [...]

  25. Freedom Friday « 1330v on March 2nd, 2012 1:47 pm

    [...] Join Rebecca from The Book Lady as she reads Toni Morrison’s backlist. More about that next week. [...]

  26. Thoughts On The Bluest Eye | Michael Nye on March 13th, 2012 9:37 am

    [...] Toni Morrison’s first novel, which I re-read this past week as step one in my plan to follow Rebecca Shinksy’s call to re-read Morrison’s entire backlist. I’ve read Morrison’s first novel before. My copy is leftover from my days at Ohio [...]

  27. Thoughts on Song of Solomon | Michael Nye on March 21st, 2012 8:26 am

    [...] on a reading plan or goal, I’ll veer off track. This is one of the big reasons I decided to follow Rebecca’s reading plan in the first [...]

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