I couldn't wait to get near my bookshelf, today. I read that Nobel Prize-Winning Laureate, Toni Morrison passed away at age 88 and I craved touching the place where my physical books were. Why? Because that is where my first & favorite work by Ms. Morrison is housed. I cropped this picture for privacy matters, but it still has my name written on the pages. My aunt teases me about writing my name on my old book. But hey, I went to school when folks would steal a book.
Most of the day, I remembered when I first read Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. I was 17 and a Senior in high school. It was probably the most modern book a teacher had ever assigned to be read. I remembered quite a few scenes from the book. Like when the main character, Milkman walked against the crowd and when his oldest sister finally told him off. And who can forget when the family's inheritance was revealed. Then I thought about all the symbolism & life lesson in this tale. Self-worth is one of them.
I even remembered one of the assignments we did with the ending. Spoiler Alert! Song of Solomon ended in a cliff hanger. Our teacher had us write a "final" ending with up to 10 profane words in it. I put 10 cuss words in my ending and the teacher noticed. LoL A few years later when Morrison's Beloved was made into a movie. I was a little upset. I've read several of her works, but I had only cast Song of Solomon. Darius McCrary was to be Milkman & C.C.H. Pounder was his aunt, Pilate. I don't know who would be the characters now. Maybe Oprah could get behind this tale, someday.
Toni Morrison will be deeply missed. Her works were profound & magical. And their tones will linger on and on, and on. Rest Well, Beloved Laureate, Rest Well!
As Always Talking to You in Adult Terms!
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