Overall Rating: LOVED it! ♥️
I read Sing, Unburied, Sing in late March of this year after seeing it at the top of so many “Top books of 2017” lists. Written from multiple view points, it gives off an almost contemporary vibe with a mystical twist. Touching on addiction, spirituality, and race, you’ll be captivated from the very first page.
Nikaleigh’s Synopsis:
Jojo is a 13-year-old boy being raised by his grandparents in Mississippi. His mom, Leonie, is more like a troubled older sister. She comes and goes on a whim, unable to overcome her demons since her brother was brutally murdered in racist attack; made to look like an accident. When Leonie gets high, she can still see her perfect brother – like he never left this earth.
When Jojo’s father gets released from prison, Leonie packs up him and his sister for a road trip. They cross the state to the same prison where Jojo’s grandfather was wrongfully imprisoned decades earlier. There, the ghost of a young boy killed at the prison mistakes Jojo for his grandfather, his only friend. The boy’s spirit follows him home, hoping Jojo can help him get the answers he’s been waiting decades for. When Jojo doesn’t deliver, he begins wreaking havoc on the family.
Nikaleigh’s Thoughts:
If I could give this book 6/5 stars I would. What I love most about books is their ability to let you step into another world. Sing, Unburied, Sing was so beautifully written I finished it feeling like I had just lived three new lives. The author does a phenomenal job of putting you inside the characters heads, truly letting you live their experiences with them.
If you haven’t read this one yet, you’re going to want to pick it up.
Have you read this book or plan on picking it up? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! ☺️
I read this book last month and as usual, Jesmyn Ward delivers a powerful story. I heard her speak last month as well. She said that she hadn’t started out reading a “ghost” story, but that it came to her as a way to address inter-generational trauma, making the connections from the past to the present. I think it worked out beautifully as a story, but it was not an easy read in terms of subject matter.
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Wow! Thank you for sharing! I think her own personal strength is strongly reflected in her writing. I agree it was not easy subject matter but her eloquence brought those issues to life in a way that helped make them so real for someone who’s never had to experience them. This has, by far, been one of my favorite books this year.
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