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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
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
mel_j's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
There was a slight historical feel to 'Sing, Unburied, Sing' that is connected to the magical realism. I loved the historical references and facts; sad, but important, they added a lot to the book
It's a heartbreaking book that made me stop and think quite a few times; very moving.
The ending felt quite rushed and incomplete, which is why I don't give the book 5 stars – I feel there could've been done more, but I enjoyed the reading experience a lot.
Graphic: Death of parent, Violence, Drug abuse, Abandonment, Alcohol, Addiction, Blood, Death, Toxic relationship, and Drug use
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Vomit, Hate crime, Blood, Cancer, and Grief
Minor: Animal cruelty and Animal death
hanngigi's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Drug abuse, Death, Racism, Drug use, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Child abuse, Grief, Terminal illness, and Confinement
Minor: Sexual assault and Sexual violence
florecita_lectora'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
3.25
Graphic: Vomit, Racism, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Police brutality, Hate crime, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Child death
Moderate: Animal death, Grief, Murder, Terminal illness, and Cancer
crabbytaco's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Violence, Drug use, Drug abuse, and Child death
Moderate: Vomit, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, and Cancer
Minor: Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Gun violence, Mental illness, and Hate crime
bootsmom3's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Medical content, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racial slurs, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Grief, Drug use, Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Cursing, Death, Gun violence, Physical abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Abortion, Sexual content, and Rape
reachingforstardust's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Racism, Addiction, Cancer, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Police brutality, Drug use, Grief, Physical abuse, Blood, Gun violence, Gore, Death of parent, Death, Abandonment, and Animal death
Minor: Rape