Morrison's "Song of Solomon" encapsulates her strongest skills into one novel.

The story line is unparalleled - it eclipses even some of her other highly acclaimed pieces like "Sula" or "Beloved." The dialect delivered by the people is equal to that shown in "Jazz" or "Beloved." And, her weaving of the story lines throughout the pages of the novel, sews the novel's fabric or philosophies deeply into the reader's mind - as only great novels seem to be do.

This may be the Southern America's finest glory in literature - rivaled only by Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" or Faulkner's greats - "As I Lay Dying" or "The Sound and the Fury." This is one of the great African American novels - rivaled only by Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man", Zora Neale Hurston's "Their Eyes Were Watching God" or James Baldwin's "Go Tell It On The Mountain." In short, this a great novel.

Many aspects of the life of Macon Death III, a/k/a Milkman - whose life we watch from birth to his early 30's - are happy and dreary. We learn about his witch-like aunt, Pilate, whose lazy daughter Reba birth's his lover, Hagar. As he grows in wealth, his soul feels closer to his name. "My name's Macon; I'm already dead." And, many are trying to prompt invitation to his dying to his name - first his father, then his girlfriend, then a knife-wielding maniac in a small town, and lastly his best friend.

During a search for life, and seeking to find an exit from his "Death", Milkman seeks to find what others may know about his past. His parent's contradictory statements about what the other did to present the dysfunctional aspects of their family both confuse and anger him. His aunt delivers more light on who he is as she speaks about his grandfather's apparition's requests. His father silently will not negate this statement. And, others see ghosts too - something not uncommon for a Morrison novel - particularly in "Beloved."

And, like most Morrison novels, inhumane treatment by men upon other men delivers premature death or destruction of family. Morrison's novels commonly have white man's grotesquely cruel acts upon innocent black children affect the innocents - so affected that main characters often become morally corrupt. This novel is no different. But, the degree of corruption establishes new heights with an organization called the Seven Days. This organization belays the Judeo-Christian ethic, its vigilantes become terrorist murderers of innocent whites - reciprocating to the whites what happened to them or their peers. Southern communities are akin to Palestine. Fighting "bad people" apparently backfires - the acts of violence (whites upon blacks or vice versa) does not exterminate the "other's" hatred, it breeds more hatred which concurrently breeds more violence.

If one uses metaphor to describe Morrison's writing, her high couture is not fundamentally created by the fabric - but rather a composition founded upon the artistry, the sewing. She does not use large words or deeply rooted symbolism which may confuse some readers. Instead, she writes in a manner which can be understood by a wide audience.

Powerfully written, this book makes you pour through the pages to see what happens next. This is the premier work by a premier author and should not be overlooked.

I'm glad that I read this book, but did not find it to be pleasing or interesting. As the review title declares, this novel strikes me as a cross between the beautiful writing style of Southern writers like Thomas Wolfe and the magic realism of Hispanic writers (especially Gabriel Garcia Marquez or Jorges Borges). The Southern style is something I just don't like after reading many years and many authors of this style. It feels overworked and grasping to me. Your taste may be different. I do enjoy magic realism, but find writers like Marquez or Borges do it better than Toni Morrison. Again, your taste may be different. Please realize that I'm not claiming this is a bad book or that Toni Morrison is a bad writer; it's just not my cup of team (Southern style crossed with weaker magic realism).

Chapter One of this book is one of the best first chapters of any book I've ever read and it displays exactly what the book is and how Morrison writes. The Kindle version of the book provides a free sample and I'd encourage everyone to download it and read it.

As an obsessive reader, I've read a great deal of "what's out there" - traditional great works, multi-cultural lit, and "fluff". This remains my favorite, not only of Morrison's works, but of any book.
I've re-read Song of Solomon multiple times, and always find something new. Her writing is magical and uplifting (as opposed to Beloved, which is great in its own right, but certainly not exhilirating). I've also never experienced a book ending quite as extraordinary and spiritual as this one.

This book, along with Sula and The Bluest Eye, are my
favorite novels by Toni Morrison. It is a beautifully
written story about Solomon and his struggle to define
himself in a black family. The plot itself is basic
but what stands out in my mind is the language. Toni
Morrison has an eye for detail and for invoking the
struggle for survival in this crazy, mixed up world.
There's not too much more I can say without giving away
the story but this book is definitely a well written effort.

