About this title: The unnamed omniscient narrator--like a Greek chorus, or a tribal storyteller--relates the story of Joe and Violet Trace, a pair of orphans who meet and marry in rural Virginia, then come north to Harlem in 1906. Trapped in their unfulfilling marriage for 20 years, Joe begins an affair with a young woman, Dorcas. When she leaves him, he kills her- ...
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Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Edition: Trade ed.
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Knopf Publishing Group
Date Published: 1992
ISBN-13:9780679411673ISBN:0679411674
Description: Very good in very good dust jacket. Very Good, In very good dust jacket. Sewn binding. Cloth over boards. 240 p. Previous Owner's Inscription. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Plume
Date Published: 1993-04-01
ISBN-13:9780452269651ISBN:0452269652
Description: Good. Paperbacks are previously owned. They are all in readable condition. They may have previous owners stamps, labels or names written or on them. The covers and spine may have creasing from previously being read. The corners may be bumped and there may be a small number of bent pages. read more
Binding: Trade paperback
Publisher: Plume Books
Date Published: 1993
ISBN-13:9780452269651ISBN:0452269652
Description: Good. No dust jacket as issued. Some cover wear, no writing/highlighting, a good reading copy. Trade paperback (US). Glued binding. 229 p. Audience: General/trade. read more
"where do i begin? first of all, this novel challenged me in ways no other novel ever has. thematically, one goes through a journey of love that is painful, beautiful, crazy, intense, passionate and consuming. the concept of black women and loneliness is beautifully written and the images she creates will remain in my memory forever. oftentimes, the novel seemed to be a puzzle that always managed to come together, even at the moments when i thought it wouldn't. so many emotions are running through my mind as a result of this brilliant piece of work. the best part was the many voices telling the story. there is a third person who tells the story that we never meet and every now and then characters from the novel are talking, but always this back and forth between the many voices. absolutely a MUST READ for all women if you ask me."
"I still can't decide whether I am crazy in love with Toni Morrison or whether I hate her. Her writing is undeniably fantastic but, while reading her books, I can never escape the presence throughout of her own awareness of her good writing. It's as if I can always imagine her sitting at her computer smiling to herself about how great what she just wrote is. Sometimes I feel her writing is fraught with falseness. Other times, I try to let that go.
Anyway, although it might not seem like it, I did sincerely enjoy this book, Jazz. Like in other Toni Morrison novels, the story is tragic yet very pretty, the writing is astonishing, and the character development is to die for."
"I think Toni Morrison is a great writer, however, I found this book to be a little bit too depressing for me. I guess I'm more for justice and obviously that is not what this book is about. More about the characters finding their inner-self, regardless of their actions. I'm sure there is some far introspective lesson to be learned about time and self-awareness that the author wishes for us to learn, but I guess I just get caught up in the literal ramifications of the plot. Toni Morrison is still a great writer!"
"Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison was the first book of hers that I read. I really enjoyed it so I decided to pick up Jazz. This was definitely a let down after Song of Solomon.
Most of the time I was reading this I felt like I was reading a college student's creative writing assignment on description. Her description was great, and she excellently captured the whole feel of Jazz and that time period...but a page-turner that does not make. The story was thin. And it was upsetting because there is a more intricate story there. Maybe she's assuming that her reader picks up on her subtleties and generalities and fills the story in on their own, but I like a little direction now and then.
I probably would have given this two stars, due to lack of plot, but her excellent description and evocation of emotion saved it."
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