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ashaelise's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
dzavatsky's review against another edition
3.0
This book is very well written, usually I don’t love the folksy dialect in writing, but it didn’t bother me here. The story is, however, unbelievably and unrelentingly sad. From the first few pages it is hard to read due to content, and that never really goes away, even in the less actively heartbreaking parts of the story. I wouldn’t have picked this one up if not for my book club, and I will probably follow it up with something lighter. It also isn’t heavily plot driven, it’s really just a character study, but even with all the caveats above I think it is a good book.
carleenshaw's review against another edition
4.0
"The only difference between you and me, Miss Pearl, is you began your whoring life in front of a congregation, dressed in white and with God's blessing!"
"I'm better now, not good as new, but I ain't never been new, just borrowed, lent and given like secondhand things usually are. I am who I am, Miss Pearl, can't no amount of soap and water change that."
THOSE two statements from Sugar Lacey shook me to the core. I LOVED the story, the buildup, Sugar's attitude and Sugar owning her truth NO MATTER who, NO MATTER what. When Sugar came to town in her tight dresses and colorful wigs, she shook up the town and more importantly, Sugar awakens the soul of Miss Pearl.
The Aries in me needed Sugar to roar more, to tell more and to do more before she left town BUT there is the sequel 'This Bitter Earth' (I am reading it today) and I'm hoping Sugar does ME right!! LOL
"I'm better now, not good as new, but I ain't never been new, just borrowed, lent and given like secondhand things usually are. I am who I am, Miss Pearl, can't no amount of soap and water change that."
THOSE two statements from Sugar Lacey shook me to the core. I LOVED the story, the buildup, Sugar's attitude and Sugar owning her truth NO MATTER who, NO MATTER what. When Sugar came to town in her tight dresses and colorful wigs, she shook up the town and more importantly, Sugar awakens the soul of Miss Pearl.
The Aries in me needed Sugar to roar more, to tell more and to do more before she left town BUT there is the sequel 'This Bitter Earth' (I am reading it today) and I'm hoping Sugar does ME right!! LOL
thejollyllama's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Another book I plucked off of Tayari Jones's GoodReads shelf. I really loved it!
TW: The first chapter of this book is extremely violent and graphic. I almost wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading because of how intense it was, but I'm glad I pushed through.
This style of writing really just pulls me in and makes me not want to put the book down. I did feel like I was left with some unanswered questions, and I didn't get all the closure I wanted on the characters' storylines, so I was happy when I found out that there's a sequel. I don't really expect or even want everything to be nicely tied up in a bow, but I did feel like a few too many threads were left hanging.
I got confused by some of the relationships between the characters, and would love if anyone reading this review could help explain it to me. I understand that Joe = Sugar's father and Bertie Mae = Sugar's mother. But what was the relationship between Bertie Mae, Ciel Brown, and Shirley Brown? On page 88, there is a story about Shirley being ashamed about Ciel (her daughter, who was raised by another family?), and I did not understand it at all. I read it multiple times, and still did not quite get what the story about Ciel had to do with the rest of the characters in the book.
Then on page 143, Bertie Mae was abused by Ciel - "Did she [May] want to tell Sugar of the madness her mama, Bertie Mae, endured under the roof of Ciel Brown? The Emotional and physical battering she lived with up until she left Short Junction with Ciel's man, Clemon Wilks?"
And finally, page 193 implies Sugar is Shirley's granddaughter.
So, Bertie Mae is... Shirley's daughter? And Ciel is.... also Shirley's daughter? So they're sisters? I'm so confused. Please help.
Another book I plucked off of Tayari Jones's GoodReads shelf. I really loved it!
TW: The first chapter of this book is extremely violent and graphic. I almost wasn't sure if I wanted to keep reading because of how intense it was, but I'm glad I pushed through.
This style of writing really just pulls me in and makes me not want to put the book down. I did feel like I was left with some unanswered questions, and I didn't get all the closure I wanted on the characters' storylines, so I was happy when I found out that there's a sequel. I don't really expect or even want everything to be nicely tied up in a bow, but I did feel like a few too many threads were left hanging.
I got confused by some of the relationships between the characters, and would love if anyone reading this review could help explain it to me. I understand that Joe = Sugar's father and Bertie Mae = Sugar's mother. But what was the relationship between Bertie Mae, Ciel Brown, and Shirley Brown? On page 88, there is a story about Shirley being ashamed about Ciel (her daughter, who was raised by another family?), and I did not understand it at all. I read it multiple times, and still did not quite get what the story about Ciel had to do with the rest of the characters in the book.
Then on page 143, Bertie Mae was abused by Ciel - "Did she [May] want to tell Sugar of the madness her mama, Bertie Mae, endured under the roof of Ciel Brown? The Emotional and physical battering she lived with up until she left Short Junction with Ciel's man, Clemon Wilks?"
And finally, page 193 implies Sugar is Shirley's granddaughter.
So, Bertie Mae is... Shirley's daughter? And Ciel is.... also Shirley's daughter? So they're sisters? I'm so confused. Please help.
diadia_'s review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I have read in a long time. It is a story fully of poverty, hardship and life. This story is a story of a child whose life started off rough and only got more complicated as she grew older.
infatueighties's review against another edition
5.0
I need a hug! I don’t know how onions were being cut while reading but the tears flowed. This is the most beautiful tragedy I’ve ever read. The devil himself showed up here and I wept … uncontrollably. Mostly for the conversations that were never had, love that will never be explored and a worthiness that was never found.
My favorite read of 2024 easily. I started the sequel immediately.
My favorite read of 2024 easily. I started the sequel immediately.
clouds_on_clouds's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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
5.0