This is a book you probably had to read in high school. You'll love now you're all grown up!
This novel is one of the best I've ever read about the search for identity. Ms. Morrison serves up the richest of emotional stews: histories and aspirations of African Americans, Native Americans, the rich, poor, the loved and those seeking love. This book is truly a song!

This is one of my favorite books. I recommend that people read this before tackling any other Toni Morrison novels. I like this book better than her other novels because I could understand it more. I feel as if there is less symbolism here than in her other work. She is not as flowery here and uses more "plain everyday language." Overall, a great book. It is a good purchase for a home library.

Toni Morrison were letting the youth know about, people with amazing collection of losers and fighters, innocents and murders, followers of ghosts and followers of money, all of whom add to the pleasure of this exceptionally diverse novel. When Toni was a little girl she was raised in a bad neiborhood. Toni was scared to come out side the house because of the dangerous surroundings around here. Toni had a miserable life. She listened to stories from her friends about them getting raped and abused by their parents. She was very scared of her father as a young child.
I like this book because it's a good example about a freighting childhood inside of a bad neiborhood. I was raised in a bad nationhood but I wasn't scared of nothing I was very brave. She teaches our youth today to watch your surroundings. If you read this boot you would be like what a child life. You would never want to put your feet in her shoes.

Every time I read a novel by Toni Morrison, I feel like I must be missing something. I am able to take a step back and appreciate the beauty of her writing. Sentence by sentence, she puts together wonderful phrases that create stunning imagery. She is, without a doubt, a great writer.

However, I feel like her stories are supposed to have deeper meaning than I'm finding. I think I'm probably missing an underlying message somewhere, but I'm not sure how to analyze her books in order to get at this message.

I liked this book better than others of hers I've read; some have been too depressing for words and this one, although it had its moments, also had some redeeming characters and hopeful attitudes.

Milkman is a man whose adulthood is shaped by his childhood as the son of a dependent mother and a cold father, the much younger brother of two dissatisfied sisters. His father is obsessed with acquiring things as status symbols, and his mother is obsessed with the memory of her father, a prestigious doctor whom her husband is never able to measure up to.

Mostly because it is forbidden, Milkman begins spending time with his eccentric aunt, who lives with her daughter and granddaughter across town. Soon he starts up a relationship with the granddaughter, his cousin, but breaks it off when he tires of it, never considering his cousin's feelings.

Partly because of his cousin's murderous response to their breakup, partly as a quest for family treasure and partly because he is simply feeling smothered by his life, Milkman sets off on a journey to trace his family's roots. What he discovers about the past and about himself surprises him.

Toni Morrison has never disappointed. This is a deep, rich experience. Ms. Morrison writes in beautifully overlapping, intertwining layers and vines, like a French braid from head to floor, the strands only coming together inches above the plush carpeting. It is not possible to completely crack and embrace this gem encrusted geode in one read. About every ten years I discover something new to appreciate when I treat myself to another swim in Song of Solomon.

I'm no prude, but some of the actions described in this book go beyond crude to disgusting and repulsive. Who needs to waste time reading about such behavior? Don't we see enough of the depths of human depravity on the news? I would have expected a huge protest from families of middle class black people, who are portayed with every variety of perversion and obsession...the only ones who are shown as decent human beings are strange in their own ways, nonformist to the extreme.

Filled with imagery and symbolism from the Bible, this magisterial novel also draws on the epic tradition, tracing the roots of four generations of an African-American family as they fight a series of battles--against the legacy of slavery and racism, the loss of cultural values and roots, the trauma of injustice, and the self-centeredness resulting from economic success. For all its elegance of development and seriousness of purpose, however, this 1977 novel by Toni Morrison is decidedly earthy, filled with unusual characters and exciting, often sensuous, stories about a family descended from Solomon, a freed slave who, according to legend, flew on his own wings back to Africa, leaving his wife and twenty-one children behind.

The male protagonist, Milkman Dead, is the arrogant son of a wealthy slumlord. His aunt Pilate, a poor woman whose life is filled with love, is so vibrant a contrast and so dominating a force in the family, however, that she becomes the fulcrum upon which the action turns. Milkman's selfishness vs. Pilate's compassion, his desire to escape from the family vs. her need to remember its stories and its past, his love-'em-and-leave-'em attitude toward women vs. her generosity of spirit ("If I'd-a knowed more people, I'd-a loved more," she says)--parallel the tensions which seize every generation of this family.

