Jazz by Toni Morrison
Set in the Harlem of the 1920s, this novel follows the lives of a middle-aged couple, Joe and Violet, and their complicated relationship with a young woman named Dorcas. After Joe starts an affair with Dorcas and later kills her out of jealousy, Violet attempts to disfigure Dorcas's corpse at her funeral out of anger and resentment. The narrative explores themes of love, passion, betrayal, and the transformative power of music, particularly jazz, in a rapidly changing society.
The 1923rd greatest book of all time
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This book is on the following lists:
- 9th on The Celebrity Reading List (Gardiner Public Library)
- 29th on 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 (Counterpunch)
- 56th on Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels (Radcliffe Publishing Course)