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  • God Help the Child

  • A Novel
  • Written by: Toni Morrison
  • Narrated by: Toni Morrison
  • Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (8 ratings)

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God Help the Child cover art

God Help the Child

Written by: Toni Morrison
Narrated by: Toni Morrison
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Publisher's Summary

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A New York Times Notable Book • This fiery and provocative novel from the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner weaves a tale about the way the sufferings of childhood can shape, and misshape, the life of the adult.

At the center: a young woman who calls herself Bride, whose stunning blue-black skin is only one element of her beauty, her boldness and confidence, her success in life, but which caused her light-skinned mother to deny her even the simplest forms of love. There is Booker, the man Bride loves, and loses to anger. Rain, the mysterious white child with whom she crosses paths. And finally, Bride’s mother herself, Sweetness, who takes a lifetime to come to understand that “what you do to children matters. And they might never forget.”

“Powerful.... A tale that is as forceful as it is affecting, as fierce as it is resonant.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

©2015 Toni Morrison (P)2015 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“Utterly compelling . . . Morrison remains an incredibly powerful writer who commands attention.” –Roxane Gay, The Guardian

God Save the Child is superb, its story gliding along the tracks of Morrison’s utterly assured prose.” –Charles Finch, USA Today (critic's pick)

“Morrison is such a masterful writer that even those who don’t prefer stream of conscious novels may find them sucked into these minds, turning page after page of this short novel until they’ve finished the book in one sitting.” –Sarah Hutchins, Portland Book Review

Featured Article: Toni Morrison Quotes on Life, Love, Freedom, and Oppression

Few creators have had the depth of knowledge, raw emotion, and resonating passion as the legendary late Toni Morrison. Not only was she the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, but she wrote and inspired countless readers and listeners over her extensive careers.

What listeners say about God Help the Child

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    5 out of 5 stars

A beautiful story about trauma, childhood trauma

What a beautiful story: captivating, at times sad and heartbreaking, at times hilarious, always thoughtful and honest. The characters are rich in complexity, marked by childhood trauma which affected ever area of their lives.

For me it was the masterful storytelling, the humanity of the characters whom I developed a love for. My favourite part was getting to know Booker and understanding his knee jerk reaction to Bride. Another favourite part was the metamorphosis of Bride and what it revealed the impact of her broken relationship. Masterful executed in deed. I highly recommend this book and will certain re-listen to it again or read the hard copy!!! It was THAT GOOD!

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