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Dear Kay,

Toni Morrison died in 2019, leaving behind fifty years of writing. The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, Tar Baby, Beloved . . . more than a dozen books in all.

To mark her passing, The New York Times made a short video (see it here) including the author speaking about her work. I wish she were here today, in this moment, because I would love to hear what she would make of it all.

But as I think about it, she’s already told us what she makes of it all. Her books remain to take us deep into the experience of being Black.

Even more extraordinary, she left us the gift of her own reading of her works.

At a time when I really want to listen, this week I started listening to Toni Morrison reading her first novel, published in 1970, The Bluest Eye. She’s right here in the room with me, telling the story of Pecola Breedlove, a Black girl in Ohio who wants more than anything to have blue eyes.

Morrison is a superb reader.

In the Times video, Morrison says, “I don’t think I could have happily stayed here with the calamity that has occurred so often in the world if I did not have a way of thinking about it—past, present, future—which is what writing is for me. It’s control. Nobody tells me what to do. I am in control. It is my world. It’s sometimes wild, the process by which I arrive at something, but nevertheless it’s mine, it’s free, and it’s a way of thinking. It’s pure knowledge.”

You’ll find Toni Morrison’s audiobooks at Audible.com, here.

Love,

Ann

17 Comments

  • Thank you for this. Time to revisit Toni Morrison—- especially now.

  • Thank you!

  • Loved Ms. Nell Painter’s autobiographical “Old In Art School”. She is inspiring.

    • I loved that book too, and listening to Ms Painter read it to me. I enjoy listening to audio books free of charge on the apps Libby or Overdrive.

    • I’ve got Audible credits just waiting for me. Thanks for the excellent tip.

  • The Minneapolis Film Society is going to stream the documentary “Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am” for free tomorrow June 21 starting at 1:00 p.m. CST for 24 hours. http://www.mspfilm.org

  • Thank you for honoring her and blessing readers with this. A Legend indeed.

  • So lovely to watch this morning. Love her work and her spirit.

  • Oh my goodness! Thank you for posting Toni Morrison video. Man what a great woman! I have heard of her in my reading but never picked any of her works! Shame on me but no more. Where to begin? “Songs for Solomon”? Thank you again and again.!

    • Song of Solomon is good! Beloved and The Bluest Eye are probably where I would start though. Then Song of Solomon and A Mercy. Then The Source of Self Regard (which are non fiction essays by Morrison)

      • Thanks for your suggestions on where to start, Shana!

  • I have seen interviews of her, and I have read all her works, but I have not seen above and cannot wait to tune in.
    I was a white tween when Roots first aired on TV, living in very white western Maine. That miniseries had such a huge impact on me. I lived around a lot of racists, some in my own family. I remember arguing with adults about racism (and sexism) all the time, especially after watching that.
    When I read Beloved a couple decades ago, it was the same kind of impact. I had read and seen so many accounts of American slavery in between, so much horror upon horror. Beloved- like Roots all those years ago – just hit me so hard. My heart starts to pound to simply think of that book. Toni Morrison was a treasure.

  • I agree – Toni Morrison is an excellent reader. In general, I prefer audiobooks read by the author, because I know I’m hearing exactly what the writer intended the reader to hear – not always the case with a narrator.

  • I just started reading/listening to Beloved, for the exact reasons you state above. Morrison’s voice and the words she’s written are stunning.

  • You can also download audiobooks free from most local libraries (books, music, and video, too!). Then use the dollars saved to buy yarn

  • I am a huge fan of audiobooks, and especially appreciate books read by the author, because then I know I am hearing exactly what the author intended. I agree 100% – Toni Morrison is a superb reader.

  • I just finished reading “Beloved”. I wasn’t prepared for this read, and I can’t believe it took me so long to discover Toni Morrison. The video and article you posted increased my understanding oh her body of work. Thank you.

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