Beloved

Perhaps best read on paper

Lyrical prose is woven into this story of a compelling period in our history. The story line is believable, and is an adept portrayal of how human beings can treat and react to each other. I believe I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had consumed it with my eyes instead of my ears. I missed the opportunity to go back a few pages to check a line or re-read a paragraph. The complexity of the story is at times like the quiet taste of a familiar herb in a vibrantly constructed meal - something you can't quite place, can't quite encompass on the first pass. I would recommend this book, with the reminder that other listeners may have the same problem maintaining grasp of the elusive thread. I've listened to several hundred books, and would place this in the top 50.

You may not like this book.

Rated by the NY Times as the best American novel of the last 25 years, I decided to try *Beloved* by Toni Morrison. I had serious difficulty liking this book at first. It seemed to me that in the first hour or so of this book, the narrator *told* me how the characters felt. I thought, "Wouldn't it have been better to *show* me, rather than *tell* me?" I thought to myself, "Either Nobel Prize winning fiction is not what it used to be, or I am seriously deficient in my literary appreciation." I suspect that my own lack of appreciation was at fault, but I would be remiss if I did not mention that I frequently had difficulty staying awake, especially in the first half of this novel. "Suspense as taut as a rope," to quote the publisher, would not have been my tag for this book. Some friends told me, "Yes, Toni Morrison takes some getting used to." Others said, "Yes, I hear it's problematic to read. That's why I decided not to read it." Ultimately, I am very glad that I finished this book, because it had a powerful effect on me. The characters and the dilemmas they faced were fascinating and gripping. Be forewarned, however, that this novel requires active participation of the reader: it's some work to read it. The best way for me to describe it is to say that the novel contains a series of fragmentary episodes, often incompletely described. You, as the reader, have to try to piece together the events. There are abrupt shifts of time and place. Again, there is often no explicit guidance. The reader must infer where in time and place the narrative has jumped to. Perhaps, as a reader, I found it to be rather too arduous. However, in the last third or so of the novel, when all the pieces start coming together, the novel's accumulated effect was riveting. Now that I understand more about the novel's structure, I wonder whether I might enjoy re-reading (re-listening?) to it in a few years.

All the reviews are right, not a good Audiobook

She reads in a halted, slow, out of breath whisper. I had to speed it up to just make it bearable. The story is good but can get confusing, this is a book you should read and not listen to.

Incredible novel; not so incredible narration

The novel itself is incredible and powerful. The style is Faulknerian, the feeling it provides is somehow mystical and extremely "real" at the same time.

This should be considered part of the American Canon, assuming there is one (and, I think it is!).

However.

While in theory it sounds good to have the author read her own work, Toni Morrison's narration has two major flaws:

1. She whispers. Not a major problem in-and-of-itself, but the volume of the recording is so low that it made it difficult to listen to while walking in the city (my usual activity while listening).

2. She doesn't have the breath to read some of the passages in the book. She had to pause in the middle of sentences to the point that the art of her prose, and sometimes even the meaning of her words was lost.

Author-read Books

I have just started listening to this book, and have decided that I will have to buy a printed copy and read its text concurrently while listening in order to make it to the end. This is the third audiobook I have purchased which is read aloud by its author, and it will be the last. I cannot understand Ms Morrison's pronunciation of many of the words. There is no differentiation in voice, so one doesn't know what character is talking or thinking. There are no pauses between the paragraphs or shifts in the time periods. [Contrast the amateurish reading of Beloved with the professionally read "The Sound and The Fury"--an even more diffcult book to follow.] Frankly, Ms Morrison is not a professional reader and subscribers are cautioned to listen to the sample [which I did not] before purchasing this audiobook. Unfortunately, Beloved is only available as an audiobook read by Ms Morrison. So readers of this review don't think I am picking on Toni Morrison, Charles Frazier's self-read of Cold Mountain suffers from the same deficiencies. Does any one know why the producers of audiobooks allow authors to read their own books? I will guess that it all has to do with retaining copyrights and royalties by the author and the author's agent.

Toni Morrison....stick to writing..please!

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Of course, Beloved is Brilliant! Just wish that the author wasn't the one reading this. Really hard to listen to. Very distracting.

Amazing Book-Bad Audio Book

I love Tony Morrison, and think she is one of the best living authors. However, I had to quit this one--only the second time I have not completed an audiobook. The author reads the book in a monotonous wisper. The combination of her quiet voice and the lack of differentiation of the character's voices made it impossible to keep my attention.

Do yourself and Tony Morrison a favor by passing on this product and picking up the paper book. I have read several of her novels and they are amazing. This audiobook would also be improved by a professional actor/reader in lieu of the author (believe it or not).

Great literature!

This is the most important work of fiction in the last 25 years—according to a recent NY Times survey. The audio book, read by the author, is the most powerful work I have ever listened too—and that is saying a lot. I am practically addicted to my headphones, my connection to the real world while the rest of my body lives in Costa Rica.

This is not entertainment; it is literature—something that changes you. It is original and disturbing. It will affect your dream life. If you are the kind of person who does not dream, you will not be interested in it at all; if you do dream, be prepared for some scary trips; get ready for some changes in your life.

Great novel, poor performance

I don't think this is the place to do reviews of the stories, techniques or narrative structure in books, so I will not comment on the novel itself (a masterpiece, by the way).

The performance of Mrs. Morrison is not good. She has to catch her breath after each sentence and you can hear that. I tried several times to listen but I just couldn't stand it. It is annoying. Narration should be done by professional actors, not by the authors. Recording a book requires different skills than writing a book.

I'd rather sit down, open my hardcover edition and re-read the novel. I want my money back.

Morrison is a terrible reader

Toni Morrison reads her own book as if she's constantly out of breath. She pauses in the middle of sentences and even in the middle of words, spewing out 3 or 4 words at a time. The content is brilliant, her reading is the worst I've ever heard. I gave up half-way and just read the book once I had time.