kakovac's review against another edition
5.0
What an exciting, descriptive novel. Ward has a way with words that makes even the most violent and graphic imagery seem beautiful and serene. There are definitely some difficult passages in here related to dog fighting and sexual abuse, but because of Ward's talent, you get a sense of the feelings and intent of the moment while also understanding the difficulty of the characters. The ending was absolutely tragic, yet hopeful simultaneously.
Will be picking up another by her, for sure.
Will be picking up another by her, for sure.
kittykornerlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This was beautifully written, especially the descriptions and figurative language. It takes place on the Gulf Coast, in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. Esch, the fifteen-year-old protagonist, is the only girl in a family with three brothers, a father, and a mother who died when Esch was nine years old. The Batistes are a poor black family who scrape a living in the Pit, where they live in a falling-apart house. The closeness and family relationships are a strength of the novel, as well as the authenticity of their speech, their lives, and their choices. The gritty details of poverty and destruction are strongly realized in this story.
margardenlady's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.5
Powerful. Horrifying. Gritty. This story of one family's experience goes from one heartbreak to another, never letting up on the misery. Yet, Ward's language is poetic and evocative throughout. We are living this heartache right alongside the Batiste family. Their actions prove that love is the tie that binds and family is everything.
leavingsealevel's review against another edition
4.0
Jesmyn Ward on writing this book as a political act:
"I realized that if I was going to assume the responsibility of writing about my home, I needed narrative ruthlessness. I couldn’t dull the edges and fall in love with my characters and spare them. Life does not spare us."
(From an interview in the Paris Review http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/08/30/jesmyn-ward-on-salvage-the-bones/)
This.
"I realized that if I was going to assume the responsibility of writing about my home, I needed narrative ruthlessness. I couldn’t dull the edges and fall in love with my characters and spare them. Life does not spare us."
(From an interview in the Paris Review http://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2011/08/30/jesmyn-ward-on-salvage-the-bones/)
This.
mehopf's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
4.0
dllh's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written page-turner. Among the best I've read so far this year.
zandertate's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
tjmgibson's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-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? No
5.0
whoisajax's review against another edition
1.0
I actually hated everything about this book the style of writing the storyline the characters and most of all the fighting of pitbulls....do not understand how this book is so highly rated