The New York Times has declared Toni Morrison's Beloved the best work of American fiction in the last 25 years. I normally roll my eyes at these "best of" lists because, you know, nobody ever asks me what *I* think. But this time I agree with the winner. I have read Beloved several times, and each time I finish it I have to take a few weeks off reading. First, because it's so moving: the last page stays with me for days. Second, because the writing is so good that whatever I read after it inevitably feels amateurish. You just cannot beat Toni Morrison for prose texture, and I dare you to tell me different.
The first time I read it, I remember thinking "this is going to be around for a long, long time." My senior year our thesis professor drove us to this big research library out of town. We never made it to the actual research materials because our professor forgot to verify that the library would be open late, which it wasn't. We ended up going to dinner and driving straight back. But we entertained ourselves by listing who we each thought would have staying power and still be huge when were old. Morrison was the only one we could agree on.
It might be time for a re-read.
OK, a number of you have been asking about the book lately, so I thought a pretty picture of it might give the appearance that I'm actually making progress. You're looking at a whole draft, a good two or three inches of novel. But wouldn't you know, I've decided that it needs to be rewritten from a slightly different point of view. No really. Listen, I'm the writer here, shut up. I don't care if you're ready to read it. I'll submit it when I'm good 'n ready.
