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perdita's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Racism, Death, Police brutality, Violence, Child abuse, Vomit, Domestic abuse, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Rape and Torture
sydneythekydneybean's review against another edition
- 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
amalas_bookstop'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
4.5
Jesmyn Ward writes so descriptively. I could almost feel the swamp of Mississippi as I was reading this book. I could feel the resentment Leonie had towards her children, parents, and the grief of losing her brother. It made it easier to understand maybe why she was such a neglectful mother.
I enjoyed how she used the ghosts to showcase how our past can sometimes hold us back or make us stronger. As we read with Jojo and his sister Kayla.
She even explored the slave to prisoner pipeline at Parchman prison. A terrible penitentiary that is still being used to this day.
I am definitely going to keep her on my radar for future reading.
Graphic: Drug use, Death, Cancer, Violence, Racism, Vomit, Drug abuse, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Addiction, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, and Grief
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Pregnancy
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
rebekistan's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, Torture, Racism, and Violence
Moderate: Vomit and Child abuse
abbyluvsfrogs444's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Vomit, Murder, Death, Drug use, Death of parent, Blood, Child death, Gore, Grief, Racism, and Hate crime
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Alcohol, Cancer, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Gun violence, and Violence
Minor: Racial slurs
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
cheryl1213'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
(Actually a reread but deleted the prior entry bc it was appearing as the wrong edition...probably wouldn't care but it was the audiobook and those just aren't my thing. The first paragraph was my old review, but it's still spot on (humbly said))
Beautiful and haunting. Too hard to capture without telling to much. A mix of gritty reality with a touch of magic
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, and Cancer
Moderate: Death and Addiction
Minor: Vomit
sisithelyricist's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Murder, Drug abuse, and Vomit
Minor: Sexual assault
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