This semester I chose Beloved by Toni Morrison. Morrison has won both the Nobel prize and the Pullitzer Prize. I'm not sure why I've never read any of her books prior to this. I knew that I wanted to select this book when Time Magazine listed it as one of the All Time 100 Novels and the New York Times Book Review listed it as the top fiction book of the past 25 years.
This is a challenging, difficult work to read and it's very easy to see why it has been challenged so frequently. In doing some background reading, I learned that Morrison modeled the style of the book on slave narratives. The story centers around Sethe, a former slave who is trying to come to terms with her own horrific crime and with the results of having been a slave. There is violence, sexuality, frank language, pretty much all of the hot-button issues we hear about when it comes to censorship. These areas are clearly discussed and described in the context of the times. The book also includes many mystical elements. It takes some work on the part of the reader to follow the sequence of events in the book and many literary elements/devices are used to get points across. If you listen to Morrison reading this excerpt on NPR you can hear the sexual
ity that holds the story together.This is an unflinching look at slavery and at the lengths one woman was willing to go to in protecting her children from returning to slavery. Morrison based Beloved on the true story of a fugitive slave named Margaret Garner. Garner's life has been used as the basic for many artistic works, including this painting (The American Medea) by Thomas Satterwhite Noble.
So, should this book be in a high school library? Absolutely! Any author who is so well regarded should be part of a high school library collection without a second thought. The subject matter is not pleasant nor is the writing style easy. None of us can know what it was truly like to be enslaved but our students deserve the opportunity to read how one author interprets that experience.
22 comments:
I can see why there may be controvery over this book, but I believe that it should still be made available to students at the high school level. If parents have an issue with this book, they could do what other schools have done and create a permission slip to be taken home and signed before they can check out the book.
I agree with you that Toni Morrison's books should be included in a school library. Her name is continually studied and mentioned throughout the year and during Black History Month. I really do not feel books should be censored unless you can find a good reason that is is developmentally inappropriate for your school library.
Although the book deals with a controversial topic, it is a part of history (in a realistic fiction way). It is important for students of all races to have books with which they can relate and offer enlightment of the times back then. I would like to read the book. I have heard discussions about it on Oprah. I would not have a problem with it being placed on the shelf in a high school.
I have not read this but your summary of it sounds interesting. I saw the movie and was a little disappointed, but that does not surprise me either...that is why I usually read the books first! I agree that it should be included in high school libraries. Toni Morrison is a celebrated author that would certainly add to the literary quality and multiculturalism of the collection.
I, like you, have always wanted to read a Toni Morrison novel but have never made the time; however, after reading your post, I must read it ASAP. I agree that it should be in the school media center because we, as librarians, have a responsibility to provide this information to our students.
I agree with Bridget when she says describes the use of a permission slip in order to check this book out if parents have an issue with it. I have not read this book but have also read reviews by Oprah. I plan to add it to my TBR stack very soon.
Remember, before doing anything like starting down the permission slip road a book should be officially challenged and that should be a decision that results from the reconsideration process in place in your district.
Coming from a math background, I don't always read a lot about books. It really is a shame because after reading some posts I see that there are some great books out there that I should be familiar with. I'm curious to know if this book is in any of the high school libraries around here? Or are there any cases of it being challenged in our area? I really wish there was some place for us to check and see the different challenges in our state. Does anyone know of a place to go to find info such as this?
My class is studying slavery and the Civil War now....so my mind is in that mode. I definitely want to read this book. I totally agree that it should be on the high school library's shelf. This presents the happenings of the time period from an important perspective...a slave's. Students have every right to have access to this book.
I think this novel should be in the high school library. I read books in high school that had some disturbing content (such as Native Son and The Scarlet Letter). These books were not banned and our parents knew about the content. My high school literature teacher did a wonderful job presenting books like these. She did not force her views on us, but let us make our own decisions about controversial issues. Toni Morrison is a decorated author and her work should not be banned. She is is the same category as Maya Angelou (who is a prestigious college professor at Wake Forest University)and their literary works should be celebrated.
