Home

A Novel

By: Toni Morrison

Narrated by: Toni Morrison

Length: 4 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

America's most celebrated novelist, Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison extends her profound take on our history with this twentieth-century tale of redemption: a taut and tortured story about one man's desperate search for himself in a world disfigured by war.

Frank Money is an angry, self-loathing veteran of the Korean War who, after traumatic experiences on the front lines, finds himself back in racist America with more than just physical scars. His home may seem alien to him, but he is shocked out of his crippling apathy by the need to rescue his medically abused younger sister and take her back to the small Georgia town they come from and that he's hated all his life.

As Frank revisits his memories from childhood and the war that have left him questioning his sense of self, he discovers a profound courage he had thought he could never possess again. A deeply moving novel about an apparently defeated man finding his manhood - and his home.

©2012 Toni Morrison (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Profound . . . Morrison's portrayal of Frank is vivid and intimate, her portraits of the women in his life equally masterful. Its brevity, stark prose, and small cast of characters notwithstanding, this story of a man struggling to reclaim his roots and his manhood is enormously powerful.” (Stephan Lee, O, The Oprah Magazine)

“Morrison’s perfect prose [is] immaculate...Beautiful, brutal.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“A deceptively rich and cumulatively powerful novel.” ( Kirkus)

Author should not read their own works

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

Not the best use of my time as the monotone voice of the reader did nothing to enhance the story. I would have preferred to read the book myself.

How could the performance have been better?

Another actor reading would have brought more life to the story.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

No

Stick to a physical book

I found the story and characters interesting and engaging. I would have rated the book much higher if it had been narrated by someone other than the author. Ms. Morrison wove an interesting story but her narration was monotone and she sounded bored. It was often difficult to hear or understand what she was saying. I will confine my future adventures into Toni Morrison's work will be in a physical book or e-book - especially if she chooses to narrate her own work again.

Hearing "Home" by Morrison.

The audio underscores the poetry but the dialogues in it need more animation. I highly recommend hearing this audiobook. What I understood more this third time learning this story was the necessity of Frank confronting his own emotions including shame of murdering a Korean girl who was foraging and prostituting herself for survival. Very relevant to the shame that the working class has to pay for making a living in an imperialist economy. -RF.

Amazing!

What made the experience of listening to Home the most enjoyable?

Listening to Morrison's voice narrating the book was one of the best experiences I have had!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Frank was my favorite character. I like his change of attitude in the end.

What about Toni Morrison’s performance did you like?

She is amazing! Her voice embodies the story in an astonishing way!

If you could rename Home, what would you call it?

Regret

Any additional comments?

I hope there will be more books narrated by Toni Morrison in the future! It was a wonderful experience to read the book and to listen to her voice! I would like to thank Toni Morrison for this amazing book!

hard to hear; one dimensional

Would you try another book from Toni Morrison and/or Toni Morrison?

No

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Clean ending

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Toni Morrison?

Someone who didn't drop their voice at the end of a sentance.

Could you see Home being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes. No idea.

Any additional comments?

3rd or 4th Toni Morrison book I've read. I just think she is a one theme writer and has become self consciously 'literate'.

Excellent!

Poignant viewpoint and fantastic visualization- I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good read...

Felt like "HOME!"

Toni Morrison NEVER disappoints. I love her use of imagery (and other literary devices) to bring her stories to life. She brings her story right to your door and then opens it for you... Such a great story teller...

Breathtaking experience

If you could sum up Home in three words, what would they be?

one word: epic

Who was your favorite character and why?

Narrators of the story. Each one is completely believable.

Have you listened to any of Toni Morrison’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I love Toni Morrison's reading style here, such an enhancement to the experience. She seems to lean over the arm of her porch chair and share her story privately and intimately with us as if we are a trustworthy friend. We listen quietly and hope we deserve her trust.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Multiple times, I needed to pause, backtrack, and listen again. I will certainly listen/read this book again and will recommend it for my Literature/Book Group.

Any additional comments?

I have already recommended the audible version of this book to many people. It will surely become a classic and stand up for generations like the grand bay tree in the story.

Can't wait for the movie version!

I absolutely loved this book, Toni Morrison is a Shero writer of mine. I'm in awe of how she depicts time gone by. Please Ms Toni write how to book on writing.

Beautifully written and beautifully read

This is on par with Toni Morrison's other fiction-- moving, redemptive, and poetic. This audiobook is an outstanding performance, and listening to Ms. Morrison perform gives weight and movement to the words. The understated and contained expressiveness of her voice reflects the tension and containment that the characters must bring to themselves as they cope with overwhelming traumas of war, medical abuse, and racism. Listen and listen again.