I am not really sure what to say after reading this book. Of course, it was probably the most graphic illustration of the evils of slavery that I've read. So much literature I've read in the past really tries to whitewash that horrific institution. More than that, it taught me much about the reasons for problems in our current society. I admit to being shocked when I made the connection. Why should this or that still be so? Because it takes longer than 140 odd years to get over something this completely devastating. It takes longer than that to rebuild families, to learn how to swim in the world. I am very glad I read this book. I'm not sure I could read it again.

I felt Morrison's way with words was incredible. When Ella said things that die bad don't stay in the ground. When Paul D said Sethe had two legs, not four. Her characters were so eloquent that they made it look effortless. As I writer, I know making your characters sound this natural, but still say something profound is anything but effortless.

I think this is possibly one of the best ghost stories I've read. My favorite visual was the one of Beloved's handprints in the cake.

It's available if anyone would like to read it, but I think I'd like to have it back to keep in my classroom library. I think everyone should read this book.

Released on Friday, July 23, 2004 at a fellow BookCrosser in Cologne/Köln, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany.

Mailed to Zoe1971.

I found the book in my mailbox today, and I'm so happy that it made it's way all across the Atlantic ocean from the US to Germany. Thank you very much, danadiary!

I once read the novel in a German translation as I read all her novels (besides "Love", which is her most recent one). That must have been just before Toni Morrison won the Nobel-Price for literature. I'm looking forward very much to re-reading this one in it's original tongue. But since there are four books on my TBR pile that are being sent around as bookrings or bookrays, I think I'll let this copy of "Beloved" take a look at other parts of Germany first and will mail it to one or two other fellow german bookcrossers to enjoy reading it before I do.

Once again: Thank you very much, danadiary! Let's stay friends!

mini book ring members:
1. SudoKris, Bonn
2. ...
3. Zoe1971, Cologne

RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to SudoKris!

Got here today - yeah!!!!! Will take it back to my parents' later on to read it this weekend - can't wait!

Ein etwas schräges Photo von Bonn... Beim nächsten Eintrag gibt's noch ein anderes!!!

I agree with danadiary - I've never read a more graphic illustration of slavery. It's not a book I would usually go for, I'm more into 18th and 19th century British novels and plays, but I'd heard so much about this one that I just had to read it. And I'm glad I did!!!


Another pic of Bonn, this time of the university in winter...

On its way to Zoe 1971 in Cologne...

The book found it's way back to my house and will wait patiently to be read by me...