It was lovely. Not to be stared at, not seen, but being pulled into view by the interested, uncritical eyes of the other. Having her hair examined as part of her self, not as a material or style. Have ing her lips, nose, chin carressed as they might be if she were a moss rose a gardener paused to admire. Denver’s skin dissolved under that gaze and became soft and bright like the lisle dress that had its arm around her mother’s waist. She floated near but outside her own body, feeling vague and intense at the same time. Needing nothing. Being what there was. (118)

This book shook me to my core. The first 50 pages were harrowingly difficult. I put the book aside time and time again, only to find again and find myself drawn in. After page 51, something magical happened: suspension of disbelief kicked in and I was pulled into the story like it was a magical time machine. I was absolutely captivated. It genuinely felt like a journey into the past, into the lives of these characters, into their heads.

This is my first reading of this book and, in fact, my first reading of anything by Toni Morrison. I added the book to my reading list after the announcement that ‘Beloved’ was voted the best book of the last 25 years by publishers, authors, editors. The honour is well-deserved.

The story revolves around an exslave named Sethe, her daughter, Denver, and the ghost of Sethe’s baby, who is called ‘Beloved’ after her death. The experience of slavery carved deep grooves in Sethe’s soul. After she escapes slavery and finds refuge with her children in Ohio, her former owner comes back to claim her. Sethe responds by trying to kill her children, but succeeds only in murdering her baby daughter.

Haunted by the baby’s ghost, Sethe and Denver struggle to build their lives and identities after generations of slavery. There are so many layers to this book that I struggled to extract them all. But identity is the theme that stood out for me after my first reading – the truly difficult task that faced former slaves when they were suddenly free to decide not only what they would do, what they would eat, how they would live, but who they were.

Writing like this is magical and inspired. I’m a sceptic when it comes to ghost stories and tales of the supernatural, but the plot was so intricate and the characters so persuasive that I soon found myself questioning my own disbelief. It’s rare to find a book that allows you to experience another’s thoughts as your own like this one does. It was disconcerting and fascinating and disorienting.

Not only do I recommend it, but I plan to one day read it again – this is high praise!