Beloved

By: Toni Morrison

Narrated by: Toni Morrison

Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

PULITZER PRIZE WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A spellbinding novel that transforms history into a story as powerful as Exodus and as intimate as a lullaby. With a new afterword by the author.

This "brutally powerful, mesmerizing story” (People) is an unflinchingly look into the abyss of slavery, from the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner.

Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. Sethe has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. And Sethe’s new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.

“A masterwork.... Wonderful.... I can’t imagine American literature without it.” —John Leonard, Los Angeles Times

©1987 Toni Morrison (P)1998 Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

“A masterwork. . . . Wonderful. . . . I can’t imagine American literature without it.” —John Leonard, Los Angeles Times

“A triumph.” —Margaret Atwood, The New York Times Book Review

“Toni Morrison’s finest work. . . . [It] sets her apart [and] displays her prodigious talent.” —Chicago Sun-Times

Needs a professional narrator

I'm sure the book is outstanding but the writer has a monotone voice that's almost seductive in tone. Her voice, in itself, is beautiful but I couldn't make it past the first few chapters. It's too difficult and distracting to listen to and I had to back up several times to understand who was speaking or what was happening.

Everything stood out

I like the book and the author help we understand in detail of what was the meaning of beloved and even the name

A deeply moving tale

I found Beloved to be a rich and compelling tale. It brought out for me the vulnerability and helplessness of people bound in slavery like no other book has done. At the same time there was humanity and hopefulness and love. I think this book should be required reading for all people. It is written in a style that may at first be confusing. Ms. Morrison does not spell things out in chronological order for us. But if you stay with it, you will find that she does
wrap up each inner tale. I think it also helps to listen to it twice. As is often the case, the first time through you are caught up with the story, the second time you catch more of the nuances. I also loved listening to her voice, although it too takes a little patience until you learn her cadence. She hesitates as she reads, and often you think that she has finished a sentence only to find that it continues. But once your ear has figured that out, she is a pleasure and I believe her voice perfectly complements her story.

Love Beloved

I loved listening to this audiobook and Toni Morrison’s voice. What a beautiful, powerful story of the cruelty of slavery and how dehumanizing slaves were treated. However, Setha shows that she is still left with a deep self and capacity for love. Amazing book.

Always sensational!!

I read this book every four years or so. Every time I read something I swore I had not read before... Or perhaps I was not ready to comprehend the depth of what is being communicated. This book is my Favorite and to hear it on the authors voice is a thrill.

literally breathtaking

I'm thankful that I experienced this book through audible. There are things that couldn't be translated into words and as beautiful as Toni Morrison's were are, there is something so much more Transcendence about hearing her read them aloud. The level of detail for periods that she couldn't have lived during is unbelievable.

Worth pressing repeat for

The story was riviting and deeply personal. Although the narrator had a beautiful and intimate way of telling the story she was oftern difficult to hear which took away from the story. I found myself having to frequently back track to understand what was being said.

I had to hear again!!

She's passed away now and the best tribute I could was to read again. Hearing her voice made it more special!! Rest Well Toni!!

it touched my soul

Toni Morrison will always be alive in her words. There is nothing that she doesn't know about the human condition.

Black Literary Gold

Toni Morrison's authorship is filled with dynamic poetry and flawless prose. Great Read!!!!!! I would recommend this book to all people of color, all ages!!!.