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A review by krazykris
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Read this for my literary theory class and this novel wonderfully unpacks so much more than anticipated. When reading this and taking to peers, I kept saying this needs to be the next classic. The next To Kill a Mockingbird. Granted, it may be a bit too dark for the high school classroom, but I wouldn’t be against thoughtful kids being introduced to this at the high school level.
I think Ward does something really beautiful and powerful in this narrative. She makes you unpack a lot of repressed biases and opens your eyes to the suffering of the marginalized, and the suffering of those in the South. It feels real and raw and is fully immersive. It does all of this and shows her character’s flaws while empowering them by showing their worth outside of their past. The spirituality aspect also pushes the reading deeper into the subconscious and draws out the suffering of not just the family, or Leonie, but of Black people today wanting their suffering to be seen and heard.
God, I could go on about this book for hours. It is a must read, a must share, a recommendation, it’s just good. Definitely pick this one up, but have the tissues ready, it’s a long road ahead.
I think Ward does something really beautiful and powerful in this narrative. She makes you unpack a lot of repressed biases and opens your eyes to the suffering of the marginalized, and the suffering of those in the South. It feels real and raw and is fully immersive. It does all of this and shows her character’s flaws while empowering them by showing their worth outside of their past. The spirituality aspect also pushes the reading deeper into the subconscious and draws out the suffering of not just the family, or Leonie, but of Black people today wanting their suffering to be seen and heard.
God, I could go on about this book for hours. It is a must read, a must share, a recommendation, it’s just good. Definitely pick this one up, but have the tissues ready, it’s a long road ahead.