The novel develops impressionistically, not chronologically, as stories about characters from four generations unfold, seemingly at random. The relationships of all these characters, along with the time line in which they live, evolve only gradually. When Milkman's father, Macon Dead, Jr., tells him the story about how he, accompanied by his sister Pilate, killed a man in a cave and then discovered many bags of the man's gold, Milkman begins the journey which will lead to his discovery of who he is and what gives real meaning to life. In an effort to find the missing gold, he travels to the farm where earlier generations of the family lived, discovering, in the process, the missing links in the family's chain of memories.

Racism is a pervading theme, from the flight of Solomon to the execution of Macon Dead on his own land, and, in the 1960s, the formation of The Seven Days, a vigilante group that kills whites in direct proportion to the number of blacks killed and left unavenged. The novel is primarily about an arrogant young man's self-discovery, however, and the importance of being connected. Lyrical, richly descriptive, powerfully dramatic, and filled with symbols and motifs that connect Milkman in universal ways to the Bible and to the earliest epics, this is Toni Morrison at her best. Mary Whipple

I thought this book was amazing. The author gives you a lot of random information during the beginning half of the novel, but once
you have reached towards the end of the book all of this information falls into place. I loved the ending. It was terrific. The last sentence of the novel even somes up the whole book, and really connects to the very beginning of the novel. I loved this book so much that if I was introduced to it out of my english class
I would still have read it.

Song of Solomon is a great tale about a young man who struggles through life until he finally is able to find his roots. I would call it an initiation story-Milkman, the hero, is the son of a wealthy and prominent black man. He has it relatively easy-he works alongside his father and never wants for anything-and gets into trouble frequently in "Southside," the poor side of town. He struggles with his familial problems-his father tried to have him aborted before birth, his mother has issues both with him and with her own deceased father, his sisters never talk to him-and is able to find refuge only in the house of his aunt, Pilate, who his father forbids him to see.

Milkman (whose real name is Macon Dead) ultimately gets caught up in a scheme to find hidden gold, and leaves his home in search of it. The trail of the gold leads him to his family's roots, and in learning of his heritage he is transformed from a man of the world into a man who has great pride in his origins. The climax of the story finds him reconciling his family's past to the present.

The characterization in this novel is great, and the narrative riveting. There are racial issues here, of course, but the moral of the story seems to be in discovering (and staying true) to one's heritage, which is exactly what Milkman eventually does. This novel is both entertaining and thought provoking, certainly worthwhile.

"Song of Solomon" is considered one of Toni Morrison's best book. It is not easy to select a single novel from the whole oeuvre of a writer so important and magnificent as this one. Recently, her novel "Beloved" was picked as the best book published in the past 25 years in the United States. And it is not a fluke. She certainly is one of the best and most important female writers alive and working. With books like these two and all she wrote, Morrison could place her name side by side with male (most of them white) writers when dealing with serious racial issues - just like William Faulkner, Mark Twain and Ralph Ellison.

The fact that she is an African-descendent places her in a singular position. She is just one of those few who can write about the racial question with an insider output. So much so that that in her "Song of Solomon" Morrison uses some of her family legends in the narrative. As it usually happens in her books, plot is not the main concern here. The main point here is the main character's quest for his identity. Dealing with one man's identity, Morrison is dealing with the roots of all African-descendents.

Her prose is poetic and her characters are unforgettable. She is able to create a very believable world populated with strange people, but who never seem to be freaks. The narrative is compound of many plots that crosses one another sometimes, creating a web of relationships.

"Song of Solomon" is a universal music that is able to communicate with the whole world. A book that has become an important classic and will certainly be read for many years to come.

..This is a wonderful and complex book about self-discovery by travelling back home to one's roots. The journey made by the main story's protagonist, Milkman Dead, is both wonderful and complex, but Morrison through her main character and this book demonstrates the importance of families and the dangers of not passing down our heritage and not embracing it, for if we do not we will end up like Macon Dead, and Milkman Dead. Whereas Macon Dead, the father purposefully erased his past (what little he maintained), Milkman seeks out his heritage and as a result finally finds out who he is and is free. This book has everything, symbolism, metaphors, character development, emotion, and mythology and witchcraft. It contain sexism, elitism, and racism. It is an awesome read for the mature reader and this ranks along with Sula.

