Paradise by Toni Morrison
Thoughts of how to get through it!

Paradise, the new book from Toni Morrison, has been in the news and on the must-read lists since its much anticipated release. Oprah has featured it in her book club. She's not the only one. Listening to NPR this morning, Diane Reems had also featured it for her book club selection, it dawned on me that a lot of people who had never read any of Toni Morrison's previous novel will want to start by reading Paradise. This in itself is not unusual, I had the same desire after she won the Nobel Prize and I bought Beloved.

For all those who haven't read my review of Love Like Gumbo, my first experience reading a Toni Morrison novel was not a good one. Beloved incited such anger because I couldn't read it, I threw the book across my bedroom and left it where it hit the floor. I was so angry. I was confused, too many characters, I felt that she was repeating herself, on and on. I, at that time, considered myself a good reader. I read all of the time. Hell, I could even make it through Shakespeare. I have never, NEVER, been so thoroughly defeated, whipped, and frankly had my butt kicked by a book. Beloved was that book. Toni Morrison was the author, I had hated her with a passion. A real lava flowing, barely contained hate. One of the few things that I knew I could do well - reading, she snatched it away, threw it on the floor, and stomped on it.

Picking it up, and putting it back together took a lot of time but the anger was still there and the book was still on the floor. Years have flown by, I moved from an apartment to a new house, the book was on the floor and it moved with me to the same house (my little

cousin had packed it without my knowledge.) One day at work, I see that Oprah had started a book club and Toni Morrison's The Song Of Solomon was the next selection. After much reluctance and prodding from coworkers I read Song Of Solomon...very slowly. I was usually a speed reader, but I changed approached because I didn't want to read a page 5 or 6 times as I did with Beloved. Not only was this a benefit, it was a blessing. It allowed me to get through the book, but I enjoyed it. I was able to see the poetry of the images that the story provoked. Since the moment that I finished my first Morriosn novel, from that day on, Toni Morrison was mine. I read everything that she wrote. She never became an "easy" read. Her books left me with not just knowing a story, or having heard a story, but of LIVING a story.

For all of those who have never experience Morrison before and would like to start, in my humble and uneducated opinion, do not start with Paradise. It's deep, complex, and the characters identities will drive you crazy.

First, establish the unquestionable fact that you are a sane individual. Two, nothing is wrong with you if you have to read a page or a sentence two or three times. You're fine. Third, she is not E. Lynn Harris, Terry McMillan, John Grisham, so you can't approach her books in that manner. It's the kiss of death. She can not be read in a weekend, or while relaxing at the beach. She is the kind of author that your high school English teacher made you read in school. Four, do not be afraid to go to a dictionary. You will have to look up a couple of words. Five, say to yourself, I will get through this book! Then with much attitude you say to yourself, who in the hell does that Toni Morrison think she is that she can write a book that I can't read?! How dare she!!

Now all you need is the first book to start your Morrison quest. I suggest Song Of Solomon or The Bluest Eye. Either one will be a good start. After you finish the first book, you can't help but to feel a sense of accomplishment. Proceed to Sula and/or Tar Baby. After these books, hey, you're unstoppable. Now you're ready for the major stuff now. This is where Beloved, Jazz and Paradise comes in. In an interview she said that these three books she wanted to explore three types of loves: one a parental love (Beloved), a romantic love (Jazz), and a religious love (Paradise).

Toni Morrison is a literary genius. Her works are complex and thought provoking. It's work, baby. I'm not going to lie about it, it's work. The reward is so amazing. You will have lived that story. Don't give up. Last but not least, discuss the book. You will find that this is unavoidable. Different interpretations will be placed on the table, including yours. That's part of the fun. So enjoy Morrison and Paradise.

-Thumper 2/20/98