This was my first Toni Morrison and I guess the question to ask after so many years is, what took me so long? Let me be very clear; this is lyrical, literary prose. If you are looking for a straight forward storyline, step away. If you are looking for an insightful portrayal of racism and how it warps and distorts young minds and the minds of all who come into contact with it, then keep reading.

At just over 200 pages, every single sentence in this book, every single word, has been carefully chosen. Yes, it’s a story about Pecola Breedlove but it’s also a story about the many women and children living Pecola’s story. It’s about Claudia’s irrational hatred of blue-eyed dolls and the double standards they represent. It’s about a family who learn to believe they deserve the mistreatment they receive for not conforming to what society has decided is beautiful. It’s about the black body being used, abused and disposed of. Morrison packs a lot into this book and it is therefore one not to be read quickly but to be savoured and read and reread.

Unfortunately mine was a library copy and I wish I’d had more time with it.