Filled with imagery and symbolism from the Bible, this magisterial novel also draws on the epic tradition, tracing the roots of four generations of an African-American family as they fight a series of battles--against the legacy of slavery and racism, the loss of cultural values and roots, the trauma of injustice, and the self-centeredness resulting from economic success. For all its elegance of development and seriousness of purpose, however, this 1977 novel by Toni Morrison is decidedly earthy, filled with unusual characters and exciting, often sensuous, stories about a family descended from Solomon, a freed slave who, according to legend, flew on his own wings back to Africa, leaving his wife and twenty-one children behind.

The male protagonist, Milkman Dead, is the arrogant son of a wealthy slumlord. His aunt Pilate, a poor woman whose life is filled with love, is so vibrant a contrast and so dominating a force in the family, however, that she becomes the fulcrum upon which the action turns. Milkman's selfishness vs. Pilate's compassion, his desire to escape from the family vs. her need to remember its stories and its past, his love-'em-and-leave-'em attitude toward women vs. her generosity of spirit ("If I'd-a knowed more people, I'd-a loved more," she says)--parallel the tensions which seize every generation of this family.

The novel develops impressionistically, not chronologically, as stories about characters from four generations unfold, seemingly at random. The relationships of all these characters, along with the time line in which they live, evolve only gradually. When Milkman's father, Macon Dead, Jr., tells him the story about how he, accompanied by his sister Pilate, killed a man in a cave and then discovered many bags of the man's gold, Milkman begins the journey which will lead to his discovery of who he is and what gives real meaning to life. In an effort to find the missing gold, he travels to the farm where earlier generations of the family lived, discovering, in the process, the missing links in the family's chain of memories.

Racism is a pervading theme, from the flight of Solomon to the execution of Macon Dead on his own land, and, in the 1960s, the formation of The Seven Days, a vigilante group that kills whites in direct proportion to the number of blacks killed and left unavenged. The novel is primarily about an arrogant young man's self-discovery, however, and the importance of being connected. Lyrical, richly descriptive, powerfully dramatic, and filled with symbols and motifs that connect Milkman in universal ways to the Bible and to the earliest epics, this is Toni Morrison at her best. n Mary Whipple

With passion and a voice that sings with beautiful detail and magic, Toni Morrison's third novel, published in 1977, is a powerful tale that follows the lives of a black family and their friends living in a Michigan city. In 1931, Macon Dead III, later nicknamed Milkman, is prematurely brought into the world, the first black child born in Mercy Hospital, just after his mother witnesses the brief flight of a man determined to fly from the cupola of the hospital. Although the novel revolves around Milkman, the stories spun out from him embrace a wide variety of characters and experiences. Morrison explores the lasting stamp of slavery through the name of Macon Dead; the intimate culture of women through Pilate, Reba, and Hagar; the hunger for property and respectability through Milkman's father; the idea of one's "people" through those in the South who have not forgotten connections; the violence of civil rights through Guitar; and many more issues facing blacks of the times and today. Despite the resonance of history, this novel is ultimately about its people and their eagerly lived lives. Morrison plunges her readers into their hearts with a humanity and skill too few novelists possess. The result is a remarkably emotional and intelligent story that will stay with you for a long time.

Readers should not be intimidated by Morrison's Nobel Prize Winner status, as this novel, like most of her others, is written in startling but accessible language. You don't need an advanced degree (or even a specific race or gender) to slip into her magical prose. Her characters are real and fully realized, and feel like friends, even when you might want to shake them to their senses. Although some readers will be puzzled by the end, wanting perhaps the next sentence that explains it all, Morrison has included by her omission the real meaning of her book. Visit with it for a few moments before closing the cover.

I highly recommend this book for a wide range of readers, from high school students to adults. Even though it was written in the 1970's, its themes and characters still have relevance today. Morrison is one of the world's literary gifts, and should not be missed. THE SONG OF SOLOMON is one of her best novels.

The Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison is one of my favorite books despite the extra effort needed to understand the hidden messages. The book grabs the readers from the first page where a Black man believes he could "fly off" to freedom sacrificing his life, while a strange woman is singing in the background. The next day the protagonist, Milkman, comes into life. This intriguing story holds the struggle between Whites and Blacks, and the search for identity and family root. I recommend this book to any teenagers and adults who are seeking for a deep reading.

The repeated themes presented in this book portray the importance of family. Milkman is the youngest and the only male child between Ruth and Macon. He is described as a selfish and egotistical man. When he sees a green sack hanging on Pilate's door, he believes its gold that Pilate and Macon found. However, to his disappointment, it held pieces of bones; Milkman realizes the gold could be left where it was found initiating the journey of Milkman. It begins as ajourney to seek gold, but later ends up as a journey to seek his family root and his own identity. One of the obvious themes of postmodernism in this book is deconstruction, seeking criteria of identity and truth. Some other obvious themes are struggle between two classes and sacrificing for one's desire.

