Sula : Book Review










Book Review

Title: Sula
Author: Toni Morrison
Genre: Fiction 

Set in Ohio in a fictional town called Medallion, Sula traces the story of 2 Black women in the community of Bottom, where black people primarily dwell. Nel and Sula hail from the same community but different backgrounds. Despite their differences, they form a strong friendship. Sula leaves town and returns to Medallion after a decade. Her comeback is viewed as an ill omen by the community. The story goes on to describe the course of events, strained relations and confrontations. Simultaneously, there exists a parallel narrative of a character named Shadrack, who returns from World war I and is suffering from PTSD (Post traumatic stress disorder). 

Sula is spread over a span of generations and written in a chronological order from 1919-1965. The beauty of Toni Morrison's writing lies in its complexity and the layers that she brings to the characters and the plot. The tone is conversational and has a no holds barred characteristic to it. There is a good amount of conflict that is captured through the engaging dialogues interspersed with a strong dialect. 

Several interesting themes are dealt with here. Morrison examines the right vs wrong by showcasing some of the childhood instances of Nel and sula which extends upto their adulthood. The characters are shown to possess a streak of darkness which is exhibited in Shadrack's attitude and in the women protagonists. It showcases the repercussions of growing up in a dysfunctional family. The importance of friendship over family is subtly exhibited here. As bizarre as the characters are, there exists a certain vulnerability about them. 

Sula also examines the perils of class, race, and gender. It mirrors how people battle loneliness, betrayal and spend their life yearning for love. This literary masterpiece is bound to  stay with you for a while. 


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