With haunting poignancy Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison writes of the hardships of poor black America. Ruby Dee's reading of Morrison's first novel is masterful. The Bluest Eye is the tragic story of eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove, who "each night without fail" prays for blue eyes, believing her ugly reality will be made beautiful through them. Pecola's life is read in an unhurried, emphatic style, which respects the somber strength of the book. Dialogue is abundant, and Dee lends great depth to characters with unique voices and skillfully handled dialect. Nothing of the poetic, contemplative nature of this book is lost in its abridgment. This is an outstanding production of a classic work. H.B.K. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine
Classic adjective. clas· sic | \ ˈkla-sik \ 1a: serving as a standard of excellence: of recognized value Some things never go out of style and when it comes to Black classics, there are so many categories we could talk about: music, movies, food, hairstyles, the list goes on. This has nothing to do with color (well, mostly) — it’s about culture. Often, we have so many […]
“I always feel like as a reader, I always want to go in ready to be changed, ready to be transformed by what I’m reading, ready to be expanded. And that’s what I love about books, they work on you kind of like magic.” Madeline Miller’s novels, The Song of Achilles and Circe, keep working […]
“He thinks of himself as a character in a fairy tale in a way who’s going on a quest. And there’s so many stories like that about a character who’s going in search of a lost loved one, whether it’s a daughter, a mother, a son, there’s this sense of I’m going off to find […]
Banned and challenged books have made us question the ways of the world — and sparked heated debates for as long as any of us can remember. Banned Books Week runs from 9/18 – 9/24, and the titles on this year’s list include the top 10 most challenged books of 2021 — some you know and, if not, maybe this is the year you read them. Want more […]
Like painting, wine, and the human condition, writing is something that can stand up to a lifetime if study. Wherever you are in your journey as a writer, it’s essential to keep your bookshelves well stocked with inspiring mentor texts and reference books that will help you develop your craft. The books on this list […]