Throughout this journey, Milkman visits three main places: Dansville, Virginia, and Sharlimar. These places begin to aid Milkman by guiding him to his hidden history about his family. How his family got the name Dead, who his great-grandfather is, and whose bones are in Pilate's green sack are some of the things Milkman finds out. He figures out that his great-grandfather Solomon is a famous slave who literally flew off the ground to Africa for freedom. Solomon even sacrifices his family for his desire to become free.

Symbolisms allow the readers to think twice about the meaning of words. This book can not be understood by skimming. The readers must interact with the author. Symbolism such as flying as escapism holds the readers interested, while the exact meaning of some words are left for the readers to decide. On top of this, intricate relationships between families and friends, and their ironical changes keep the story from being dry. For example, the binary opposition Guitar goes through with Milkman is surprising. From the beginning of the book, Guitar and Milkman are best friends who give each other trust. However, when the gold was to be divided between Milkman, Macon, and Guitar, Guitar lets his greed take-over his friendship. He begins to suspect Milkman, who seeks a journey by himself to find the gold that he promises to share. Guitar even sacrifices to kill Milkman for his share of gold. Studying these relationships prevent the readers from dropping this book.

I have only covered very little of this great book so I strongly recommend teenagers and adults to have a good read of this book. It contains life lessons, interesting relationships, struggle between two classes, sacrifices for one's desire, and so much more.

Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon captures the reader with its first sentence. While a beautifully written story, it is one with which the reader must be prepared to invest some time. Morrison makes her reader dig past the literal meaning to find the figurative because the novel is about much more than what the surface shows. Her prose contains layered meanings that at times can be difficult to grasp due to Morrison's intricate phrasing. Song of Solomon, written in 1977, depicts a divided African American family living in northern Michigan during the 1930's. As with many of her novels, Song of Solomon hits at heavy themes. Within the novel Morrison touches on issues including race, gender, geography, age, the importance of family origins, and the value of human life. With this novel Morrison's aim was to make the reader think about the value and worth of another person's life.

The novel begins outside of a residential hospital, with a man preparing to jump off the building, and women struggling to give birth on the steps below. "The next day a colored baby was born inside Mercy for the first time" (9), this colored child is the main character Macon Dead, nicknamed Milkman. Next, the reader meets the other characters in the novel, including Milkman's mother, father, sisters, aunt, and his close friend Guitar. Milkman's relationship with each of this character is essential to shaping the novel's themes. Although the novel is centered on Milkman, his story is created by the lives of those around him. Through out the novel Milkman struggles to find meaning in his life. He says, "Everybody wants something from me, you know what I mean?...Something they think I got. I don't know what it is-I mean what it is they really want" (222). Milkman's effort to find that `something' takes him in many directions, the most important of these being a journey, in an effort to prove himself in the eyes of his friend and father, in search of stolen gold. What began as lust for money and power turns into something much more for Milkman. On this particular journey he is forced to re-evaluate his life, "They were troublesome thoughts, but they wouldn't go away...his self--the cocoon that was "personality"-gave way...so the thoughts came, unobstructed" (277). The end of this journey brings understanding, and change not only to Milkman, but to all those connected to him. The story is a skillful blend of characters and plot developments that form a complex tale of human discovery which takes the reader from birth to death, from north to south, and from emptiness to fulfillment.

The beauty and power of Morrison's writing is what makes this novel so effective. Morrison's descriptive words create vivid imagery and strong themes; the most prevalent of these is the importance of family, and the value of life. Morrison presents these themes amidst a setting displayed in colorful and descriptive language. Scenes such as the first, impact the reader because of the intensity of the words. Instead of using simple sentences such as "the women dropped her basket and spilled the contents," Morrison uses phrases such as "she dropped her covered peck basket, spilling red velvet rose petals. The wind blew them about, up down and into small mounds of snow." The wording is so detailed that the reader can picture vibrant red roses swirling in the air, drifting on to the pristine snow. The difference is the effect of the language; Morrison's vivid prose makes the story come alive inside the reader's mind.
The themes of this novel are brought out before the story even begins. On the two pages prior to Part One of the novel, Morrison has her dedication. On one page, it simply reads "Daddy," on the other it reads, "The fathers may soar/ And the children may know their names." These two pages show the set up for the importance of kin and connections. Milkman's search for meaning in his life leads him to his family roots, to "his people." His ability to find worth in himself comes from this comprehension that his father, and his father's father, all that came before him had worth, had importance in their lives. This knowledge helps him understand and respect not only those around him, but ultimately himself. The characters that Morrison created affect the reader because they are realistic. They love, they hate, they hurt, and most importantly, they have flaws. The humanity of the characters is shown in characters such as Pilate, when she lies dying and says, "I wish I'd a knowed more people. I would have loved all. If I'd a knowed more, I would a loved more" (336). Morrison's characters force a reader to look at the strength and fragilities of human nature that is inherent in everyone, regardless of race, gender, or age.

