Thanks to Libro.fm for my free audiobook edition!

I've had this book sat in my audiobook library for 3 years now, I was waiting until I'd read a few more of Morrison's novels before I dove in. Well now I've read all but 2 of her fictional books and guess which book is one of the four discussed?? Mercy, one of my two unread - figures! But I continued anyway, because I'm not really fussed about spoilers and this book was chosen in my audiobook roulette so!

Along with Mercy, the four authors here also tackle Beloved, The Bluest Eye and Song of Solomon, with each of them writing two essays apiece. I've never read a group memoir before, and to be honest, only the intro and the very first bit of each person's chapter/essays seems to be written as a group. Then the essays move into the first person. It's a fun concept, as the group are all huge fans of Toni Morrison and use these four novels as a way to discuss the personal and political. 

Three of the authors are Black women and one is a gay white man. I found Juda's section to be the least compelling, as he seemed quite intent on proving that he is a 'good white person', rather than interrogating the privilege he does hold. He also straight up uses the N word, and the white audiobook narrator says it, whereas most of his Black co-authors just write 'the N word'??? Bizarre. 

But the essays written by Winnie, Piper and Cassandra were all interesting, ruminating on motherhood, immigration, race, and of course Toni Morrison. They talk about how terrifying it is to raise a Black son in today's America, microaggressions from white neighbours, the need for protection and whether that protection should come from a gun, the first time they realised what being Black meant, interracial dating and more. All of this circles back to the rich offerings of Toni Morrison's fiction, and their insights offered me more appreciation of the three novels I've read - and made me excited to pick up a copy of Mercy! I think I also want to reread Beloved, as this was the first Morrison I tackled and most of it definitely went over my head, oops. 

Would definitely recommend for fans of Toni Morrison.