Not quite sure why I read Beloved
before reading Song of Solomon. Well,
not true. I read Beloved first
because somebody left it in by building’s reception while I actually had to buy
Song of Solomon…
I do realize that what I’m about to write is ground-breaking and has
never been thought (let alone said) before, but Song of Solomon is an absolutely outstanding book. Sure, looking
for material wealth and finding one’s true roots instead is the oldest literary
topos, but this novel explores it so very well.
And, much like in all (very good) epic family stories, the anecdotes
that are passed down from generation to generation are truly wonderful. And,
much like in all (very good) epic family stories, wisdom is dispensed by old
characters who have understood everything in life (here Pilate reminds me in
part of Marquez’s Pilar Tenera and in part of Richler’s Ephraim Gursky).
And when Milkman thinks of his people and includes Jelly Roll, Bo
Diddley, Fats and B.B. it’s very much like in Good Morning Babylon the two brothers tell some Hollywood types
that they are the sons of the sons of the sons of Michelangelo and Leonardo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ISEw_yf8-o
apologies, the audio is only in Italian).
