Reviews

Salvage the Bones, by Jesmyn Ward

bookswithboo's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense

5.0

jennifer_bush_73's review

emotional sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

hawaii79's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

• 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

amy_puz's review

4.0

I went into this novel with exactly zero expectations and zero background information. I trust my professor who assigned this reading. This book ended up being one of those novels where you just have to read ahead of the class because you are so interested in the story.

I found myself falling in love with the character of Esch and her strength. She was fascinating to read about and the family dynamics highlighted in the novel made each of the characters stand out to me in different ways. This family has gone through hardships and will continue to go through hardships, but is clear that they all try their best to take care of each other.

This novel is incredibly brutal and just plain raw at times. I think that one of Ward's strengths is her ability to use beautiful language while describing scenes of pain and tragedy. The language throughout the novel is absolutely gorgeous and I think that I may consider this book to be one of the few books that I have been assigned over the years that is worthy of a reread.

nkalich's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

oldmanneill's review against another edition

DNF

thereadingkind's review

reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

lexberman's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

annemitch26's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

chantelmccray's review against another edition

5.0

Beautiful. Savage. Intense. Southern to the core.