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A review by deereadstoo
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison.
“How do you do that? I mean, how do you get somebody to love you?”
We find ourselves grappling with that question everyday, especially dark-skinned Black girls who are reminded everyday why they aren't worthy of love and adoration. Reminded everyday why they are the standard or the desirable. As a dark-skinned Black woman myself, I've seen what that can do to someone. I've seen what can happen if there's no one around you to tell you, remind you that you are beautiful in everyway. Pecola, unfortunately, was left to wither out in the sun.
Watching the downward spiral of Pecola, especially at the age she was, was like watching your younger sister suffer in silence. It felt like I trapped in a glass-box. I saw everything that was going on. Everything that was effecting her and belittling her. I saw everything that was making her feel like she would never be beautiful and yet I couldn't save her. I couldn't protect her from the harsh winter, the boiling summer, soft autumn or the delicate spring. All I wanted to do was reach out and let her know that she was enough. She was everything I'd hoped she'd be. My sweetest dream. My biggest wish. The warmth of a thousand suns and the cool breeze of the wind. She's love and passion. Anger and sorrow. Pain and redemption. Kindness and grace. She's all the things. She's beauty.
However, this isn't just Pecola's story. This is a story of generational trauma. This is a story of European beauty standards forcing its way into the homes of those who never fit the mold and setting them ablaze with doubt and insecurity. This is a story of loved ones battling their own demons without realizing the reprecussions. This is about a girl who wanted to be good enough. A girl who wanted to be beautiful. A girl who wanted blue eyes.
“How do you do that? I mean, how do you get somebody to love you?”
We find ourselves grappling with that question everyday, especially dark-skinned Black girls who are reminded everyday why they aren't worthy of love and adoration. Reminded everyday why they are the standard or the desirable. As a dark-skinned Black woman myself, I've seen what that can do to someone. I've seen what can happen if there's no one around you to tell you, remind you that you are beautiful in everyway. Pecola, unfortunately, was left to wither out in the sun.
Watching the downward spiral of Pecola, especially at the age she was, was like watching your younger sister suffer in silence. It felt like I trapped in a glass-box. I saw everything that was going on. Everything that was effecting her and belittling her. I saw everything that was making her feel like she would never be beautiful and yet I couldn't save her. I couldn't protect her from the harsh winter, the boiling summer, soft autumn or the delicate spring. All I wanted to do was reach out and let her know that she was enough. She was everything I'd hoped she'd be. My sweetest dream. My biggest wish. The warmth of a thousand suns and the cool breeze of the wind. She's love and passion. Anger and sorrow. Pain and redemption. Kindness and grace. She's all the things. She's beauty.
However, this isn't just Pecola's story. This is a story of generational trauma. This is a story of European beauty standards forcing its way into the homes of those who never fit the mold and setting them ablaze with doubt and insecurity. This is a story of loved ones battling their own demons without realizing the reprecussions. This is about a girl who wanted to be good enough. A girl who wanted to be beautiful. A girl who wanted blue eyes.