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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I teetered between 4 and 5 stars throughout this Southern Gothic novel, but was blown away by the last several chapters.
The writing is exquisite, but the book was absolutely brutal to read. It was not a relaxing experience, but instead quite the opposite, as I was anxious and distressed for the majority of the novel.
Just like the ghosts that haunted the main characters in this novel, and Parchman Prison, which is a haunting reminder of this country's painful history...Sing, Unburied, Sing will be haunting my thoughts for quite some time.
The writing is exquisite, but the book was absolutely brutal to read. It was not a relaxing experience, but instead quite the opposite, as I was anxious and distressed for the majority of the novel.
Just like the ghosts that haunted the main characters in this novel, and Parchman Prison, which is a haunting reminder of this country's painful history...Sing, Unburied, Sing will be haunting my thoughts for quite some time.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5
This book is extremely difficult for me to rate. I wanted to love it and expected to love it. It's been on my TBR for ages, and it seemed exactly like the type of book I'd love.
Let's start with the positives. Jesmyn is an incredible writer, and I'd definitely read more by her. The voice of each character was impeccable. Each felt so real to me. She did such a good job bringing them to life and also the actual writing was really well done. She's definitely skilled.
The magical realism element threw me. I often don't like magical realism, and I didn't realize that this had that in it--so maybe that's some of it. Maybe that's a bit what threw me here.
But also, the story itself felt a bit incomplete and jarring. I loved the ambition of the project and what Jesmyn was trying to shine a light on, and the exploration of storytelling and different generations and identity.
But it also didn't quite work for me. I felt like I wanted to like this book, wanted to feel deeply--but I didn't.
This one is a no for me, but I'm rating 3.5 because it was beautifully written, and I can see why so many like it.
This book is extremely difficult for me to rate. I wanted to love it and expected to love it. It's been on my TBR for ages, and it seemed exactly like the type of book I'd love.
Let's start with the positives. Jesmyn is an incredible writer, and I'd definitely read more by her. The voice of each character was impeccable. Each felt so real to me. She did such a good job bringing them to life and also the actual writing was really well done. She's definitely skilled.
The magical realism element threw me. I often don't like magical realism, and I didn't realize that this had that in it--so maybe that's some of it. Maybe that's a bit what threw me here.
But also, the story itself felt a bit incomplete and jarring. I loved the ambition of the project and what Jesmyn was trying to shine a light on, and the exploration of storytelling and different generations and identity.
But it also didn't quite work for me. I felt like I wanted to like this book, wanted to feel deeply--but I didn't.
This one is a no for me, but I'm rating 3.5 because it was beautifully written, and I can see why so many like it.
4.5 stars, I couldn’t put it down! Sing, Unburied, Sing is one of those books that quietly builds its power, layer by layer. Jesmyn Ward’s writing is lyrical and rich, and she has this incredible way of peeling back each character’s pain, history, and humanity until you’re left holding something raw and real.
It starts small; just a boy named Jojo and his complicated family, but as the story unfolds, it weaves in generations of trauma, love, ghosts (literal and figurative), and the deep-rooted legacy of racism in the American South. Each chapter adds another thread to the tapestry, and by the end, it’s heavy with meaning.
The supernatural elements caught me off guard at first, but they somehow worked perfectly with the gritty, grounded storytelling. Jojo’s journey is heartbreaking, and Leonie, as frustrating as she is, feels painfully human.
The pacing drifts in places, and I didn’t always connect with every POV, but the slow burn felt intentional, it’s not a book in a rush. It asks you to sit with the discomfort and take in each layer as it’s revealed. Not an easy read, but definitely a memorable one.
It starts small; just a boy named Jojo and his complicated family, but as the story unfolds, it weaves in generations of trauma, love, ghosts (literal and figurative), and the deep-rooted legacy of racism in the American South. Each chapter adds another thread to the tapestry, and by the end, it’s heavy with meaning.
The supernatural elements caught me off guard at first, but they somehow worked perfectly with the gritty, grounded storytelling. Jojo’s journey is heartbreaking, and Leonie, as frustrating as she is, feels painfully human.
The pacing drifts in places, and I didn’t always connect with every POV, but the slow burn felt intentional, it’s not a book in a rush. It asks you to sit with the discomfort and take in each layer as it’s revealed. Not an easy read, but definitely a memorable one.
medium-paced
Excellent characters, and a good use of shifting perspective to see all the way around people. The supernatural elements were also handled well, not distracting from the story and adding another layer of insight into the picture. Only beware, it was hard to stomach at points, especially if you have kids.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism
Moderate: Child abuse, Murder