Although a challenging read Song of Solomon is a novel that I would recommend to anyone willing to invest the time. A surface read will not suffice for the complexity of Morrison's prose. The thematic goal of this novel is achieved because of Morrison's intricate style. Her language throughout the novel forces a reader to take an active role in fully understanding the significance of her words. However, because of this the novel is more rewarding for the reader. Toni Morrison's writing is layered with meaning, and exceptional in its ability to cause emotions in the reader. The truthfulness of the characters, and the beauty and depth of the story, makes it one well worth the read.

The miracle of this book is Morrison's ability to create life on the printed page. Her characters breathe through her readers, and the issues that they deal with are applicable to anyone who has ever struggled with their own identity. Writing from the perspective of a male character, Morrison hits the nail on the head. Her ability to write from such a different point of view illustrates perfectly how adept she is at the art of becoming, one of the central issues dealt with in the novel.
Milkman, or more properly Macon Dead, the protagonist of this book, grows up as the only son of the richest black family in a Michigan town. He struggles with alienation from his family's seeming idolatry of mainstream white values, but also with distance from his friend Guitar's reactionary politics and violent actions. Caught in the middle, and no longer able to find refuge at his Aunt Pilate's house, where wine is clandestinely manufactured and sold, Milkman takes a journey to find his truest identity and his deep connection to his roots.
Although Song of Solomon took me slightly longer to become immersed in than some of Morrison's other work, it is amazing and worth reading. The cast of characters is intense and beautiful. Told with poignant humor and deep sadness, this book is heart touching, a truly enjoyable read, and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Actually, the word "masterpiece" doesn't do this book justice. Toni Morrison, the author, has produced a staggering literary accomplishment with "Song of Solomon," in my opinion.

The genius of the book is that Morrison's account of the life of Macon "Milkman" Dead, a black man, and his family and friends, also exclusively black, almost absolutely ignores white people (white people like me). I'm sure that was her goal, and she accomplished it well.

Morrison also does a splendid job developing the characters in the book. (In my opinion, Pilate is the hero.)

This book has it all: love and hate, revenge and mercy, life and death, friendship and betrayal, regret and indifference, hope and hopelessness, happiness and despair, et al. In short, the book is about life.

Morrison, at least in this book, is what I call a "flat-footed author." That is, she seeks not to impress the reader with her strong vocabulary.

But make no mistake: this book is complex. "Milkman" seeks his family's roots, and it takes him on a journey-the journey of life.

Buy it. Read it. Read it again. You won't be disappointed.

Mrs Morrison has produced a complex, wonderful and imaginative story of epic dimension about the Dead family and thus more generally about the African American experience in the USA. On the one hand, the reader follows the story of Macon Dead and his son who has the same name and who marries Ruth Foster, daughter of Dr Foster, and their children Lena, First Corinthians and Macon "Milkman" and on the other hand the story of Macon Dead's sister Pilate Dead, her daughter Reba and her grand-daughter Hagar.
Thus the plot spans over nearly a century and one is dazzled by the family's spellbinding search for their past and their roots which ends dramatically on the top of Solomon's Leap.
Mrs Morrison put a lot of truth, wisdom and humour in her narrative and "Song of Solomon" is bound to become a classic American tale of the 20th century.

This book has nothing to do with the title, "Song of Solomon." After reading just three chapters I had become nauseated and refused to continue. If do not want your mind invaded and your spirit contaminated you will not read this book. I am appauled of how a person could make a mockery of the Bible and may God have mercy on her. If you decide to read this book or is assigned to read this book and you feel uncomfortable and offended please do not hesitate to refuse to read this book and let the board of education know about it and warn others not to read this book. Regardless is if Oprah has this listed on her book club or that Toni Morrison has been praise to be a important Author, Don't Be Fooled!

