Reviews tagging 'Addiction'

Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward

57 reviews

christynhoover's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad tense

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gore, Murder, Death, Hate crime, Child death, Vomit, Addiction, and Grief

Intergenerational trauma

lorenag5's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Gun violence, Mental illness, Rape, Cursing, Murder, Racism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Sexual violence, Slavery, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Addiction, Cancer, Grief, Hate crime, and Sexual assault

lynettegabriella's review against another edition

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Death of parent, Police brutality, Racism, Terminal illness, Death, Drug use, Grief, Cancer, Hate crime, Murder, and Slavery

sweetsimplenothing's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Racism, Death, Police brutality, and Drug abuse

Moderate: Child abuse and Addiction

Minor: Sexual assault

gabyk_lib's review against another edition

dark emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

I found this a slow read but full of insight and heartbreak.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Gun violence, Toxic friendship, Addiction, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Toxic relationship, and Terminal illness

bootsmom3's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

bandysbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.25

Going into Sing, Unburied, Sing I had never before read a Jesmyn Ward book. All I can say is that I think this book will be the start of me reading her entire backlist. Sing, Unburied, Sing is both familiar and also unlike anything I can think of that I've read before. It follows three generations of a family as they struggle with chronic illness, addiction, life choices, and the ghosts that follow them. There is a mix of real life and magical realism told with lyrical prose that creates such a unique affect.

Jojo, a young boy, and his mother Leonie are introduced as the two focal point characters and I had immediate reactions to both. Jojo is likeable. Part of me wanted to shield and protect him as I dug into the things he was experiencing. And Leonie...she was tough for me. While I logically understand that addiction is an illness, I also grew up in a family with addicts. Having experienced the inconsistency, disappointment, and heartbreak that comes when dealing with an addicted family member made me feel so much for Jojo and honestly made it hard for me to like Leonie. Suffice it to say that both characters elicited a very visceral response from me.

One of the qualities that I really loved about this book was the very beautiful description used. This story covers some very dark themes and I loved the juxtaposition of the flowery prose against it. It created a very haunting atmosphere and for me, really added to what we were witnessing on page.

My only real critique of this book is that sometimes it is easy to get a bit lost. I think, for me, this was because I got wrapped up in the beautiful description and didn't always really take in what was happening. I did have to go back occasionally and re-read chapters...but I think that's sort of part of the experience here. It's confusing and at times a little chaotic, but that's also how I think things must feel for Jojo as he navigates the story.

All in all, an excellent book and definitely the first of many that I will read by Jesmyn Ward. If you like a Southern Gothic vibe, ghost stories, and the exploration of family ties, this should absolutely be on your reading list. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Violence, Death, and Cancer

reachingforstardust's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

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

averyarden's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Violence, Vomit, Child abuse, Racism, Child death, Death of parent, Gore, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Addiction, and Hate crime

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Sexual content

natalienance's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense slow-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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Police brutality, Racism, Vomit, Racial slurs, Addiction, Child abuse, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse