Toni Morrison, born Chloe A Wofford, was a towering figure in the world of literature when she entered A.J. Verdelle’s life. Their literary friendship was a young writer’s dream—simultaneously exhilarating, intimidating, fulfilling, and challenging.
The book had grabbed me from the first page. Not only because Verdelle pulls back the curtain to display the duo’s intimate life together, but because of Verdelle’s engaging prose ... Verdelle’s book is grounded in her honest writing about her childhood ... Much of this memoir is dedicated to discussions of craft as seen through Morrison’s eyes. Some discussions are technical, but, as a whole, these sections display Verdelle’s reverence for the Nobel laureate’s brilliance ... Verdelle creates an echo chamber that deftly evokes the voice of Toni Morrison. She accomplishes her mission by masterfully writing about craft in one chapter, depicting an argument she had with Miss Chloe in another, and then circling back mellifluously to make a quotidian day on the Princeton University campus seem magical ... an intimate and powerful tribute that Toni Morrison deserves.
... vivid ... Verdelle’s stunningly precise and poetic language is a joy to savor. Morrison fans will delight in revisiting her works through Verdelle’s eyes and meeting the enigmatic writer in an intimate way.
Verdelle captures Morrison’s appreciation for Black female labor in a loving tribute to baking yeast rolls—a lengthy, intricate ritual that nourishes and connects generations and is a tangible embodiment of Black family strength. Verdelle has created a remarkable literary portrait and memoir.
