The Bluest Eye is a novel written by the wonderful and critically-acclaimed author Toni Morrison. It was her first novel written in 1970 and continues to have an impact almost fifty years later. Morrison's main constructs in this novel and other novels includes commentary on racial and social boundaries within the African-American community and the effects that it has on individuals within this community. This novel in particular focuses on three African-American girls: Claudia, Pecola, and Frieda. Claudia and Freida are sisters who live within a poor to middle class family with somewhat caring, present parents. Pecola's situation is much worse. She lives within a very poor, abusive family and believes that all of her problems would go away if she just had the perfect blue eyes.
Morrison uses her beautiful prose to describe the many hardships that Pecola has to face and endure, most of the time seen through the eyes of Claudia and Freida. It's essentially a coming of age story for the two girls, as they realize just how difficult life can be for one person. The novel is quite short, but really packs an emotional punch. I highly recommend this novel if you're looking for an emotional, harrowing story that will ultimately teach a lesson about humanity.
If you've read this novel or plan to, let me know your experience reading it. I would normally say happy reading at the end of my posts, but this book is a very dark one. Instead I'll say, I hope this book touches you as much as it did me.
