For those of you going on about how poor people cannot afford to read...you need to wake up and spell the coffee. In most countries, including mine, there are what you call public schools that teach people to read, and public libraries where you can check those books out. I was very poor growing up, and I am still under what they call the "poverty line." Even so, I am well read. I loved A Mercy, it was very moving.
I love all things Toni Morrison, and I loved A MERCY. My favorite passage is from the very end of the last chapter:
"...to be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked thing."
Pt. 3: Well...there is ONE exception to this rule: If you're insanely wealthy (of ANY ethnicity), you can afford NOT to think about the reason the author wrote this particular story. Wake up, people...and smell the coffee.
I didn't view this page before I responded to your email--so, I didn't quite "get" the references to some of the things you were responding to; but, viewing your comments in their entirety, I do now. However...I'm a bit perplexed by the Costa Rican beans thing. Sorry, but I've never been to Costa Rica. If you'd like to explain, just use the email return address that I mailed my earlier response from, please. That way, we won't have to devote excessive commentary space of this video posting.
oh, I just have some coffee beans from Costa Rica that are pretty nice and high quality and since you said "wake up... and spell the coffee" I thought it a cute lil retort
Pt. 2. Even when faced with a story this compelling and steeped in ACTUAL HISTORY, we are unwilling to face the painful fact that we (yes...ALL of us!) have been suckered. And, in particular, some of us have been (and continue to be) the biggest fools of all. How you read this insightfully compelling, historically filled story, as an American, and not feel that we have ALL be made fools of?
@awwfunkme now this point just comes out of left field. your lack of defining in any way shape or form how "we" were "suckered" in any way is a completely worthless statement. how were we suckered? and suckered into what? What's she trying to convince the reader to do/think after finishing this novel?
Pt. 1 Another literary masterpiece from a master novelist. Excellent critique...both in a historical and a contemporary sense. But, I wonder: how many actual readers will take this fictionalized historical saga, and compare it to this collection of "orphans" we have today in very same place today that we call the USA? I wager that for most readers--who read solely to be "entertained", this story (and any attempt to critically analyze it) will remain between the covers of this book. Sad indeed.
@awwfunkme a fair question. I would respond with the idea of the community that's made around these orphans. Jacob's farm is largely composed of them and when they're together they have sort of a family. The story doesn't really offer a solution to any kind of orphan problem, so much as it just shows it. Kind of like, "you're there, and I can see your pain" it's not much of a statement but it can comfort those who are so alone.
i found the book to be actually challenging. it changes narrative multiple times throughout the book and to tell you the truth i was sometimes confused on who the actual narrator was. it was hard for me to catch some of the themes and such although i get a jist of what the book is about. does anyone have some kind of notes on this book?
That is classic Morrison: her way is to not write in the traditional chronological method, but to present a "story" as if its currently happening (per an prev. interview she said dreams don't play out in chronological order therefore her stories don't either). What I had found difficult is her usage of the language. She's a well developed word maven, and at times I find myself constantly referencing a dictionary for clarity when I read her books. :-)
@regisnyder research "systems theory" and apply it to how we live out our lives. we are part and particle of one another and our streams of consciousness co-exist. she is a master because she captures that in her writing.
For me idk y but its kinda of hard to understand sometimes what the book is about but im kinda getting the hang of it i kind of need a summary for it like sparknotes
She's my favorite author. She changed my world and I would kill to attend one of her lectures at Princeton. She's one of the best novelists to have ever existed!
Wow. Thank you NPR, Lynn Neary and Toni Morrison. Good thinking .....because, yes, slavery is everywhere and it is always wrong. Racism makes it far, far worse.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHE'S AMAZING!!!
ruthlawrenceable 4 days ago
What a two lovely women!
roger11967 4 days ago
The interviewer looks mesmerized. Lol!
poklar 2 months ago
...Snooki was payed more to speak at a university than this brilliant woman. What in God's name is wrong with America????
kate000ums 5 months ago 4
@kate000ums really @ universities? what the hell could she possibly have to say?
b0red2t3ars 3 weeks ago
Auteur merveilleux, femme remarquable !
66philondor 6 months ago
im so trying to get as much understanding for the background of the book i soo need it thanx for da post
dancinfoo11 8 months ago
My favorite book! I LOVE you Toni!
southprince69 8 months ago
Comment removed
l2i0n0k7 1 year ago
For those of you going on about how poor people cannot afford to read...you need to wake up and spell the coffee. In most countries, including mine, there are what you call public schools that teach people to read, and public libraries where you can check those books out. I was very poor growing up, and I am still under what they call the "poverty line." Even so, I am well read. I loved A Mercy, it was very moving.
jennjenn9876543 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
fuckin nigger
yungjeezay46 1 year ago
She's a great master of Literature. A fine artist of words.
msteras 1 year ago 2
Great book, tragic but great.
