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lottiegasp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Hate crime, Racism, Rape, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Abandonment
This is a very sad book and covers a lot of dark topics relating to Jim Crow era anti-Blackness and abusive, neglectful parents. Read when you can handle itsydneythekydneybean's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I don't know what it was about Sing, Unburied, Sing that I didn't like. Out of all of the characters, Richie's story was the most intriguing and interesting, and the relationship between Jojo and Pop was mesmerizing and, honestly, something I wish we focused more on instead of Jojo and Kayla's relationship with their mother and father (which... I have many, many words to say about them and their particular parenting style, but I will plead the fifth here). Jesmyn Ward is undeniably a very good writer, but sometimes I felt like her lyrical prose outweighed the voice of the character we were in the head of. In the end, it might have been that which led me not to feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to. Some worked (see Richie), but many didn't (see Leonie).
It's a beautifully written and important book about poverty, family, racism, the ghosts of our pasts, and the hopes for our futures, but ultimately, it just wasn't for me.
Graphic: Animal death, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, and Vomit
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Rape
amalas_bookstop's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Jesmyn Ward writes so descriptively. I could almost feel the swamp of Mississippi as I was reading this book. I could feel the resentment Leonie had towards her children, parents, and the grief of losing her brother. It made it easier to understand maybe why she was such a neglectful mother.
I enjoyed how she used the ghosts to showcase how our past can sometimes hold us back or make us stronger. As we read with Jojo and his sister Kayla.
She even explored the slave to prisoner pipeline at Parchman prison. A terrible penitentiary that is still being used to this day.
I am definitely going to keep her on my radar for future reading.
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pregnancy
lizziaha's review against another edition
4.5
Ward manages to capture the very essence of the South. The violence that runs through the mud, through the blood. The history that some people can’t even see, and that other people can’t ignore.
It wasn’t an easy book to read.
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Child abuse, Death, Drug use, Racism, Slavery, Vomit, Police brutality, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Murder
lorenag5's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Abortion
reachingforstardust's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Drug abuse, Racism, and Vomit
Moderate: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Minor: Rape
hanhantap's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Drug use, Racial slurs, and Police brutality
Minor: Rape, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
averyarden's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Sexual content
anniesher23's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Addiction, Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Violence