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The Bluest Eye: A Novel Audiobook, by Toni Morrison Play Audiobook Sample

The Bluest Eye: A Novel Audiobook

The Bluest Eye: A Novel Audiobook, by Toni Morrison Play Audiobook Sample
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Read By: Toni Morrison Publisher: Random House Audio Listen Time: at 1.0x Speed 4.67 hours at 1.5x Speed 3.50 hours at 2.0x Speed Release Date: July 2011 Format: Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9780307941121

Quick Stats About this Audiobook

Total Audiobook Chapters:

14

Longest Chapter Length:

74:19 minutes

Shortest Chapter Length:

02:25 minutes

Average Chapter Length:

30:20 minutes

Audiobooks by this Author:

20

Other Audiobooks Written by Toni Morrison: > View All...

Publisher Description

The Bluest Eye, published in 1970, is the first novel written by Toni Morrison, winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in Literature. It is the story of eleven-year-old Pecola Breedlove--a black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others--who prays for her eyes to turn blue: so that she will be beautiful, so that people will look at her, so that her world will be different. This is the story of the nightmare at the heart of her yearning and the tragedy of its fulfillment.

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"Absolutely brilliant. Toni Morrison is one of the greatest artisans of prose and imagery today. Social injustice is turned upon the reader themselves and dares them to feel sorry for a girl with a ridiculous wish. Morrison's characters are finely-crafted, loving and hating, thus lovable and deserving of disdain and the most representative of the fallacy of real people of any depictions I've seen. A snapshot of what happens when social pressures and society at large fail someone entirely and proceed to do nothing about it."

— Nicolas (5 out of 5 stars)

Quotes

  • “So precise, so faithful to speech, and so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry.” 

    — New York Times
  • “This story commands attention, for it contains one black girl’s universe.”

    — Newsweek
  • “A profoundly successful work of fiction…Taut and understated, harsh in its detachment, sympathetic in its truth…it is an experience.” 

    — Detroit Free Press
  • “[A] brilliant tale.”

    — Barnes & Noble, editorial review

Awards

  • A New York Times bestseller
  • A USA Today bestseller
  • An Oprah’s Book Club Selection
  • O Magazine Pick of 25 Books Every Woman Should Read in Her Lifetime

The Bluest Eye Listener Reviews

Overall Performance: 4.027777777777778 out of 54.027777777777778 out of 54.027777777777778 out of 54.027777777777778 out of 54.027777777777778 out of 5 (4.03)
5 Stars: 17
4 Stars: 7
3 Stars: 9
2 Stars: 2
1 Stars: 1
Narration: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Story: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 (0.00)
5 Stars: 0
4 Stars: 0
3 Stars: 0
2 Stars: 0
1 Stars: 0
Write a Review
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My first Toni Morrison experience felt like reading a poem. A hauntingly beautiful poem that drew you in deeper and deeper and showed you the darkest points of life--even if they didn't start out that way. My literary self was heavy at the end, all the more because I knew the sadness in the book was even more true in reality. "

    — Lindsey, 2/19/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This is one of my first favorite books. The language Morrison uses is like dessert. I'd read paragraphs over and over to mull it around. It makes you think and look at people differently - with a sadness, but more understanding. We are who we are because of our situations and because of how people have treated us, and the same is true for those before us. "

    — Tracie, 2/15/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Yet, another sad Toni Morrison book. After reading about Pecola's life and the troubles she endured, it just made me react like: "Wow, to think when my life gets tough, her's is unimaginable." I wonder if Toni Morrison has written any books that aren't gloomy or sad or about the burdens of characters. Also, i find it weird how i'm not a big fan of reading books that deal with unfortunate events but, a handful of my books are related to it. Overall, this is a tragic book. "

    — Henry, 2/14/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " When I got to the ending, I threw this book across the room!!!! This was a good read but the ending just threw me! That's all I will say... "

    — Scherrie, 2/9/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " i really didn't like the book it wasn't my type of book its really sad and she gets raped wow so not cool very ugh it just made me sad "

    — Crystal, 2/8/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Cannot get over the impact it has made.. A must for all literature lovers "

    — Deepadas23yahoo.co.in, 2/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Read this book for my American Literature class. It is probably the saddest book I have ever read. It is an emotionally charged novel dense with beautiful metaphors and and disturbing imagery. It tugs on the reader's heart strings, pulling them to and fro until eventually it dumps them somewhere between enlightenment and confusion. The subject matter is very heavy and I found myself turning on the waterworks at the end. You must read this novel! "

    — Andres, 2/4/2014
  • Overall Performance: 1 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 51 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I couldn't really get into the book. "

