An unusual story. Lives affected by childhood memories.

Interesting, beautifully written in several viewpoints, and mysterious (the main "implausible", which may affect more than one character, is left unexplained), this short novel is also a profoundly disturbing look at life, love, racism, standards of beauty, and how children are raised. It will linger in your mind long after the short amount of time it takes to read it.

Strange characters and confused story.

I finished the novel in 2 days..it is very suspenseful and interesting. I felt very connected to the main character at some points (being a dark skinned woman, raised in the same type of society with warped beauty ideals). The ending was OK.. I wish there was more (maybe because I enjoyed the characters and their backgrounds/relationship. The theme of children was constant throughout. Some disturbing parts about child abuse (nothing graphic, just sad). It definitely makes you think about how we and society raise children.

Whether this novel, Morrison’s eleventh, ranks among her previous best work is irrelevant. If judging God Help the Child on its own merits, it possesses qualities of a powerful book. It has complex, fascinating characters. It has mysterious settings and multilayered plotlines. It has brilliant touches of magic and irony. And, of course, it has Morrison’s inimitable prose, which bursts with lyricism and verve, once again distinguishing her as a brilliant writer.

The story follows Bride and her tumultuous relationships with both her mother, Sweetness, and the man of her dreams, Booker. The narrative alternates from each of their voices and also from the vantage points of other memorable characters along the way. In addressing child abuse, race perceptions, and violence, Morrison produces a work that delivers the same type of blistering truth and unsettling emotion that have been trademarks throughout her career.

This is an intense novel. It is about enduring love and its many obstacles. It is about lifelong anguish and how the past impacts the future. It is about what parents do to their children. It is about the power of secrets and lies and how human conscience will eventually force the truth to surface. Ultimately, it is about compassion and forgiveness. In the end, Morrison shows how, even when the wreckage caused from so much horror and sorrow seems insurmountable to overcome, the world forever has hope.

A deeply powerful, moving book. I am thankful I found, and read this book. I love the characters, especially that of Queen and Booker. How people misunderstand each other, hurt, love and all the ways in which people are so complex. This touches upon ugly subject matter, but still the story can weave in aspects of beauty. Love your children and tell them how much you love them.

I like Toni Morrison's writing style. This is a very strange story but intriguing nonetheless.

I'm also listening to this book...still listening. It took some weird turns in the last quarter and I'm not sure what to make of it. I really enjoyed the book, and was so intrigued by Bride's character that I didn't want the book to end.

What a waste of time, could hardly finish it, it went nowhere! Disappointed doesn't begin to cover it!!

A powerful story about how we are loved and raised as children affects us as adults.