Song of Solomon like many of Toni Morrison's novels is a beautiful story, yet filled with tragedy. Wonderfully interwoven themes of racism, abandonment, damaged family relations, and searching for identity are apparent in our world, which makes them still relevant in today's society. Song of Solomon is also similar to her other books in the richness of symbols and the freedom they give to open interpretations. All throughout the book she uses carefully chosen literary elements to help the story unfold and capture the characters and their experiences in an artisitc way. Unlike the majority of her works, the protagonist is a male character known as Milkman, and the story is told in a limited thrid person view. Although she writes in an easy way to understand, the novel flowed and was filled with metaphors and poetic language.

I do not know what I can add that has not already been said thus far by many of the reviewers before me. However, I will start with my history with this book.

Twenty years ago (!), and long before Oprah made Toni Morrison a household name, I was assigned the Song of Solomon in American Literature II as a freshman in college. Although I was an avid reader at that time, I approached this book with trepidation and with the drudgery of something assigned and not chosen. Even though many books I read that semester changed my initial expectation of a certain book from chore to gratification, I still approached Song of Solomon with unease. Neither the description found on the back of my paperback copy, nor the title itself remotely piqued my curiosity with regard to the story contained within. As such, basing my prejudice on this limited knowledge provided by the aforementioned description on the back of the book, and the prosaic titles of the class lectures in the course syllabus scheduled during its reading, I was sure my encounter with it would be a languishing and difficult journey through a morass of metaphors and symbolism.

With the above preamble, you can imagine my utter surprise and delight as I read this even for the first time (I just finished my fourth reading). Yes, there are metaphors and symbolism, but I daresay that as purely a captivating tale, they are not even needed. However, taking everything together, this book becomes an incredibly rich and vibrant story; the imagery, symbolism, and history only enhance it further to the point where the reader's experience with this novel is transformed into-as one reviewer put it-"literary ecstasy".

The story and the depth of the meaning within Song of Solomon--which will be unique to each reader--simultaneously captivates, saddens, and astonishes, as the reader is pulled in by a masterful weaving of story and substance. And when, without any awareness of its arrival, the reader finds themselves immersed into the story, it encourages and beckons relentlessly to continue to its brilliant ending. An ending which is so perfect so as to expect nothing more, yet so ingeniously open so as to allow one to ponder endlessly its many suggestions.

Song of Solomon fits well into the classic Toni Morrison genre of heart-wrenchingly poetic and painfully beautiful stories, but it is a bit different from her other works at the same time. The main character of this novel is a male, but the deeper thematic undercurrents channel strongly towards feminism (or in this case womanism, black women's feminism). It's a story of finding yourself and your roots, your true name. The story follows a North to South journey for a young black man. Filled with symbolism and mythology, the novel is rich and engrossing. The motif is based on old stories of African American slaves who shed their bonds and flew back to Africa. Your interpretation of this novel will lead you in one of two directions: did they fly or did they perish? The novel poses this question to you in an eloquent and beautiful way. In the end, your interpretation of this novel may tell you something about yourself and what you believe in.

In Song of Solomon, Toni Morrison takes the view - a common one - that we have to know our history to know ourselves. I don't really agree but in this case it makes a great story. The characters in her novel don't make calculations or follow strategies: they do what they have to do. The history that motivates their actions is an emotional, personal one. Morrison's preoccupation with this personal history is reflected in her use of unusual names: names that are given "from yearnings, gestures, flaws, events, mistakes, weaknesses . . . Macon Dead, Sing Byrd, Crowell Byrd, Pilate, Reba, Hagar, Magdalene, First Corinthians, Milkman, Guitar . . . ." Her characters are powerful, larger-than-life people, and clashes between them quickly escalate to life-and-death struggles. At the same time, they have a great capacity for empathy and self-sacrifice. Highly recommended.

This book is an excellent portrayal of the hopelessness of black life in the days between slavery and civil rights and of the crisis of a man torn between two cultures. A young black man, Macon Dead searches for his own identity. His father, also called Macon Dead, a prosperous real-estate owner in Michigan is eager to leave behind his black roots, the poverty-stricken,violent life of the average negro. He seeks to ape the white man and marries the relatively light-skinned daughter of the respected local doctor. His life, just like his marriage is devoid of warmth, love or any sense of family belonging. Even his daughter, Corinthians, much to his disgrace can only find fulfillment and end her sterile existence in the arms of a low-life killer. Macon comes to know his father's sister, Pilate. For him, she represents the warmth, the rootedness, the closeness to the living earth and the throbbing life force of black culture. Macon, born into but dissatisfied with the sterility of his pseudo-white home now sets out on a search to learn about his origins. Yet in the end, it is the life style of the white man and of Macon's father which survives. Just as such black villages as Shalimar in the American south die and decay, so is the true black himself sucked back into the death-bringing quagmire of the blood which runs through his veins.

