This book is another great work by Toni Morrison. The setting is in 1941 and is about an 11-year-old "ugly" black girl named Pecola Breedlove. Her only wish is to have blue eyes. For her, even one blue eye would make her beautiful and make people notice her.

The story gives an account of Pecola’s homelessness, abuse, incestuous rape and pregnancy, and eventual insanity. Her life seemed to be "ugly" from start to end as she acts as a helpless bystander. Her story seems to be one of self-pity and self-hatred.

This story is not an easy read, because it touches on a multitude of social issues to include: poverty, homelessness, physical and emotional abuse, spousal abuse, prostitution, incestuous rape, self-hared and much more. Toni Morrison also addresses the "All American" beauty myth, which leads to the eventual destruction of Pecola’s sanity.

I found that the use of colorful language and profanity, at time, spiced up an otherwise sad and disturbing storyline. The author points out that life is not always a bed of roses, and for some it is a pit far, far below the pretty petals.

-- Martha Augmon --