Friday, February 27, 2009

Black History Month: Alice Walker


Toni Morrison is arguably the most famous novelist living today, and is certainly the most famous African-American novelist. Song of Solomon is great, and Bluest Eye is a ground-breaking book as well. Sula, Tar Baby, and Beloved are good. Still, I don't think I've read much of Morrison's as good as "Everyday Use," one of Alice Walker's first short stories. I know I haven't read anything by Morrison that comes close to matching the depth and beauty of Walker's The Color Purple.

For a brief moment in the early 1980s, Alice Walker was all the rage. In the years since, however, it seems as though Morrison is getting all the attention. If you are a fan of Morrison and haven't read any Walker, run to the library and pick up The Color Purple; you'll soon be glad that you did.

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