Song of Solomon

By: Toni Morrison

Narrated by: Toni Morrison

Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Milkman Dead was born shortly after a neighborhood eccentric hurled himself off a rooftop in a vain attempt at flight. For the rest of his life, he, too, will be trying to fly. With this brilliantly imagined novel, Toni Morrison transfigures the coming-of-age story as audaciously as Saul Bellow or Gabriel García Márquez. As she follows Milkman from his rustbelt city to the place of his family's origins, Morrison introduces an entire cast of strivers and seeresses, liars and assassins, the inhabitants of a fully realized black world.

©2017 Toni Morrison (P)2017 Random House Audio

Critic Reviews

"A rich, full novel.... It lifts us up [and] impresses itself upon us like a love affair." ( New York Times Book Review)

"A rhapsodic work.... Intricate and inventive." ( New Yorker)

Death United Them

I so enjoy the language of Ms Morison which carries you syllable by syllable along with her rich detailed descriptions “swallowed up by the darkness” for example. That have you walking beside her sensing and feeling each encounter with people places and things. Thanks audible for presenting the captivating vocals of the author that played with death from start to finish.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

incredible story telling

Toni Morrison has an incredible way of telling layers of stories within one text. She takes the reader from the North, to the roots of the South, then sets them free to fly in the end.

Classic storytelling

I love this book. The longer you listen, the more you’re draw in. One of the few books, I can listen to, and read over and over again.

the great Toni Morrison herself

What did you love best about Song of Solomon?

The story and characters are so engaging in Song Of Solomon that it's hard to stop turning the pages, or stop listening along, with this one.

What did you like best about this story?

Hearing the words read by the author, the great Toni Morrison herself, is quite an experience.

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

I've listened to many of Toni Morrison's other audiobook recordings, and you can tell that this performance is very recent due to the sound of her voice. I could still listen to it all day long though.

Any additional comments?

The beginning audio started off a bit rough, but this still gets a 5-Star rating, because Toni Morrison is deserving of nothing less.

Magnificent!!

I have had this book for 10 years and never read it because of time. I am soo glad I heard it and the way Toni Morrison wanted me. the listener to hear it. I loved it and I will give the book to my daughter...to read.

Amazing Listen

Awesome telling of a family's
story from a male perspective. This book held my attention from beginning to end.

A Mercy For All if Us

I was reminded of so many things I'd known once, but had forgotten namely birds aren't the ones who can fly...

I’m anything Toni Morrison

I read this book years ago and found a love for Madame Morrison’s use of words. It was like reading poetry and I was in awe. This book is at the top of my list of favorites of hers and I enjoyed listening to and reliving the story of Milkman and his family.

The only negative I’d give this is that it was hard to follow her at times because her voice is so raspy. I had to rewind the recording a few times to catch what she said.

I still gave it 5 stars ‘cause come on, it’s Toni Morrison.

Not a Morrison fan. Love this one.

This is the fourth book of Morrison's I've read or listened to. I've been working my way through a list of books for a number of years and have absolutely dreaded this one because I did not enjoy the previous three.

First, let me say that Morrison's performance in this unabridged version, while not up to the standards of professional voice actors, is head and shoulders above her whispered reading of Beloved. I love the voice she adopted for the main character.

The story is not unlike her other books. Oddball characters who don't fit into black society, weird paranormal plotlines, and interest in generational narratives. While I didn't enjoy those other stories (Beloved, Sula, and the Bluest Eye), this one really struck a cord.

The story is thoroughly engaging and challenging. If you've struggled with her other books and are a little leary, I recommend giving this one a chance.

1 of 3 people found this review helpful