I have not read this book so I did a little searching and found a really detailed site on the book. http://www.homework-online.com/beloved/index.asp I must say after reading some of the chapter reviews I can see why it is a controversial book. The evils of slavery, rape, and murder are just a few of the issues I noticed when reading the theme review. But I think it is important for literature to open our eyes to the real issues of our world, and it is often less touchy to recognize our societies weaknesses through the past. It is also a great way for a reader to see others viewpoints through the characters experiences. Great book for a high school book collection.
I definitely agree that this book should be made available to high school students. Although she touches on topics that are controversial and uncomfortable for most people, Morrison writes from a unique perspective, and her words should be shared.
This is one book that is on my summer reading list (once I get through all of these ITEC courses)! I have heard so much about it.
Wow!! This book sounds so interesting. I have never heard of it before, but it is now on my TBR list for this summer. I agree with everyone else in that it should be in high school media centers.
I agree, but I also think that we as media specialists should present both sides of any issue. My media spedcialist told me that if she's doing her job, you won't be able to tell what her preferences are by looking at the collection.
It reminds me of an experience I had recently. I went to summer school training and they were preparing us to teach a science camp program. The first thing we did was watch Al Gore's "Inconvenient Truth". If you have ever watched it, it is very political in nature and very biased. It presents the gloom and doom side of global warming but at no time do you ever see anyone present an opposing opinion.
As educators, I think it is our job to present both sides of any issue in an effort to get students to think and form opinions for themelves, not form our opinions in themselves.
Although I have not read this book it sounds very interesting from the summary. I do feel that this book should be included in high school media centers. There is much to be learned from issues that come with books of this nature. I like others am going to be sure to add this to my "to read" list.
I find that Morrison's books are difficult to read because of her style. They seem to be taking you in a circle all of the time and I tend to get dizzy!
Of course, I believe that this book should be included in the school library. It would be doing a disservice to young people, especially young African-American people to take this icon off of the shelves. It is important for all people to have access to books from various perspectives. It is also improtant for young people to be able to see positive role models.
I greatly enjoy Toni MOrrison's works. I taught THe Bluest Eye with my junior literature class last year. It was a great experience for all of us. The first chapter includes a passage by Morrison that states that she can't explain the why of it, but she can tell you the how. That is why we need to read literature. We can live and learn through the stories. Students, especially teens, have so many questions about life and the world and all that which differs from them; it is important to let them see the world in all its imperfections so that they might learn to navigate through its at times uncertain terrain. If our world was perfect - with no bad times and terrible events - we would not need to vicariouly experience a world apart from our own. Unfortunately, it is not and probably never will be a perfect world. For that reason, we must read texts such as The Bluest Eye and Beloved so that we can understand - not condone - that bad things do happen. Trying to ban these books negates the reality that is the world.
I definitely think Beloved should be a part of the high school selection. I do not see why someone would challenge a piece of historical fiction like this, but I am sure there are some. This book is not like just any piece of fiction because it is based on a woman's life and what she went through to protect those she loved most. It may be graphic and violent at times to read, but the truth hurts sometimes.
While I don't feel that Beloved should be "banned" from a library, I don't know if I would support it as a required read for a class. It would depend on the class. The book is great. It is an honest depection of the African-American slave trade. But, some parts are disturbing to me. Morrison is a wonderful writer!
This book is on my reading list for the summer. Based on what I've read about it, this is literature that should be available to high school students. I understand the issues with slavery, rape, murder, etc., but high school students watch tv and read the paper. It's nothing new to them, but it can help them better understand slavery from a slave's point of view. After reading it, the students can make their own judgments.
Just thinking...
Many people stated that they did not want their children to witness the events of 9/11 unfolding. One reason given was that it was all real and disturbing to watch.
What about books like Morrison's and others. Their books are based on real events and depict some horrible images. Do we want our children to "watch" those images?
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