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perdita's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Death, Police brutality, Violence, Child abuse, Vomit, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Rape and Torture
lottiegasp's review
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Racism, Rape, Grief, Cancer, Murder, Addiction, Hate crime, Death of parent, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Minor: Abandonment
This is a very sad book and covers a lot of dark topics relating to Jim Crow era anti-Blackness and abusive, neglectful parents. Read when you can handle itsydneythekydneybean's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I don't know what it was about Sing, Unburied, Sing that I didn't like. Out of all of the characters, Richie's story was the most intriguing and interesting, and the relationship between Jojo and Pop was mesmerizing and, honestly, something I wish we focused more on instead of Jojo and Kayla's relationship with their mother and father (which... I have many, many words to say about them and their particular parenting style, but I will plead the fifth here). Jesmyn Ward is undeniably a very good writer, but sometimes I felt like her lyrical prose outweighed the voice of the character we were in the head of. In the end, it might have been that which led me not to feel as connected to the characters as I wanted to. Some worked (see Richie), but many didn't (see Leonie).
It's a beautifully written and important book about poverty, family, racism, the ghosts of our pasts, and the hopes for our futures, but ultimately, it just wasn't for me.
Graphic: Vomit, Death, Racial slurs, Animal death, Racism, Child abuse, Drug use, Drug abuse, Violence, and Cancer
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Rape
letterpress's review against another edition
- 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
Jesmyn Ward writes so descriptively. I could almost feel the swamp of Mississippi as I was reading this book. I could feel the resentment Leonie had towards her children, parents, and the grief of losing her brother. It made it easier to understand maybe why she was such a neglectful mother.
I enjoyed how she used the ghosts to showcase how our past can sometimes hold us back or make us stronger. As we read with Jojo and his sister Kayla.
She even explored the slave to prisoner pipeline at Parchman prison. A terrible penitentiary that is still being used to this day.
I am definitely going to keep her on my radar for future reading.
Graphic: Drug use, Death, Cancer, Violence, Racism, Vomit, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Addiction, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pregnancy
lizziaha's review against another edition
4.5
Ward manages to capture the very essence of the South. The violence that runs through the mud, through the blood. The history that some people can’t even see, and that other people can’t ignore.
It wasn’t an easy book to read.
Graphic: Animal death, Death, Addiction, Child abuse, Grief, Drug use, Vomit, Racism, Police brutality, and Slavery
Moderate: Gun violence, Rape, Sexual violence, Murder, and Physical abuse
titi_reads_more's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, and Animal death
rebekistan's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Torture, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit and Child abuse
abbyluvsfrogs444's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Murder, Death, Drug use, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Gore, Grief, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
rhall19's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Child death, Death, and Cancer
Moderate: Abandonment and Addiction
annamay1021's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Death, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Child abuse, Racism, Drug abuse, Terminal illness, and Gun violence