In Toni Morrison's 'Paradise', a mysterious convent in rural Ohio becomes the backdrop for a gripping exploration of race, gender, and conflict in a tight-knit community. The novel intricately weaves the lives of seven women who seek refuge from a world that has often cast them aside. As tensions rise between the convent and the surrounding town, dark secrets and historical grievances come to light. Morrison's masterful prose challenges readers to reflect on the meanings of sanctuary and belonging. What lies beneath the surface of paradise, and who gets to define it?
By Toni Morrison
Published: 2014
""In the end, we are all locked in this paradise of our own making, where the boundaries between love, desire, and violence become increasingly blurred.""
The acclaimed Nobel Prize winner challenges our most fiercely held beliefs as she weaves folklore and history, memory and myth into an unforgettable meditation on race, religion, gender, and a far-off past that is ever present—in prose that soars with the rhythms, grandeur, and tragic arc of an epic poem. “They shoot the white girl first. With the rest they can take their time.” So begins Toni Morrison’s Paradise, which opens with a horrifying scene of mass violence and chronicles its genesis in an all-black small town in rural Oklahoma. Founded by the descendants of freed slaves and survivors in exodus from a hostile world, the patriarchal community of Ruby is built on righteousness, rigidly enforced moral law, and fear. But seventeen miles away, another group of exiles has gathered in a promised land of their own. And it is upon these women in flight from death and despair that nine male citizens of Ruby will lay their pain, their terror, and their murderous rage. “A fascinating story, wonderfully detailed. . . . The town is the stage for a profound and provocative debate.” —Los Angeles Times
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“"In the end, we are all locked in this paradise of our own making, where the boundaries between love, desire, and violence become increasingly blurred."”
Paradise
By Toni Morrison
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was a celebrated American novelist, editor, and professor, renowned for her profound impact on literature and the exploration of African American experiences. Her notable works include 'Beloved,' 'Song of Solomon,' and 'The Bluest Eye,' each distinguished by a rich narrative style that blends lyrical prose with deep emotional resonance. Morrison's writing is characterized by intricate character development, vivid imagery, and a distinctive use of language that often incorporates elements of oral storytelling. In 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, making her the first African American woman to receive this honor, reflecting her significant contributions to contemporary literature.
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