ParadiseParadise
Score Modern
What it's about
Ruby is an all-Black town in Oklahoma, founded by families whose ancestors were turned away from other towns, and its men guard its purity fiercely. Seventeen miles away, in an old mansion called the Convent, live a group of women who have fled their pasts. In 1976 the men of Ruby, blaming the women for the town's troubles, go to the Convent with guns.
Why it's worth reading
It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It was Toni Morrison's first novel after winning the Nobel Prize, a complex story about faith, race and gender.
You'll love it if you liked
Beloved
A Mercy
Their Eyes Were Watching GodGood to know
It's demanding, with many characters, shifting perspectives and an unclear timeline. It opens with violence.
By the numbers
- Readers20 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller42 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #264 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #1250 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2296 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Toni Morrison
If you like this, read next
Americanah
The Help
Pachinko
Shuggie Bain
Half of a Yellow Sun
Infinite JestExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Paradise worth reading?
Yes. It hit #1 on the New York Times list. It ranks #2,296 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 60.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Paradise about?
Ruby is an all-Black town in Oklahoma, founded by families whose ancestors were turned away from other towns, and its men guard its purity fiercely. Seventeen miles away, in an old mansion called the Convent, live a group of women who have fled their pasts. In 1976 the men of Ruby, blaming the women for the town's troubles, go to the Convent with guns.
How long does it take to read Paradise?
About 8 hours (318 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Paradise?
If you liked it, try Beloved by Toni Morrison, A Mercy by Toni Morrison or Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.