Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - Silver Sparrow

Tayari Jones has crafted a novel where every sentence feels intentional. Silver Sparrow packs a hell of a punch and, as a marker of its quality, makes me want to talk about it with everyone that I know. One thing I've had issue with in the past with this author is the abruptness of her endings, hence why I've knocked off a star - but I do feel as though the abruptness and lack of closure is as intentional as every other moment in the book. It might not be the ending I want to happen, but that's the point - we rarely get those in life anyway.

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bookswithgeorgia's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective relaxing sad tense slow-paced

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

3.0

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wellreadmegs's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective medium-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

4.0

This is my second book by Tayari Jones and I love how she writes about the complexities of family and relationships. They are real and they are messy but that is life. It was interesting to hear from the perspective of the "other family." Obviously, you don't feel as bad for the other woman, but you empathize with the child that was brought up in this world. Who has to deal with this deck of cards that life gave her & something that was entirely out of her control.

It was a little confusing at times when they switched back and forth from Dana & Chaurisse's narrations since their lives were so intertwined and you had to remind yourself who was speaking. The ending felt harsh and abrupt, but again, I guess that's life.

I would have liked to know more about their lives as they got older since we only got a glimpse.

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machenn's review

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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internationalreads's review

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dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

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

4.5

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sarah984's review

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emotional tense medium-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

"People say, that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But they are wrong. What doesn’t kill you, doesn’t kill you. That’s all you get. Sometimes, you just have to hope that’s enough."

This is a beautifully written book about how easily children can internalize things adults say off-handedly and then forget, and about living in the shadow of someone who doesn't even know that you exist. Both protagonists have strong voices, and the characters around them feel real. This book is a slow-motion car crash you can't look away from.

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