Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
The novel explores the life of an African-American man, Macon "Milkman" Dead III, from birth to adulthood. Set against the backdrop of racial tension in the mid-20th century United States, it delves into his journey of self-discovery and understanding his heritage. As Macon embarks on a literal and figurative journey south to reconnect with his roots, he encounters various characters that help him understand his family history and the power of community. The narrative is deeply rooted in African-American folklore and mythology, offering a profound commentary on identity, personal freedom, and the destructive power of racism.
The 260th greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1249
This book was first published in 1977
32 Lists
- score: 167 -- The Great American Novels - 2024 (Weight: 166)
- score: 165 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time In English - 2026 (Weight: 160)
- score: 126 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 117 -- 200 Books That Shaped 200 Years of Literature - 2021 (Weight: 105)
- score: 105 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 103 -- The 75 Best Books of the Past 75 Years - 2016 (Weight: 118)
- score: 88 -- Books Of The Century - 1999 (Weight: 150)
- score: 85 -- The New York Public Library's Books of the Century - 1996 (Weight: 160)
- score: 49 -- R/ClassicLiterature's Top 100 Favorite Books - 2026 (Weight: 50)
- score: 47 -- Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels - 1998 (Weight: 80)
- score: 30 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 60)
- score: 28 -- Laila Lalami's Book Choices from "The Writer's Library" - 2020 (Weight: 30)
- score: 28 -- Jane Hirshfield's Book Choices from "The Writer's Library" - 2020 (Weight: 30)
- score: 24 -- Harvard Book Store Staff's Favorite 100 Books - 2011 (Weight: 33)
- score: 22 -- In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels - 2011 (Weight: 30)
- score: 18 -- 100 Best 20th-Century American Books - 1999 (Weight: 31)
- score: 7 -- Nancy Pearl's 100 Good Reads, Decade by Decade - 2009 (Weight: 10)
- score: 6 -- The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List - 2003 (Weight: 10)
- score: 6 -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List - 2003 (Weight: 10)
- score: 6 -- How to Read and Why - 2000 (Weight: 10)
- score: 3 -- Donald Barthelme’s Reading List - 1985 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Top 100 Books - 1999 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- National Book Critics Circle Award - Fiction - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- One Hundred Best American Novels, 1770 to 1985 - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Well-Educated Mind - 2003 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 75 Books by Women Whose Words Have Changed the World - 1992 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The ZORA Canon: The 100 greatest books ever written by African American women - 2020 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels - 2013 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Booklist Century: 100 Books, 100 Years - 2005 (Weight: 1)