A Mercy in Around the World in 80 Books

Jul 22, 2018 Martha rated it it was amazing

Shelves: friendly-reader-books, 24in48-readathon-july, mcl-1619-project-book-list

I volunteered to lead a discussion about A Mercy for reading group and I was so glad I was able to reread this book and do research. I read many reviews and listened to a number of recorded interviews with Toni Morrison and came away from this book rating it 5 stars from the 4 I gave it a year and a half ago. A great book for me is one that can be read multiple times with new insight into the book each time you read it.

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Oct 03, 2009 Laura (booksnob) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: book-club, literature, 2009

This first Toni Morrison book that I have loved and understood. Well understood may be not be entirely correct since Morrison writing is somewhat difficult for me at times. Nonetheless, I would recommend this book to an average reader, it was entertaining, historically accurate and thought provoking. I couldn't put it down. I may need to go back and reread some of her other books I read in my youth. Or maybe not, I don't think I could read the Bluest Eye again.
Looking forward to discussing this ...more

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Sep 23, 2010 Sunflower rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, fiction-read-2010

I wanted to like this book more than I did. But I had trouble getting into it, with a couple of false starts, and difficulty working out whose story it was at any given time. The narrator changes with each chapter, with no chapter headings. It wasn't until over half way through the book that I began to sort out who was talking.
Having said that, the story becomes more clear as you read. and there is much unflinching description of the lives of the women, from the mistress of the house to the sla ...more

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Dec 28, 2008 Jennifer rated it liked it

Shelves: historical-fiction

This book was challenging for me - set in the late 1600's and about people from colonial times -many slaves, but not only - who had difficult lives. Interesting but mostly depressing.
More like 2 1/2 stars. How the author explained what "a mercy" is helped my rating. ...more

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