Reviews

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

Only show reviews with written explanations

hartmancb's review against another edition

challenging dark sad slow-paced

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

3.0

I’m not sure why I didn’t like this book that much, the writing itself was a beautiful style and the content was important, but I just couldn’t get into it. At the beginning, I just felt like I had a hard time differentiating the characters and was confusing Given and Richie and by the end felt that it came together, but Mams passing was chaotic and frustrating. Although I grew to feel for Jojo and Kayla the most, I still don’t feel a huge connection to them.

jess_mango's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

beautiful, heart-wrencing. Reflects on many of the issues facing families in modern day America: drug abuse, grandparents raising their grandchildren, father/son relations, race relations.

seymone's review against another edition

Go to review page

I am not going to rate this book.
I am grappling with this book and it is challenging me. With that in mind, no rating will suffice.

aluraromero's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

*SPOILERS*

Agh. My FIRST DNF (did not finish.)
I don’t know if it was because I was listening to the audiobook instead of physically reading it, but I literally zoned out every time I listened to this book. I got so confused between when the mom was high vs. sober. I also didn’t understand Given Not Given and who was visiting Jojo.
It was just too much back and forth and I always lost track. Nothing hooked me in this book.

art3mis9's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I enjoyed it, except the ghosts. Would have been better without them in my opinion. But, to each their own.

kcrouth's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Sing, Unburied, Sing is a wonderful story. I don't even know how to describe it other than it connects me with what it means to be human, both good and bad, on so many levels - which is one of the main reasons i read books - to experience life through others that i cannot experience first hand. This story is rich and deep and shares the best and the worst of what it means to be human, as a person of color, in Mississippi; both today and in the past. If you get a chance, read this book, you will be richer for it. Looking forward to Salvage the Bones.