Sula

This was absolutely rich and moving story as stated on the blurb. Short but impactful story. Not always an easy read but a good book nevertheless

“Sula” is a novel that focuses on the friendship between two girls is the tight-knit black community of Medallion, Ohio from 1920-1965. The novel is presented in two parts and begins with a prologue that provides an explanation of how the town of Medallion come into existence by way of a trick played on a black man by a white man.

The first chapter of the book starts in 1919 when a man named Shadrack returns home from World War I as a broken man who is so traumatized by the death he saw during the war that he drinks his days away to forget and creates National Suicide Day. Through Shadrack, the reader gets a glimpse into of the long-term effects of war on the life of a black solider named Shadrack who eventually becomes a permanent resident of Medallion.

Essentially, “Sula” is a novel about Nel and Sula growing up and living in a small town surrounded by racism, injustice and segregation. Although the girls are similar in that they both are only children, have distant mothers and no relationships with their fathers, as they become women, they discover their sexuality in very different ways, and end up living very different lives. Their lifelong friendship is pulled apart by an act that is at once straight-forward, unforgivable without question, but also complex and multilayered.

As the novel progresses and the years pass, the relationship between Nel and Sula changes. While Nel stays in Medallion, marriages, and becomes a mother of three, Sula leaves Medallion, remains single and is on a constant a quest to please herself. As they girls grown into women, Nel eventually resents Sula for not taking more care of their friendship while Sula doesn't understand why Nel can't forgive her for the wrong she's done to her. By the end of the novel, Sula finds the peace she has longed for while Nel realizes she's never fully accepted what Sula did to her or grieve the death of their friendship.

The novel ends with a fifty-five year old Nel reflecting on how much Medallion has changed since her childhood in reference to the people living in the town as well as how different people look. Nel reflects on her lack of romantic relationships as well as how valuable the Bottom has become to those who want hilltop land. goes to visit Sula’s grandmother Eva but is met with anger and accusations.

This novel was interesting in that it shows how much how childhood trauma can persists in the adult years, how separate people need someone to lean on to feel whole and how quickly a town can turn on someone based on the rumors of others.

I enjoyed the use of years as chapter titles as well as the amount of complexity Morrison presents between not only Nel and Sula but also between Nel and Sula within themselves. In closing, while although this is a powerful novel to read in print, I strongly recommend you listen to Morrison read the audiobook since her narration style has a relaxing cadence.