49 pages 1 hour read

Toni Morrison

God Help The Child

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2015

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Toni Morrison's God Help the Child, Bride, a glamorous woman scarred by childhood trauma and racism, struggles to cope after her lover, Booker, leaves abruptly. She confronts her past by visiting Sofia, a woman partly convicted due to her false testimony, and later seeks Booker in a small town. Their story intertwines with the lingering impacts of familial tragedy and past abuse as they reconcile their relationship. The book addresses child sexual abuse and its effects.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Toni Morrison's God Help The Child is lauded for its lyrical prose and profound exploration of childhood trauma and racial identity. Critics praise Morrison's narrative power, though some find the character development uneven and the plot structure fragmented. Despite these critiques, the novel stands out for its emotional depth and compelling themes.

Who should read this

Who Should Read God Help The Child?

A reader who appreciates Toni Morrison's God Help The Child is likely drawn to literary fiction that delves into complex themes of racial identity, trauma, and motherhood. Fans of Morrison’s Beloved and Alice Walker’s The Color Purple will find similar emotional depth and narrative power, exploring nuanced African American experiences with poetic prose.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes

Life/Time: Childhood & Youth

Relationships: Mothers

Period

Existentialism

Topics

Race / Racism

Genre

Modern Classic Fiction

Classic Fiction