This is a cross post of my journal entry at BookCrossing about this book.

I am not really sure what to say after reading this book. Of course, it was probably the most graphic illustration of the evils of slavery that I’ve read. So much literature I’ve read in the past really tries to whitewash that horrific institution. More than that, it taught me much about the reasons for problems in our current society. I admit to being shocked when I made the connection. Why should this or that still be so? Because it takes longer than 140 odd years to get over something this completely devastating. It takes longer than that to rebuild families, to learn how to swim in the world. I am very glad I read this book. I’m not sure I could read it again.

I felt Morrison’s way with words was incredible. When Ella said things that die bad don’t stay in the ground. When Paul D said Sethe had two legs, not four. Her characters were so eloquent that they made it look effortless. As I writer, I know making your characters sound this natural, but still say something profound is anything but effortless.

I think this is possibly one of the best ghost stories I’ve read. My favorite visual was the one of Beloved’s handprints in the cake.

I, on the other hand, am not feeling terribly profound today. I did receive three phone calls from administrators yesterday (on top of meeting with the headmaster for the school that can’t decide between me and someone else). Only problem is one was from Savannah, which is far, far from here; one was from an alternative school, and I’m not sure I can do that; and the third was from what looks like a kind of flaky private school. I’m calling all three back though.

P.S. I’m thinking of joining the SCA again. I’ve been told I’m a giant nerd. Okay. Well.