The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison

The Bluest Eye is Toni Morrison’s haunting and unforgettable debut novel, first published in 1970. Set in 1941 in the author’s hometown of Lorain, Ohio, it tells the tragic story of Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl who yearns for blue eyes because she believes they will make her beautiful and accepted in a society dominated by white ideals. Through poetic narration, complex characters, and sharp insight into race, beauty, identity and shame, Morrison examines how internalized racism and social neglect destroy lives and spirits. This powerful, sorrowful yet beautifully written novel remains a classic of American literature and essential reading for understanding the consequences of racial and cultural oppression in our society.