What is a"Great" novel? - Dec. 13, 2023.

Yesterday, I had a great talk with my professor and juniors about what makes a novel “Great.” This started from a junior's talk on Toni Morrison's "Beloved." Thanks to her presentation, I saw the book in a new way, different from when I first read it as a university student. Back then, I only followed the story, but reading it again last week, I thought deeply about slavery, mother-daughter relationships, and intersectionality.

My professor agreed with me, saying that finding new ways to see the novel is what makes it great. He mentioned that he didn’t understand its full value as a student, but found new meanings each time he reread it. After he had a son, he felt even more connected to the story, especially with Denver's growth in "Beloved." He never expected the book to affect him like that.

I love rereading books like Paul Auster's "Moon Palace," F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby," and Richard Ford's "Wildlife," as I find new feelings each time. Every day, I gain new perspectives and as I get older, I move to different stages of life. "Beloved" by Toni Morrison shows us different things depending on where we are in life. We all agreed that a “Great” novel gives us new feelings every time we read it again.

Beloved: Pulitzer Prize Winner (Vintage International)