Paradise by Toni Morrison is a book that looks at a town called Ruby just after the end of slavery when Afro-Americans started taking hold of their freedom. It looks at the separation within the black community that is based on colour with issues of self doubt, pride and revenge. The story takes the form of a narrative, where eight women tell the story of Ruby, but from different point of views. This strategy highlights the past of all characters and show the difference between their actions and words, and how individuals change over time because of their social environments. Morrison handles the issues with her usual wisdom and insight, shows how pride over the top, and a closed-minded attitude is a recipe for discrimination. This book is a 'heavy' read and makes one think how one's actions affect others in ways you may not realise. For this books' ability to make you think I give it a 3.8 out of 5 stars.