Song of Solomon dwells in the less discussed crannies of African American history – middle class black experience in the 1930s-50’s in the Midwest. Against this backdrop we are witness to a coming of age story in which the central character, Milkman, journeys to the south to seek the history of his family and his name, Macon Dead.

As we discussed in my book group, naming (and being able to accept, reject, know the history of, or pass on one’s name) is a central theme in the novel. Milkman’s grandfather, Macon Dead, was given his name by a drunk Yankee soldier. His grandfather picked his daughter’s name from the Bible, copying the letters “PILATE” although he couldn’t read on a piece of paper. Pilate has her naming paper made into an earring which she carries around with her the rest of her life. The poetry of biblical names, nick names, names imposed by others and names chosen for one’s self, form a central poem throughout the book.

Milkman, in the first half of the book, is presented as self-centered and un-self-examined. He does not identify as “other”, gets bored when his friends attend talking about the murder of Emmet Till, surprised the police would stop him when he was not speeding or otherwise breaking the law. He is insensitive to race and class difference.

But as he learns more about the story behind his own name, he gradually awakes to the stories of his family and friends, and sets off to the south in search of gold, and in the absense of gold, truth.

Toni Morrison is a brilliant storyteller and I feel inadequate at describing the narrative rhythms through which children’s songs, flying men, ghosts, and bags of bones come to life and gain meaning through her prose. It is a book both instructive and pleasurable, which must be read.