The Bluest Eye

by Toni Morrison

Book Overview

New York Times Bestseller Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl, prays every day for beauty. Mocked by other children for the dark skin, curly hair, and brown eyes that set her apart, she yearns for... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452282195
• ISBN13: 9780452282193
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

No cover as shown. Misrepresented!

This book is a collectors book from the 1970’s. It is a hardcover book shown with an artistic cover depicting art of the era. Book was to be used in a “visual” display covering racism. Totally misleading advertising! There is no cover as shown in the ad.This book is a bare board book.

The Bluest Eye is a Beautifully Written Story that Captures the Trueness of People's Lives

Toni Morrison is so intentional about her word choice and placement of narrative in her heartbreaking novel. Personally, I was caught off guard several times throughout the novel, knowing full well she intended for this to happen. I will be re-reading this, making sure to catch every whisp of wisdom she places so purposefully into her novel.

Great for young adults

This is one of my favorite books that I've read this year. The timeline of the book may be confusing as the author often changes between first-person narration to third-person pov throughout chapters. The part I love most about this book is how real it feels. The characters are flawed and (SPOILER) there is no happy ending. Morrison did an amazing job bringing readers through the life and struggles of an average black child.

Seeing what's not, and perceiving what we can't have

There is a problem with this book: the cover shows the portrait of a young African-American girl. Assuming this is a representation of the protagonist, the reader is immediately at a loss. The reader forms, whether he or she wants to or not, a mental picture (or, at least an outline) of the main character simply by looking at the front.One of the most important elements to this marvellous work is that we are never allowed a full glimpse of the young girl. She is described, and given a voice, from the narrator, and those that are around her -- but never afforded her own. And it is here that we begin to understand the meaning of the title, "The Bluest Eye."I believe that I was fortunate to buy this book in the European market; the cover only contains the image of blue marbles -- there is no face, nor should there be. For this is the story of the loss of identity, the futile attempt to perceive from others' perspectives, the dying of a culture and heritage, and the hope that something good can be found when it's very hard to see.