63 pages • 2 hours read
Toni MorrisonJazz
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1992A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Jazz by Toni Morrison is set in Harlem in the 1920s and follows Joe Trace, who has an affair with a young woman named Dorcas and ultimately kills her when she rejects him, prompting Joe's wife Violet to obsess over Dorcas in an effort to understand her. The novel delves into the interconnected lives of Joe, Violet, and Dorcas, exploring themes of love, trauma, and communal healing while evoking the rhythms and complexity of jazz music. The book includes themes such as racist violence and suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Toni Morrison's Jazz is celebrated for its evocative prose and rich historical backdrop, immersing readers in 1920s Harlem. Critics praise its deep exploration of love, pain, and redemption. However, some find the narrative structure disorienting, which may challenge reader engagement. Overall, Morrison's lyrical storytelling remains a highlight.
Who Should Read Jazz?
Readers who enjoy Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Color Purple by Alice Walker, and Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison will find Jazz compelling. Ideal for those interested in rich, lyrical prose, complex characters, and themes of African American history, love, and urban life in early 20th-century Harlem.
RecommendedReading Age
18+yearsLexile Level
980LBook Details
Historical Fiction
African American Literature
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Race / Racism
Trauma / Abuse / Violence
History: World
Identity: Race
Relationships: Marriage
Relationships: Family