Scan barcode
daumari's review against another edition
5.0
The February-March pick for Biere Library Storytime Book Club, at ~8.5 hours this was a relatively quick audio listen (due to being on babytime, I find that I have less time for holding a book so audio worked while doing baby things).
An intimate Southern gothic portrait of a family with roots that dig into the Mississippi mud, and ghosts needing to be addressed. A bit of coming of age for Jojo's chapters, as he uncovers truths in the second half of the novel. It would be so easy to make Leonie a villain of sorts, but she's a complicated character with conflicting desires.
Parchman is a real place, and I was reminded of a similar Louisiana prison mentioned in [b:How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America|55643287|How the Word Is Passed A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America|Clint Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603917194l/55643287._SY75_.jpg|86766325] when inmate labor was described. I'm also reminded of the third episode of [b:Lovecraft Country|25109947|Lovecraft Country (Lovecraft Country, #1)|Matt Ruff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1426040983l/25109947._SY75_.jpg|44803674]Lovecraft Country (which pulls from the second story, "Dreams of the Which House from the book) re: literal ghosts of racist violence.
A surprising amount of vomit, viscerally described- part of what happens when you have a 3 year old on a road trip and also drug addicts, but you could almost feel that sour stickiness from the descriptions.
I really enjoyed the audio version of this- I think I would've disliked Leonie more were I reading her POV, but Rutina Wesley's narration is so cool and soothing, even while Leonie rages or ignores her children.
An intimate Southern gothic portrait of a family with roots that dig into the Mississippi mud, and ghosts needing to be addressed. A bit of coming of age for Jojo's chapters, as he uncovers truths in the second half of the novel. It would be so easy to make Leonie a villain of sorts, but she's a complicated character with conflicting desires.
Parchman is a real place, and I was reminded of a similar Louisiana prison mentioned in [b:How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America|55643287|How the Word Is Passed A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America|Clint Smith|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603917194l/55643287._SY75_.jpg|86766325] when inmate labor was described. I'm also reminded of the third episode of [b:Lovecraft Country|25109947|Lovecraft Country (Lovecraft Country, #1)|Matt Ruff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1426040983l/25109947._SY75_.jpg|44803674]Lovecraft Country (which pulls from the second story, "Dreams of the Which House from the book) re: literal ghosts of racist violence.
A surprising amount of vomit, viscerally described- part of what happens when you have a 3 year old on a road trip and also drug addicts, but you could almost feel that sour stickiness from the descriptions.
I really enjoyed the audio version of this- I think I would've disliked Leonie more were I reading her POV, but Rutina Wesley's narration is so cool and soothing, even while Leonie rages or ignores her children.
mcgoogle12's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
thechanelmuse's review against another edition
5.0
“Sometimes the world don’t give you what you need, no matter how hard you look. Sometimes it withholds.”
Jesmyn Ward, the writer you are.
Set in rural Mississippi, Sing, Unburied, Sing is an atmospheric, somber Southern Gothic novel written in a hauntingly poetic way. The central themes revolve around grief and homecoming (or homegoing), intertwining the experiences, stories, complex relationships, and souls of our characters in the flesh and in the spirit form. Simply rich.
Jesmyn Ward, the writer you are.
Set in rural Mississippi, Sing, Unburied, Sing is an atmospheric, somber Southern Gothic novel written in a hauntingly poetic way. The central themes revolve around grief and homecoming (or homegoing), intertwining the experiences, stories, complex relationships, and souls of our characters in the flesh and in the spirit form. Simply rich.
katiegilley's review against another edition
5.0
Here's a link to my blog for a more thoughtful review: https://katiegilley.com/sing-unburied-sing-by-jesmyn-ward/
This feels impossible to review. There were so many layers packed into this slim novel that I know I missed at least half of what Ward was trying to teach us. I started slowly with this one - while the writing is approachable and beautiful, the story itself is HEAVY. I read only 2 or 3 chapters a night until I got about 2/3 through it - and then I just couldn't stop.
But it was so worth it. So, so worth it! Through the lenses of generational racism and poverty, Ward shared the All-American story of a black family in the south. She gave white Americans a small glimpse into the fear and unsettled feeling of being a black person in this country. She also conveyed the universal power of love - how much love and kindness can help those around us, even when we feel like they are too much to give.
This feels impossible to review. There were so many layers packed into this slim novel that I know I missed at least half of what Ward was trying to teach us. I started slowly with this one - while the writing is approachable and beautiful, the story itself is HEAVY. I read only 2 or 3 chapters a night until I got about 2/3 through it - and then I just couldn't stop.
But it was so worth it. So, so worth it! Through the lenses of generational racism and poverty, Ward shared the All-American story of a black family in the south. She gave white Americans a small glimpse into the fear and unsettled feeling of being a black person in this country. She also conveyed the universal power of love - how much love and kindness can help those around us, even when we feel like they are too much to give.
nancysweitzer's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- 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? No
4.25
frankie_vega's review against another edition
4.0
Lessons learned:
-spirits are everywhere. We walk on them. They walk with us.
-life and death are a cycle. Our parents bring us into the world. And in Leonie’s case, we bring our parents out of the world.
-The nonsense babbling of children is most often not nonsense at all. They deserve more credit than we give them. They are wise beyond words. They have not been brainwashed by our collective imagination yet.
-ghosts can both comfort and disturb us.
-The intergenerational trauma held in the bodies of Black people runs deep.
-I was reminded yet again to be slow and pay attention to all the spirits of life that surround me
-spirits are everywhere. We walk on them. They walk with us.
-life and death are a cycle. Our parents bring us into the world. And in Leonie’s case, we bring our parents out of the world.
-The nonsense babbling of children is most often not nonsense at all. They deserve more credit than we give them. They are wise beyond words. They have not been brainwashed by our collective imagination yet.
-ghosts can both comfort and disturb us.
-The intergenerational trauma held in the bodies of Black people runs deep.
-I was reminded yet again to be slow and pay attention to all the spirits of life that surround me
kmorri17's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-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
kfrances2's review
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
so haunting and emotional. the plot is so simple while transcending perspectives and spiritual realms. very real and relevant, 10/10