Review: Category: Books on Literature and Criticism Toni Morrison is widely regarded as one of the most important writers of our time, with a body of work that spans over four decades. Her novels are known for their exploration of themes such as identity, race, gender, and culture, often set in post-Civil Rights America. In this review, we will take a closer look at some of her books on literature and criticism. The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations is a collection of Morrison's nonfiction writings that span over 30 years. The book covers a wide range of topics, including race, gender, education, and the role of literature in society. One of the standout essays in this collection is "The Function of Literature," where Morrison argues that literature has the power to transform our understanding of ourselves and others. She writes, "Literature can show us a different world. It can take us somewhere else." This book is an excellent introduction to Morrison's ideas on literature and its role in society. Playing in the Dark: Whiteness and the Literary Imagination is another important work by Morrison that explores the relationship between race, whiteness, and literature. In this book, Morrison argues that white writers often use black characters as props to explore their own fears and anxieties about race. She writes, "Whites have a history of using blacks as symbols in order to express what they think is going on inside themselves." This book challenges readers to confront the ways in which literature can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce power imbalances. What Moves at the Margin: Selected Nonfiction is another collection of Morrison's nonfiction writings that focuses specifically on her essays about literature. In this book, Morrison explores themes such as identity, memory, and the role of art in society. One of the standout essays in this collection is "The Role of Literature in Society," where Morrison argues that literature has the power to challenge social norms and promote change. She writes, "Literature can be a source of resistance against oppressive systems." This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in Morrison's ideas on literature and its role in society. Goodness and the Literary Imagination: Harvard's 95th Ingersoll Lecture with Essays on Morrison's Moral and Religious Vision is a collection of essays that explore Toni Morrison's moral and religious vision. This book includes essays by scholars such as Cornel West, bell hooks, and Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak. One of the standout essays in this collection is "Toni Morrison's Ethics," where West argues that Morrison's work challenges traditional notions of morality and ethics. He writes, "Morrison's works are a critique of the dominant moral discourse of our time." This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in exploring Toni Morrison's ideas on morality and religion. The Origin of Others: The Charles Eliot Norton Lectures is another important work by Morrison that explores themes such as identity, race, and culture. In this book, Morrison argues that our understanding of ourselves and others is shaped by the stories we tell about our past. She writes, "The stories we tell are not just ways of passing time or entertaining ourselves. They are also ways of making sense of who we are." This book challenges readers to confront the ways in which storytelling can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and reinforce power imbalances. Untitled Essays is a collection of Morrison's unpublished essays that were discovered after her death. In this book, readers will find essays on topics such as race, gender, education, and the role of literature in society. One of the standout essays in this collection is "The Function of Literature," where Morrison argues that literature has the power to transform our understanding of ourselves and others. She writes, "Literature can show us a different world. It can take us somewhere else." This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in exploring Toni Morrison's ideas on literature and its role in society. Home (Vintage International) is one of Morrison's most personal works, where she explores themes such as identity, memory, and the search for home. In this book, Morrison writes about her own experiences growing up in Ohio and how they have shaped her understanding of herself and the world around her. This book is an excellent resource for anyone interested in exploring Toni Morrison's personal journey and how it has influenced her writing. The Souls of Black Folk (Dover Thrift Editions) is a classic work by W.E.B. Du Bois that explores the experiences of African Americans during the early 20th century. In this book, Du Bois argues that African Americans are a distinct people with their own culture and history. He writes, "The souls of black folk are to be understood in terms of their relationship to white society." This book is an important work for anyone interested in understanding the experiences of African Americans during this period of American history. Geography and the Political Imaginary in the Novels of Toni Morrison (Geocriticism and Spatial Literary Studies) is a collection of essays that explore the relationship between geography, politics, and literature in Toni Morrison's novels.