SFGiantsforlife1 1 year ago
Beautiful interview her points of and on slavery of people no matter the color is spot on...
redbronze 1 year ago
lol the interviewer looks in love with toni 9:12
Kyanlikethepepper 1 year ago
so true some white and black people are equally poor but because white people are white they feel superior .
dummy19 1 year ago
I love all things Toni Morrison, and I loved A MERCY. My favorite passage is from the very end of the last chapter:
"...to be given dominion over another is a hard thing; to wrest dominion over another is a wrong thing; to give dominion of yourself to another is a wicked thing."
faraboverubies31 2 years ago
Brava! Toni Morrison!
harkamalchana 2 years ago
Pt. 3: Well...there is ONE exception to this rule: If you're insanely wealthy (of ANY ethnicity), you can afford NOT to think about the reason the author wrote this particular story. Wake up, people...and smell the coffee.
awwfunkme 2 years ago
@awwfunkme or if you're insanely poor, you can afford not this book and think not about the reason Morrison wrote it.
I'm sorry, was there a point to this point?
oo, speaking of which, I got a lovely bag of Costa Rican beans that should be quite nice in the morning.
anikinkid 2 years ago
I didn't view this page before I responded to your email--so, I didn't quite "get" the references to some of the things you were responding to; but, viewing your comments in their entirety, I do now. However...I'm a bit perplexed by the Costa Rican beans thing. Sorry, but I've never been to Costa Rica. If you'd like to explain, just use the email return address that I mailed my earlier response from, please. That way, we won't have to devote excessive commentary space of this video posting.
awwfunkme 2 years ago
oh, I just have some coffee beans from Costa Rica that are pretty nice and high quality and since you said "wake up... and spell the coffee" I thought it a cute lil retort
anikinkid 2 years ago
Pt. 2. Even when faced with a story this compelling and steeped in ACTUAL HISTORY, we are unwilling to face the painful fact that we (yes...ALL of us!) have been suckered. And, in particular, some of us have been (and continue to be) the biggest fools of all. How you read this insightfully compelling, historically filled story, as an American, and not feel that we have ALL be made fools of?
awwfunkme 2 years ago
@awwfunkme now this point just comes out of left field. your lack of defining in any way shape or form how "we" were "suckered" in any way is a completely worthless statement. how were we suckered? and suckered into what? What's she trying to convince the reader to do/think after finishing this novel?
anikinkid 2 years ago
Pt. 1 Another literary masterpiece from a master novelist. Excellent critique...both in a historical and a contemporary sense. But, I wonder: how many actual readers will take this fictionalized historical saga, and compare it to this collection of "orphans" we have today in very same place today that we call the USA? I wager that for most readers--who read solely to be "entertained", this story (and any attempt to critically analyze it) will remain between the covers of this book. Sad indeed.
awwfunkme 2 years ago
@awwfunkme a fair question. I would respond with the idea of the community that's made around these orphans. Jacob's farm is largely composed of them and when they're together they have sort of a family. The story doesn't really offer a solution to any kind of orphan problem, so much as it just shows it. Kind of like, "you're there, and I can see your pain" it's not much of a statement but it can comfort those who are so alone.
anikinkid 2 years ago
just finished reading it...
what can i say, i just love her style and themes though she lost of the story in the non-naturalistic, poetic monologues.
its a strong glimpse into the past, and she breathed life into what seems like a remote universe...
perfect!
Eurafrican 2 years ago
I would love to have her as a professor!
mellofied 2 years ago 2
i found the book to be actually challenging. it changes narrative multiple times throughout the book and to tell you the truth i was sometimes confused on who the actual narrator was. it was hard for me to catch some of the themes and such although i get a jist of what the book is about. does anyone have some kind of notes on this book?
outlawchesus 2 years ago
That is classic Morrison: her way is to not write in the traditional chronological method, but to present a "story" as if its currently happening (per an prev. interview she said dreams don't play out in chronological order therefore her stories don't either). What I had found difficult is her usage of the language. She's a well developed word maven, and at times I find myself constantly referencing a dictionary for clarity when I read her books. :-)
regisnyder 2 years ago
@regisnyder research "systems theory" and apply it to how we live out our lives. we are part and particle of one another and our streams of consciousness co-exist. she is a master because she captures that in her writing.
gimmie1261 9 months ago
For me idk y but its kinda of hard to understand sometimes what the book is about but im kinda getting the hang of it i kind of need a summary for it like sparknotes
pollolocito17 2 years ago
a movie for sure!
acadia0 2 years ago
I need to read this book for summer reading is it very good? As people say?
pollolocito17 2 years ago
i loved it . . . you should enjoy that piece of summer reading . . . it's beautiful.
christinaq151 2 years ago
DEFINATELY a good read. All these people making a community-needing each other. I think we forget these people NEEDED each other to survive.
acadia0 2 years ago
'I wanted to separate race from slavery"
..and you SO did this. I loved the book
acadia0 2 years ago
She's my favorite author. She changed my world and I would kill to attend one of her lectures at Princeton. She's one of the best novelists to have ever existed!
RositaOrRose 2 years ago
Yeah, she's incredibly impressive.
Tiargus1 2 years ago
I love this Woman.
OUTABODIES 2 years ago
Wow. Thank you NPR, Lynn Neary and Toni Morrison. Good thinking .....because, yes, slavery is everywhere and it is always wrong. Racism makes it far, far worse.
menderfire9 3 years ago
Great stuff.
Going to use this in class (I am a teacher) to introduce the racializing of chattel slavery vs. other forms.
Coming from her, maybe it will stick.
Thanks
xiaomaomusic 3 years ago
I think she's a miracle among us. And i love her hands, they are very moving.
1zangelique 3 years ago 2