    — Jai, 1/31/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " If you're depressed or you just want to cry this is the book for you. It took me over a week to read this just because the subject matter was so difficult. "

    — Sarah, 1/18/2014
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I read this book for a book discussion I was participating in and I am sorry to say I didn't like it much. This is just my opinion so no haters please. It was a bit to graphic for me and without hope and honestly I didn't like her style of writing I know I know but like I said it is just my opinion. "

    — MissSusie, 1/6/2014
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Short novel, and the structure is a bit confusing at times since the narrative isn't linear. But it's got some interesting things to say about race in the US, which is still a touch subject. "

    — Lucius, 1/2/2014
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " my favorite book of all time. I read it back in high school and I've been wanting to re-read it for a while now and i really need to get around to doing that... "

    — Shira, 12/21/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Wonderfully thought provoking novella on beauty, love, and humanity. Morrison makes a bold statement on the true meaning of virtue and the false equivalency of beauty equalling virtue. How have I missed this masterful author for so long "

    — Steve, 12/17/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Morrison is a great writer. Fast read. "

    — Leone, 12/12/2013
  • Overall Performance: 2 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 52 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Beautifully written, but more than disturbing. "

    — Jennifer, 10/11/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Toni Morrison's first novel is her finest, IMHO. Killer book. "

    — Faye, 5/13/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Amazing read. Really illustrates the obstacles that blacks face in their own psyche that hold them back as a people. "

    — Ej, 2/14/2013
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " this is book that open minds to not only broken relationships but wounded people. also it reflects how loving a child can help cure so much. I read this book my senior year, it opened my eyes to the books writen by african americans that were meanful. "

    — Martise, 1/18/2013
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book really made me reevaluate the way humanity treats its fellows. I love the way Morrison told many stories within the novel in order to bring the ending together. "

    — Michelle, 12/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Tough book. Hard to read, hard to digest. Both for the language and writing style, and the whole story. It's sad, horrifying at times. But it's a book you won't forget. It's a book leaves a knot in the pit of your stomach. "

    — Elia, 6/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Toni Morrison has some beautiful language and some sharp insights, but she can be boringly obvious with the message. I rolled my bluish eyes a few times. "

    — Alex, 6/7/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My first Morrison and undoubtedly, a tour de force. A lyrical, almost poetic ride of the African American women experience. "

    — javiruchi, 2/25/2012
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Beautiful yet shocking. A must read for everyone! "

    — T.K, 2/21/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I read this quite a few years ago but just loved it. It is one of those books I would love to read again. "

    — Lauren, 2/1/2012
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A wonderful book about diversity, the blonde/blue eye thing. "

    — Thea, 8/13/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I LOVED it! Love her writing. Harsh, raw, painful, and beautiful. "

    — Drea, 7/19/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " i loved the plot and the message that the book sent to young black girls. "

    — Jenny, 7/17/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My favorite book of all time!!! "

    — Karen, 7/15/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " This book made me a Toni Morrison fan. Hands down, my favorite book ever. "

    — Maritza, 7/14/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " My absolute favorite book of all time -- profoundly changed how I think, and the ways I look at others. "

    — Azmat, 7/8/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I really liked this book - the characters, the style, the way it progresses. But the moral is too obvious, too frequently circled back to, which ends up making the book feel overly didactic. "

    — Angie, 7/6/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A must read. Such a moving book. "

    — Lisianna, 7/5/2011
  • Overall Performance: 5 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 55 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Great book! Raw. Real. Only few can relate. "

    — Lisa, 7/3/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " I read this a few years ago, and it was really good. Makes you remember how much people deal with self-hatred. "

    — Kisha, 7/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 3 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 53 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " A great read that highlights the importance of negative societal connotation. This book redefines beauty and the burdens that it brings to a developing soul. What is beauty? Is there only one way that beauty can be defined? This books makes you sit back and reevaluate what you truly value. "

    — Tiffanie, 7/2/2011
  • Overall Performance: 4 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 54 out of 5 Narration Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5 Story Rating: 0 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 50 out of 5

    " Morrison's writing is astonishing & masterful. A grim, powerful story. "

    — Susan, 7/2/2011

About Toni Morrison

Toni Morrison (1931–2019) was an American novelist, poet, essayist, editor, teacher, and professor. In 2012, President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. She also received the Nobel Prize for Literature, the National Book Critics Circle Award, a Pulitzer Prize for literature, an American Book Award, the Norman Mailer Prize, the PEN/Saul Bellow Award, the Condorcet Medal, the Thomas Jefferson Medal, and the Anisfield Wolf Book Award, among others. She wrote twelve novels, including Beloved, which won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was made into a major motion picture starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover.