THE SHIP AND THE SAFE HARBOR: A Celebration of Toni Morrison in Interviews and Reviews from Belles Lettres: A Review of Books by Women (1988–1995)

“It is that quality of being both the ship and the safe harbor that I like in my imaginary women.”—Toni Morrison, in discussing JazzToni Morrison’s vibrancy and vision, expansive soul, and keen sense of humor pervade this engrossing series of landmark conversations on her works with Professor Emerita Angels Carabi of the University of Barcelona. Belles Lettres: A Review of Books by Women was also blessed that two more creative powerhouses — contributing editors Jewelle Gomez and Faye Moskowitz — wrote perceptive reviews of two groundbreaking novels by the greatly missed Nobel laureate (Beloved and Jazz). Morrison’s wisdom envelops us and today remains more timely than ever.“I lived in a mixed neighborhood and I was always amazed at the language that people spoke, regardless of their education. The metaphors were fabulous: They used pictures that would make your mind jump. So it occurred to me that I would use the language and strip it to its gleaming power.... The language of Black people is extraordinary, a truly theatrical language.” “When I was writing the book [Beloved], I thought that some parts were going to be too difficult to deal with. But in those moments I kept saying to myself: ‘All I have to do is to think about the people who lived there, who lived through it. If they could live it, I could write about it.”—Toni Morrison“The ominous presence of Beloved grows like a poisonous flower.”—Jewelle Gomez“Sections in Jazz will take your breath away. They sing like a Lester Young solo.”—Faye Moskowitz“I would love to see a contemporary novel by a white woman revealing what it was like to be a slaveowner’s wife” (re her 1986 discussion of Beloved). “In Song [of Solomon], music takes the shape of a family tree.” TM