Sula by Toni Morrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Yes, we know that Toni Morrison talks about the deprivations of poverty, racial bigotry and its effects on black communities and especially on women of those communities.
Here in this book however, is an interesting take. The close and endearing friendship of two little girls extend beyond their life choices. One to assimilate into the black community from where she grew. And the other to strike out into the broader world beyond and then return to that community with a broader view. And while Sula returns to become a pariah, acting as scapegoat so as to unify the community that brought her up and hated her, so she also saw beyond it to a code of ethics not born of that community but one that sparked her friendship with her close friend from beyond the grave.
This is a pretty amazing work, as it invites us to get a glimpse of the early to mid 20th century’s economic and social forces in creating this black community as a place, so that the friendship of two little girls in that community could blossom and approach a meaning of its own.
It was confusing at first, to spend so much time with Sula’s maternal lineage. But this allows us to see the vector of her release into the world, and her sublime return as one who understands. In standing apart as an outsider, Sula allows us to nail down the black community in its pain and suffering, to come together in a time of need (dislike of her) and so their reduced vision is unable to withstand the sight of original singularity.
Short book, but well worth the read.
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