I'm sure _The Bluest Eye_ is a wonderful book. *spoilers* and *sensitivity alert*

[Bertha Venation]

If you are emotionally sensitive to child abuse or animal cruelty, do not read on.

I'm sure The Bluest Eye is wonderful. But some stories, no matter who suggests them as "do not pass up this book," do not need to be read.

Toni Morrison is a Pulitzer and Nobel winner. As far as I got into The Bluest Eye, I enjoyed it. It was breathtaking. I enjoyed her vocabulary, her imagery, and the way she conveyed reality.

I read through the instances of incest and child abuse without pain or reaction, even though I am a survivor. Some parts of me are healed.

I even got through the part about the cat being spun around by the boy and flung into the wall.

But when I got to the poisoning of the dog, I read no more and will not finish the book. I don't need it. And I will not read any more of it.

I was going to say, some stories don't need to be written. But that's not for me to decide.

Did you read The Bluest Eye? What did you think?

[murielm99]

1. I read it a long time ago.

I understand your reaction.

I was more pained by the abuse of the child. I have a feeling that if I re-read the book today, all three things would bother me a great deal. I agree with you about the power of the book, its language and imagery.

[Blue_Tires]

2. read it back in high school for class

i do remember kind of keeping my emotional distance from it...

[Flaxbee]

3. I don't subject myself to stuff like that any more, either, Bertha

I'm sure I miss out on some great literature, and good movies, too. But I won't do it. Too much heartbreak too close to the surface and there is no need for a person to flog themselves with painful images.

Especially if - as you are, and as many of us are - you are all too aware of the cruelty out there in the world.

Haven't read The Bluest Eye. Have thought about it, and now I think I'll pass it by.

How are you and the missus?