The Origin of Others by Toni Morrison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Timely and relevant, “The Origin of Others” examines the ways in which literature reflects color-coded attitudes in obvious and sometimes oblique ways. It explores the subtle messages that inform our early experiences, shape our sense of identity, and how one’s self is set at odds with our perceptions of others. The book itself is slim, and though I initially wished for a longer read, I was once again impressed with Ms. Morrison’s masterful delivery of a powerful message with the greatest economy of words. She had me at page two with her great-grandmother’s pronouncement that the “children have been tampered with.” “The Origin of Others” helps us understand how our views of one another have defined our culture in deeply significant ways; but it also offers us a path to new understanding that can break down the barriers that prevent us from seeing others more like ourselves than not.
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