Book Review
Apr. 17th, 2018 11:24 pmSula
by Toni Morrison
Set in a small Ohio town in the first half of the 20th century, Sula tells of Nel and Sula, two very different girls who share an intense friendship in their childhood. Once grown up, their paths diverge sharply: Nel settles into her small town life with a husband and children while Sula, ever restless and mis-matched to her surroundings goes off to college and then living in big cities. After ten years, Sula returns to her hometown, still never fitting in or gaining the acceptance of her neighbors.
Sula is a surprisingly short novel for the depths it contains. The characters are vivid, as is the sense of place and community. Through the changes in Sula, Nel, and their relationship, Morrison beautifully explores the relationships between women and the roles they are given. She also takes a profound look at what it means to belong or not belong in a community, and how even a community's outcasts can have a significant role in shaping it.
by Toni Morrison
Set in a small Ohio town in the first half of the 20th century, Sula tells of Nel and Sula, two very different girls who share an intense friendship in their childhood. Once grown up, their paths diverge sharply: Nel settles into her small town life with a husband and children while Sula, ever restless and mis-matched to her surroundings goes off to college and then living in big cities. After ten years, Sula returns to her hometown, still never fitting in or gaining the acceptance of her neighbors.
Sula is a surprisingly short novel for the depths it contains. The characters are vivid, as is the sense of place and community. Through the changes in Sula, Nel, and their relationship, Morrison beautifully explores the relationships between women and the roles they are given. She also takes a profound look at what it means to belong or not belong in a community, and how even a community's outcasts can have a significant role in shaping it.