MERIDIAN. (Paperback)

~ Alice. Walker (Author) "Truman Held drove slowly into the small town of Chicokema as the two black men who worked at the station where he stopped for gas..." (more)
Key Phrases: honors house, Tommy Odds, Wile Chile, Miss Margaret (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: P/B (2001)
• ISBN-10: 070434694X
• ISBN-13: 978-0704346949
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A triumph for the opressed, and for humans everywhere., November 11, 2000

By	Lilliana Meredith (New Hartford, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Meridian (Mass Market Paperback)

Alice Walker's book Meridian is a passionate, touching book, in a variety of ways. First of all, it depicts the warped minds and hearts of blacks (and non-racist whites) living in the South in the 1960s. Meridian is a young black woman- who is slightly crazy, yet completely involving and entertaining. Meridian is very different from other people- she feels things more acutely, sensitively, and strongly than other people. Her emotions- anger, hate, pain, suffering, are all depicted with startling clarity. Ths book is in some ways like a poem- and is very different from any other book I've ever read- almost as if the story is a series of dream sequences. Meridian, who is a civil rights worker, is deeply afraid that her people, and race, will dehumanize themselves and lose their souls. I disagree with a reviewer who gave it one star, and critized it for having no ''rising action''. The book has rising action, conflict, and literary techniques, they are just related in a different way- this book does not havea standard chapter form- instead it is a book based entirely on emotions, told in three parts, by Meridian, her black on-and-off boyfriend Truman Held, and her white Northern best friend Lynne. The books clearly conveys that all three of these people have parts of themselves missing- bits of humanity that have been desensitized in the civil rights struggle- and the hate passed from whites to blacks. All of these people are shown as simple young adults- none of them entirely evil, or entirely good, simply trying to survive in this tumultous era. The ending is bittersweet, not entirely happy, but not hopeless either. This book is more about a journey of human beings- than anythng else. It focuses more on characterization than plot- the events seem to be less important than the feelings, thoughts and passions of Meridian, Lynne, and Truman. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to read about the worries, cares, and journey of the soul.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing, complex, provocative, May 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Meridian (Mass Market Paperback)

Alice Walker writes about the Civil Rights movement of the 1960's through the eyes of Meridian Hill. Walker forces us -- poetically -- to consider our stance on questions of racism, sexism, love and faith. By doing so she causes us to look at how we align ourselves with friends, lovers and family, and what it means to be part of a "community." I read this book the first time 20 years ago and it's themes have stayed fresh for me. A hope-inspiring book, despite the painful issues it addresses. An original novel in all respects.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this book may be a little too deep for the average reader, December 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Meridian (Mass Market Paperback)

the book doesn't move in chronological order, so it's easy to get confused. i couldn't put this book down, i read it in three days. it depicts the struggle of not only black people during the civil rights movement, but the gender struggle of women. this book touches on issues such as spirituality, forgiveness, and truth. through meridian's eyes, we experience some of the hardships she faced.