Tar Baby

 Shirley J.              Adult Fiction         The definition of personalities, what is expected juxtaposed with what is real 

Tar Baby by Toni Morrison  320 pages

Valerian and Margaret are rich white privileged individuals.  Ondine and Sydney work for them.  Have worked for them all their lives.   The feeling seems to be that of the old plantation owner, though, the setting of the story seems to be modern times.   It takes place in the Caribbean.    Valerian financed Ondine's and Sydney's niece, Jadine Childs to attend the Sorbonne, she is now a fashion model and though her upbringing was not poor but not lavish, her career allows her designer clothes, an upscale lifestyle in New York and she has developed the tastes and seeming attitudes of Valerian and Margaret.   One day a black man known as Son is found in the house.  Valerian decides to mess with Margaret's head and invites Son to stay with them and gives him the guest bedroom to stay in as long as he likes and full run of the house.   Margaret is freaked out and stays in her room intending to stay there until Son leaves.   Jadin finds the rough mannered Son intriguing and falls hard for him.   The story goes on, the relationship grows stronger, Jadin wants to bring Son into her world in New York.  Son isn't for it and wants her to marry him and come with him back to the little town he is from, Eloe Florida.   Jadin wants to keep her career and travel the world.   Son thinks she is too caught up in trying to be white.   She wants him to get educated and seek success.   Will this standoff sort itself out?   WWTMD?  (What would Toni Morrison do?)   I recommend this book to adults.   It is a deep book like Toni Morrison's are, I think some of the symbolism and nuances might be lost on younger readers,  but, will speak to men and women who have been there, see the signs and instead of wondering what Toni Morrison would do think what they would do in that situation.