A review by nkeshyy
Sula by Toni Morrison

Yes. But my lonely is mine. Now your lonely is somebody else's. Made by somebody else and handed to you. Ain't that something? A secondhand lonely.

I had such a pleasant time with SULA. It is a timeless novel that looks at the complexity of friendship, individuality vs community, as well as the stories we tell ourselves to move forward. So far I have read three Toni Morrison novels and, up until finishing this one, I was convinced that THE BLUEST EYE was my favourite of them all. But wow! Sula Peace, the woman you are. What a flawed character. What an insane, striking and interesting character. I found myself screaming at her, throwing the book against the wall every time she made me roll my eyes, every time she made me cheer for her and her risque way of living. She reminded me so much of my sister, a Black woman living her life on her own terms in a community that would rather she didn't. And she did all that knowing full well that they would shun her, shame her, and treat her like a pariah. 

As much as I say that SULA is my favourite Morrison novel, that's not true. It's a little hard to pick a favourite because I always leave her books feeling some type of way, different things evoked by different books. Morrison’s writing is nothing short of lyrical. Her prose is dense, evocative, and confrontational, with each sentence carefully crafted to convey multiple layers of meaning. The vivid descriptions and poetic language bring them and their strories to life, making the setting almost a character in its own right. Morrison’s ability to weave complex themes into a compelling narrative is something unparalleled, and I wake up every day hating myself for not being her, lmao.

I would truly recommend reading her at one point in your life.