Summary

Community summary are the opinions of contributing users. These summary do not represent the opinions of Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi.
I rarely give a novel less than three stars but this one merited it despite the very talented author, Toni Morrison. The novel centers around a Korean veteran, Frank, who makes his way home to Lotus, Georgia to help care for his fragile sister, Cee. Frank encounters prejudice, cruelty but also much kindness along his trip across the United States. He does battle with a thieving policeman who attempts to keep him in a holding ward and encounters kind and not so kind preachers along the way willing to give him a helping hand. He attempts to unsuccessfully reconcile with his wife, Lily. Despite setbacks, he trudges onward to Georgia to find his beloved Cee who is in a bad way. The wonderful plot withstanding, the novel is bogged down with needless descriptions of items that do not add to the plot. We read descriptions from everything about the flora, to houses, to the punctilious inner workings of a character's mind. Morrison is known for her lyricism and that lyricism has worked wonderfully in some of her books such as "The Bluest Eye" but here it detracts from the stunning plot which can stand on its own. I do not recommend this book by Morrison. It is not one of her best. If the reader is looking for a novel which merits Morrison's talents, I recommend "The Bluest Eye."