Morrison lovingly reads selections from new novel 'Love'

Toni Morrison, the Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Humanities, read two sections from her new novel "Love" last night in Richardson Auditorium, one week after the novel appeared on shelves for sale.

The novel is about the women bound to the wealthy owner of a segregated black resort in Florida.

Morrison was welcomed to the stage by a standing ovation of professors, students and other attendees, and introduced by Anthony Grafton, chair of the Council of the Humanities and professor of history. The end of her reading was met with equal enthusiasm.

"She's an incredible reader. And I thought it was not just listening to wonderful prose, which I knew it would be, but, though I'd heard her read before, I hadn't fully remembered what an artist she is with her voice as well as with her style," Grafton said.

Religion professor Cornel West GS '80 compared Morrison's reading to the work of three prominent 20th century artists.

"The lyricism reminded me of Tennessee Williams, and the depth reminded me of Faulkner, and the rhythm reminded me of Sarah Vaughn," West said. "It was like that combination. Tennessee Williams, Faulkner and Sarah Vaughn all in one person."

Williams was a playwright, Faulkner a novelist and writer of short stories and Vaughn a jazz singer and pianist.

The two sections from "Love" Morrison read involved one voice — that of the narrator, whom Morrison described as a character who prides herself on being quiet and discreet.

Morrison prefaced her reading with a statement about her decision to use these excerpts. She said she had second thoughts about introducing the audience to only voice, but ultimately decided this was what she would do.

"So I thought, well maybe I should read something from the other of the characters . . . but I'm so attracted to the sound of her voice that I'm just using her. So I apologize to you for giving you just one voice throughout the reading," Morrison said.

She has written seven novels prior to "Love," and received accolades from various and distinguished institutions.

Morrison received the 2000 National Humanities Medal, the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993 — she was the first African-American to receive this prize and the first woman honored with the prize since 1938 — the Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for 'Beloved' and the National Book Critics Award in 1977 for 'Song of Solomon.' She has been at Princeton since 1989 and established the Princeton Atelier, a program in which students work with professional artists to create performances and exhibitions.