Reviews with content warning for Child death - Sugar

The book is well written and doesn’t give in to a virtuoso handling of misery and grief. It allows for the reader to learn about the most terrible events with a certain directedness that is not sensationalist.
That is why the ending disappointed me, but also the

fact that the reason why the Christian woman (Pearl) and later her husband Joe too, befriend the prostitute (Sugar) is more related to kin than to generosity of spirit. Rather than opening up the characters to a real Christian sense of humanity (or simply humanism), the book becomes a cliché of a lost daughter ending up in the arms (for a while at least) of her long lost father and substitute mother. Joe is described as an independent man, who doesn’t yield to gossip or toxic masculinity so the hardly credible plot twist of Sugar being his daughter undermines the sparkle of humanity to book seemed to build within a small community.
There was such a good opportunity, if one had to keep the topic of parenthood, to explore parental projections against pure acceptance and care: because they don’t know that Joe is the father, the couple who take Sugar into their homes as almost an adoptive daughter let her be who she is, although trying to steer her away from prostitution.
There are very strong moments, but they often feel like driftwood floating at the surface of things: Pearl discovering her body, her beauty, could be such an intimate and profound moment but it just “brings her back” as if things were that simple.
Nevertheless, the impeccable style of the book and the originality of the characters, despite what I mentioned make for a good read.

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edenangus's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

Sugar was a fabulous read. The opening section was gripping if horrifying, and had me immediately invested in the story. The writing was superb. The scene when Sugar strode into town, larger than life and totally confident in herself while the respectable ladies spied from behind their curtains, delighted to be scandalised and have something to gossip about was so vividly drawn that reading it was like watching the scene unfold on a large movie screen. In Pearl and Sugar the author not only created two really memorable female characters, but also constructed a friendship between them that was strong and believable, despite their obvious differences. The plot had plenty of interest - the connections between Sugar and Pearl’s husband Joe, and between Sugar and their murdered daughter Jude, plus the way Sugar helped Pearl break out of her shell all stood out for me. I also loved the way the author explored the idea of female respectability especially the difference between outward respectability and actual goodness. This was my first book by Bernice McFadden but it certainly won’t be my last.

Content Warnings

books_baking_brews's review

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dark reflective fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Sugar by Bernice L McFadden

Synopsis: Set in 1950s Arkansas, Sugar tells the tell of the unlikely friendship which forms between young prostitute Sugar Lacey and grieving mother Pearl Taylor. When Sugar moves next door to Pearl, she immediately scandalizes the town sitting naked in her front room and receiving clients into her home. But Pearl and Sugar are drawn to each, and both are still very much dealing with their traumatic pasts.

I had been looking into McFadden’s catalog ever since reading A Praise Song for the Butterflies. So when I had the chance to read Sugar, I jumped at it, and I was not disappointed. Definitely in my top 10 reads of last year. I loved McFadden’s development and treatment of both women, the way she handled the racism prevalent at that time, and how small towns can sometimes be too insular if you don't fit the mold. I was sad to leave the two friends at the end, but then I discovered there was a part 2 to Sugar’s story, and I immediately ordered it. I can’t wait to dive into This Bitter Earth next! Five stars from me and would recommend.

CW: child abuse, death of a child, racism

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