Play Book Tag discussion

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward - 5* - My Review

Set in rural Mississippi, this novel focuses on a mixed-race family: thirteen-year-old Jojo, his younger sister Kayla, their drug-addicted mother Leonie, their white father Michael, and their grandparents, Pop and Mam. Leonie and her children, along with friend Misty, travel by car to Parchman Farm (the Mississippi State Penitentiary) to retrieve recently released Michael. During the journey, we learn several ways this family is dysfunctional. Jojo must act as a parent to his sister due to Leonie’s drug addiction and general unfitness as a mother. Michael comes from a racist family, and they have never accepted Leonie, which has of course impacted Jojo.

We also learn about Mam, a healer with a deep connection to nature, who is now dying of cancer. Leonie often hallucinates the ghost of her brother, Given, who died from racially motivated violence. The narrative is interwoven with flashbacks to Pop’s experiences at Parchman years ago, where he witnessed the death of a black youth, Richie, whose ghost becomes one of the central figures.

The perspective alternates primarily between Jojo and Leonie. It is a very sad and beautifully written novel. Through her characters, Jesmyn Ward addresses larger social issues, such as systemic racism, poverty, and the cycles of trauma. I know some are not fans of magical realism, but here it serves an important purpose. For example, I do not think it would have worked as well if the violence encountered by Richie and Given happened instead to one of the main living family members. The ghostly presences reflect the weight of memory, giving a voice to those who have been silenced.

This book is a powerful story of a fractured family with deep scars. At its core it is about the ways in which love, pain, and memory shape the lives of individuals and families. I have read other books by Jesmyn Ward, but none has touched me as deeply as this one. It will surely become a literary classic (if it isn’t already).

PBT September BWF Extra S and tagged "sad" x14:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

I was blown away when I read this a year or so ago. Great review.

I love Jesmyn Ward's writing and this made my top 10 the year I read it.

I loved this book too. It was the first book I read in 2019 and set a wonderful tone for the rest of the year. I still remember the way it made me feel. I’ve been craving a reread for sone time. I also really like her Louisiana Hurricane book.

Have you read Let Us Descend yet? I want to read it soon. It has 2 travel rags

NancyJ wrote: "I loved this book too. It was the first book I read in 2019 and set a wonderful tone for the rest of the year. I still remember the way it made me feel. I’ve been craving a reread for sone time. I ..."

I love when I can start out a year with a book I love! Sadly this year that was not the case, I read a book which will make the bottom list.

I read Let Us Descend this year and liked it but rated it 4 stars.

I notice my rating isn’t showing up on my post. I must have multiple editions of this book. I’m not sure how that happens.

I went to hear Jesmyn Ward speak shortly after she had written this book. It was obviously a very personal book to her and she spoke about it so powerfully.

So I bought it - and tried to read it. But it was a little too heartbreaking for me. I couldn't finish it.

Theresa wrote: "I was blown away when I read this a year or so ago. Great review."
Thanks, Theresa! I thought I had already read it, but I must have confused it with a different book.

Booknblues wrote: "I love Jesmyn Ward's writing and this made my top 10 the year I read it."
It might make my top 10. I've read so many great books this year already that I know it will be tough to choose among them.

NancyJ wrote: "Have you read Let Us Descend yet? I want to read it soon.I t has 2 travel rags..."
I have read it, last year I think. I liked it, but not as much as Sing, Unburied, Sing. I wouldn't call it "travel" but it definitely involves a journey. It is a slave narrative.

Doughgirl5562 wrote: "I went to hear Jesmyn Ward speak shortly after she had written this book. It was obviously a very personal book to her and she spoke about it so powerfully.

So I bought it - and tried to read it. ..."
Well, I read it for the "sad" tag, so I can definitely understand how it might be too heartbreaking. I was so impressed by the writing! How cool that you got to hear her speak about it.

NancyJ wrote: "I notice my rating isn’t showing up on my post. I must have multiple editions of this book. I’m not sure how that happens."
I've seen this happen when someone has shelved multiple copies of the same book.