The Bluest Eye

By: Toni Morrison

Narrated by: Toni Morrison, Ruby Dee

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the acclaimed Nobel Prize winner—a powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity that asks questions about race, class, and gender with characteristic subtly and grace.

In Morrison’s acclaimed first novel, Pecola Breedlove—an 11-year-old Black girl in an America whose love for its blond, blue-eyed children can devastate all others—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.

Here, Morrison’s writing is “so precise, so faithful to speech and so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry” (The New York Times).

Check out more selections from Oprah's Book Club.©1970 Toni Morrison (P)1994 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A PARADE BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME

A TODAY SHOW #ReadWithJenna BOOK CLUB PICK!

“So precise, so faithful to speech and so charged with pain and wonder that the novel becomes poetry.” —The New York Times

“A profoundly successful work of fiction. . . . Taut and understated, harsh in its detachment, sympathetic in its truth . . . it is an experience.” —The Detroit Free Press

“This story commands attention, for it contains one black girl’s universe.” —Newsweek

The Bluest Eye

Loved it. Learn to appreciate the beauty God gave us, don't shy away from abuse, tell someone.

The Bluest Eye

I've always loved this book, it's been a while since I've read the book. Ruby Dee never disappoints, I enjoy her tone of voice.

confusing dialogue toward end

overall this is obviously an amazing book. gut-wrenching, painful, controversial to this day. Toni Morrison writes beautifully. it isn't complicated to understand the beauty of the writing but at times its simplicity can pass u by if u aren't paying attention. the audio version can be confusing toward the end when there's dialogue between Claudia & Freida that is immediately followed by dialogue between Pecola & her friend. it's important conversation within pivotal moments of the story. hopefully listeners won't be confused. I had to replay it a couple of times to find the end of one & beginning of the other so the story would make complete sense.

classic

The voices of Ruby Dee's and Toni Morrison made it is easier to sink to age old story of insecurities and incest. given voice to the voiceless

Phontaine Thompson

🔴REVIEW🔴
THE BLUEST EYE
TONI MORRISON

This book was great, it was an excellent story and really shed some light on the "colorism" issue. I thought it was beautifully written, however it is a bit sad. This is a very moving book and it will surely put a memory stain on your brain and open your eyes up to a world of situations and pain that you didn't even know people experienced. I decided to read this book because so many people in high school loved it. Great read but you must be open-minded to really appreciate the way this book is written.
4 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thought provoking and haunting novella

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Highly recommend this book for someone looking to be challenged by the material and themes and who is open to the humanity of the story

What did you like best about this story?

Morrisons ideas on beauty and virtue

Have you listened to any of Toni Morrison and Ruby Dee ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

My first Morrison and Ruby Dee book but will not be my last

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No but as I was drawn into the story it became impossible to not finish

The Duke

Like Duke Ellington used to stay “Beyond Category “ Superlative and Transformative work with just words.

Great,!!!!!

Excellent. Story flowed. can t wait for the next book. I love her work!!!! she's my favorite.

excellent performance and story

perfectly read and performed. an insightful story of a time and place only Morrison could describe with perfection.

Poverty and Love

A powerful story on the impacts of poverty and how it affects the sense of community. This story provides the rawness and brutality of survival, showing how those who should love and protect become the worst enemies. Enjoyed listening to two women I greatly admire tell such a painful but true depiction of child abuse, neglect and the search for love.