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cptnsulu's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Drug use, Violence, and Vomit
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, and Child death
mamatoca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.75
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Drug use, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse
ari5scythe's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gun violence, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
perdita'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
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Police brutality, and Death of parent
Moderate: Rape and Torture
shanban0303's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual assault, and Violence
sydneythekydneybean'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
rebekistan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Racism, Torture, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse and Vomit
abbyluvsfrogs444's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug use, Gore, Hate crime, Racism, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Cancer, Cursing, Gun violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Alcohol
Minor: Racial slurs
mel_j's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There was a slight historical feel to 'Sing, Unburied, Sing' that is connected to the magical realism. I loved the historical references and facts; sad, but important, they added a lot to the book
It's a heartbreaking book that made me stop and think quite a few times; very moving.
The ending felt quite rushed and incomplete, which is why I don't give the book 5 stars – I feel there could've been done more, but I enjoyed the reading experience a lot.
Graphic: Addiction, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death