'It is the mid-1800s. At Sweet Home in Kentucky, an era is ending as slavery comes under attack from the abolitionists. The worlds of Halle and Paul D are to be destroyed in a cataclysm of torment and agony. The world of Sethe, however, is to turn from one of love to one of violence and death - the death of Sethe's baby daughter, Beloved, whose name is the single word on the tombstone, who died at her mother's hands, and who will return to claim retribution.'

One of Peter Boxall's 1001 books to read before you die.

I'm a bit in two minds about this book. I liked it as it is an interesting, if horrific, insight into the slave era in America and the way black people were treated by white people and not considered to be human. It also showed, without over-sentimentalising, the lengths that people would go to protect their children from suffering, and the difficulties that black people faced, not just in escaping but also once they were free in knowing what to do next.

In places though this book got a bit weird for me, especially with the angry baby spirit and the later return of Beloved.

A good book though and another one to cross off the 1001 list!

Thanks KT-J as long as no rings/rays arrive in the meantime I'll get onto this after I've read Watchmen.

EDIT: 12/01/2009 Started.

EDIT: 21/01/2009 I finished this novel today; I must say I found it difficult reading, the constantly switching timeline confused me and at various points in the story I had to re-read to try and figure out where I was and what was going on.

It’s an interesting insight into the struggle of black Americans through times of slavery a very horrific tale of bloodshed, violence, courage and mental and physical trauma and how this trauma can manifest itself in this case as Beloved.

I’m glad I read this novel and it’s another of the 1001 books YMRBYD down. I’m not sure what’s going to happen with this, I already have a copy of this making the rounds as a ray. It will stay on my bookshelf a little longer while KT-J and I decide what to do with it.

Next Up: Alaa Al Aswany - The Yacoubian Building

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Off to Rockyhorror1978 as a RABCK.

Received today in the mail with a wonderful Kermit the Frog card. Thank you Stubee! I look forward to reading and passing this book along!