Welcome to Litsy!

I clearly remember being assigned Morrison‘s novel “Song of Solomon” in 8th grade English: I couldn‘t recall the story now but I can recall the feelings of nostalgia, beauty, contemplation the book drew from me (which is hard to do in a 14 year old)! This book of essays has not replicated that (I think Morrison is a better fiction writer than essayist) but it still doesn‘t take away from the pleasure of, in a way, “being in her company.”

Well worth reading if you are a big Morrison fan. I particularly enjoyed the essays where she discusses her own books, but there were also a handful of essays that were very heavy handed. And the themes were a bit repetitive. It‘s still a privilege to read her work. 🏆

This collection of essays is excellent and remind me just how brilliant Toni Morrison was. This was a library copy, but I‘m definitely going to get my own copy and reread these.

I'm posting one book per day from the ever growing unread stacks in my personal library. No description or explanation, just books I own and plan to read. #tbr

Day 64 (Audible edition)

Toni Morrison is brilliant and these essays make me want to write.

Beautiful essays!!

Like most collections of essays and speeches at times this was a bit representative. I did make me want to reread all of her books! 3 🌟

Although written 15 years ago, this essay on Racism and Fascism could be describing this moment in time. Morrison also describes very well here why I do not subscribe to either major political party.

This book started right off with observations I completely agree with; this will be a bleak but necessary read I believe.

Now starting this book for #authoramonth, the first of two I hope to read this month by Toni Morrison. The second book is God Help the Child. @Soubhiville

It‘s tough for me to read a big essay/speech collection but not when it‘s Toni. Gorgeous, and I plan to buy this one so I can pick and choose essays to read again and again.

Bookish birthday gift from my friend Elise! ❤️

Can‘t wait to read this one too!!

Always humbling when you think you‘re smart but you read something by someone way smarter & you‘re like, dang, I‘m not that smart. Morrison was such an incisive, deep thinker, an astute observer of humanity. A lot to ponder here—almost too much. B/c it‘s from years & years of her life, there are some nearly verbatim lines/paragraphs repeated in a few pieces. Could‘ve been pared down to avoid. Bit too academic at times, but def worth a read! 4/5 ⭐️

Those who claim the superiority of Western culture are entitled to that claim only when Western civilization is measured thoroughly against other civilizations and not found wanting, and when Western civilization owns up to its own sources in the cultures that preceded it.

Authoritarian regimes, dictators, despots are often, but not always, fools.

#firstlinefridays

Literature allows us—no, demands of us—the experience of ourselves as multidimensional persons. And in so doing is far more necessary than it has ever been.

I refuse the prison of “I” and choose the open spaces of “we.”

Leaders who find war the sole and inevitable solution to disagreement, displacement, aggression, injustice, abasing poverty seem not only helplessly retrograde, but intellectually deficient, precisely like the empurpled comic-book language in which they express themselves.

I‘ve been wanting to read this since it came out, but I also wanted to wait for the paperback so I could have this beautiful cover image of her 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 #nowreading

Absolutely had to get the UK version of this Toni Morrison, known as THE SOURCE OF SELF-REGARD in the U.S. Also picked up some Audre Lorde.
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#books #bookish #booknerd #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #igbooks #booklover #book #librarian #booklife #amreading #book #reader #reading #wellreadblackgirl #blackgirlsread #shoplocal #tonimorrison #audrelorde #blackwomenauthors

Showed a lot of self restraint yesterday and only bought 2 books at a book fair. And it was a LOT of restraint because all books were at least 50% off😬
#blacklitsy

Toni Morrison talking about racism and fascism in the 90s. Every brilliant word still sadly relevant.

Oh man, this book made me feel like I was back in school. It made me think really hard, which made it harder to read, but also made me very envious of anyone who was able to be taught by Toni Morrison. She will be missed.

I have some regrets about choosing to listen to Toni Morrison's The Source of Self-Regard, mainly because I'm a much stronger reader than I am listener when it comes to books. I know that I got about *thismuch* of the depth of Morrison's thoughts through this selection of essays. I know, however, that it would have been a looong time before I'd gotten to this one, and so I'm grateful for Scribd (continued in comments)

“For one‘s language — the one we dream in — is home.” #Scribd #audiobook

Switching to Toni Morrison‘s latest, to celebrate the life of someone who gave so much to our world. I read Sula in my first ever college class, women‘s literature survey. Rest in Power, Beloved. #readblackwomen

We have lost one of our dearest Elders. Rest, Queen. ❤️📚

Thrilled to find this one on the shelf at the library!

Go see this film 🎞 IMMEDIATELY if not sooner! It‘s the medicine the world 🌍 needs. GO, GO, GO!

#colormepretty #brown @Sweetkokoro

Treat yourself! 💸

Starting this, finally!

When all your holds somehow come in at the same time😅😅😅 #tbr

Pretty perfect as non fiction goes! Toni Morrison is fast becoming one of my favourite writers of all time. There‘s almost no other author I could read analyse their own work like this without it seeming pretentious, but she‘s always so natural and down to earth, yet intensely mindblowingly intelligent.

Her perspective on Beowulf was absolutely fascinating, and I‘m a pedantic territorial medievalist. There‘s truly nothing Morrison can‘t do.

Excited to read this! I‘ve fallen so in love with Toni Morrison recently but I‘ve never read non fiction by her before

Very into essays at the moment. What is your favorite essay collection? -Becca

Loved it, of course. Because it‘s a collection of essays, there were some parts that got repeated, but it was totally worth it. I‘ll definitely be looking at American literature in a completely different light, no matter the author‘s race, thanks to this book.

Morrison is a very smart, thoughtful woman and writer. However, her writing is so heavily based on the black American experience that I found it hard to get a foothold given that I'm a white British woman. Important perspectives to be sure, but I'm likely not the target audience.

A few years ago, I made it all the way to the top of Bear Mountain in upstate NY. The minute I got up there, I felt like a sudden entrapment took hold of me. How could I be in one of the most open of places and feel so constricted. But then I recognized the feeling: pure overwhelming feelings. That is what Toni Morrison‘s nonfiction does to my brain.

I was bummed to think this book probably wouldn‘t be narrated by Morrison, but then I realized it‘s narrated by Bahni Turpin and I‘m all, “Nevermind! Carry on!” 🌟🌟🌟

I‘m leaving Friday for Grand Cayman and I‘m struggling over what books to bring with me.

Toni, tearing it all down. Capitalism robs us of everything ...

Ready to be blessed.