With passion and a voice that sings with beautiful detail and magic, Toni Morrison's third novel, published in 1977, is a powerful tale that follows the lives of a black family and their friends living in a Michigan city. In 1931, Macon Dead III, later nicknamed Milkman, is prematurely brought into the world, the first black child born in Mercy Hospital, just after his mother witnesses the brief flight of a man determined to fly from the cupola of the hospital. Although the novel revolves around Milkman, the stories spun out from him embrace a wide variety of characters and experiences. Morrison explores the lasting stamp of slavery through the name of Macon Dead; the intimate culture of women through Pilate, Reba, and Hagar; the hunger for property and respectability through Milkman's father; the idea of one's "people" through those in the South who have not forgotten connections; the violence of civil rights through Guitar; and many more issues facing blacks of the times and today. Despite the resonance of history, this novel is ultimately about its people and their eagerly lived lives. Morrison plunges her readers into their hearts with a humanity and skill too few novelists possess. The result is a remarkably emotional and intelligent story that will stay with you for a long time.

Readers should not be intimidated by Morrison's Nobel Prize Winner status, as this novel, like most of her others, is written in startling but accessible language. You don't need an advanced degree (or even a specific race or gender) to slip into her magical prose. Her characters are real and fully realized, and feel like friends, even when you might want to shake them to their senses. Although some readers will be puzzled by the end, wanting perhaps the next sentence that explains it all, Morrison has included by her omission the real meaning of her book. Visit with it for a few moments before closing the cover.

I highly recommend this book for a wide range of readers, from high school students to adults. Even though it was written in the 1970's, its themes and characters still have relevance today. Morrison is one of the world's literary gifts, and should not be missed. THE SONG OF SOLOMON is one of her best novels.

i highly recommend this book. her writing is absolutely incredible. she "gets it."

A MUST READ. IT SHOULD BE MADE INTO A FILM. ONE OF MY FAVORITES. YOU LAUGH, YOU CHEER, YOU CRY. YOU FEEL!

This book tells the epic story of a African American family during the early part of the twentieth century. The book is rich with African American culture, from naming customs to children's songs, family myths and ancestry, friendships and enemies, and African secret societies.

This book must be read. It's a quick read, hard to put down. The ending is slightly disappointing, however. The protagonist, Milkman, is a real person. He doesn't always do the right thing, he makes mistakes. Written wonderfully.

I read Paradise and had trouble following the story. I read Jazz and liked it, but didn't feel it was great. This book keeps you reading and anticipating what comes next. A great story, written beautifully.

Toni Morrison has always been a writer that I wanted to read because she won the Nobel Prize, something that is rarely given to women. I don't know why I have put her books off until now, but i'm glad I started with Song of Solomon because it blew me away.
Morrison has a beautiful style of writing, it flows very calmly. Her writing and her beautiful descriptions paint an image of what she is portraying. In this book that is a small town with Macom Dead as the main character, aka. Milkman, but i'll let you figure out how he got the nickname. He is the son of the most wealthy man in this small town. The story takes us through his journey with the many strange characters he encounters.
Usually Nobel Laureauts have very thought provoking books that have a rather simple plot. I have nothing against this because I love thought provoking books and I don't need a building to explode on every page to keep my interest. But in this book Morrison does not show this style. This book has an extreamly rich plot that draws you in and doesn't let hold of you until you finish the book.
What this book does best is paint an image of a family full of characters that are fictional but relate to everyone of us. Themes of love, family, death and greed run throughout this magical unforgettable novel. Oh yeah! And it has very funny moments too!

I highly reccomend the Everyman's Library Edition. I orginally read it in it's Paperback edition, but the Hardback is a lot better because it comes with a timeline and other things that the paperback doesn't have. It's only a few extra dollars anyway.

Now I will rate the book on a scale of A-F like I do in my reviews.

Character Devolpment: A-
Plot: A+
Thought Provoking: B
Suspense: A

With an overall grade of an A this book is one that I will come back to again, and definetly an writer that I will continue to read.