Song of Solomon Book Summary

In 'Song of Solomon,' Toni Morrison weaves a rich tapestry of African American identity through the journey of Milkman Dead, a man seeking to uncover his family's history. As he ventures into the past, he discovers untold stories of love, trauma, and resilience that have shaped his lineage. Morrison's lyrical prose and profound themes of flight and freedom elevate this narrative into both a personal and collective quest for self-discovery. With unforgettable characters and haunting folklore, the novel explores the intricacies of heritage and belonging. Dive into this poignant narrative to uncover secrets that resonate through generations.

By Toni Morrison

Published: 2004

"The past is never dead. It's not even past."

Book Review of Song of Solomon

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An official Oprah Winfrey’s “The Books That Help Me Through” selection • With this brilliantly imagined novel, the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner transfigures the coming-of-age story as audaciously as Saul Bellow or Gabriel García Márquez. Milkman Dead was born shortly after a neighborhood eccentric hurled himself off a rooftop in a vain attempt at flight. For the rest of his life he, too, will be trying to fly. As Morrison follows Milkman from his rustbelt city to the place of his family’s origins, she introduces an entire cast of strivers and seeresses, liars and assassins, the inhabitants of a fully realized Black world.

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The past is never dead. It's not even past.

Song of Solomon

By Toni Morrison