Uppity-Negro.com: In Memoriam

Toni Morrison has been a constant in my life since I was 15 years old and I look forward to each new book by her with fierce passion. Even when her books let me down a little (Paradise) they are still more elegant, more complex, and more moving than almost everything else that I read so I'm really not disappointed at all. I haven't picked up Love yet but will soon.

To answer your question: who is crafting male characters of similar complexities.

SONG OF SOLOMON. Check it out. Don't know how "complex" you are looking for, but the story is very deep, in my opinion. Very good book by Morrison.

Toni gives good quote in today's Sun-Times interview about the belief her books are difficult to read:

"The people who still like to read -- really read -- don't find it a chore,'' she continues. "I write so there are moments when you pause and just look at the scene, just hover there for a moment, before going on. Like life, everything is not a plot. Some things you just meander through.''

I'm feeling that "meandering" part today.

You never finished the Little Friend, j.?

Interesting. I should probably be ashamed to admit it but I've never read a Toni Morrison book.

Right now I'm reading the Da Vinci Code. I think it's popular because it reads like a good action film script starring Harrison Ford as the too smart for his own good hero (replete with the much younger, chip on her shoulder heroine...I keep seeing Rachel Weisz when I think about it even though it's based in France. I should be thinking about whatsherface from Run Lola Run and Bourne Identity) but it's a very interesting read that encourages finding out the root of things we take for granted.

Very focused on symbology and the history of Catholicism and a whole host of other things.

And it's the second book in as many as i've read recently that has talked about Albrecht Durer and mathematical secrets, magic, etc. So, I'll be reading about both of those next.

I'm with sammie, "Song of Solomon" has some of the most complex male characters in American lit. I too read it for the first time at age 15. To say I was blown away...

Although Morrison is my favorite living American novelist (all praise to Jimmy), I have yet to read "Paradise," let alone "Love." I'll get it some time next week.

* boo on me for missing open mic week; not that I'm the open mic type

Paradise is actually my favorite Morrison novel. I should be embarassed to admit I haven't read Song of Solomon. I'll be adding that to my list, immediately. However, it being authored by Morrison still leaves my questioning what other authors have complex male charaters. I'm sure (?) there are many. But none come to mind.

If you haven't checked it, Uncover The Code is a great interactive website. As for The Little Friend, Jason... Maybe I'll start it again after Love.

Re: complex male characters. I had a similar conversation w/ a friend recently. He claims John Edgar Wideman writes what you're looking for. As I've never read Wideman, I can't vouch for the claim though ...