Troy Posted October 1, 2018 Report Share Posted October 1, 2018 Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward 4 Time AALBC.com Bestselling Book! Selected for 3 Book Clubs’s Reading Lists Honored by the National Book Awards in 2017 A New York Times Notable Book for 2017 Publication Date: Sep 07, 2017 List Price: $26.00 (store prices may vary) Format: Hardcover Classification: Fiction Page Count: 304 ISBN13: 9781501126062 Imprint: Scribner Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Inc. Parent Company: CBS Corporation Read a Review of Sing, Unburied, Sing by Book Club Moderator, Tony Lindsay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lindsay Posted October 1, 2018 Report Share Posted October 1, 2018 Wow, we are on our second book, and what a book! Below is my post, Sing, Unburied, Sing Jesmyn Ward While reading the novel, I kept wondering what was it building up to, what would be the climax; despite this wondering, I kept reading because I was engrossed in the day-to-day life of a Black family on a farm. I remained caught up in the “what is going to happen next” that was unrelated to a major climatic event in the novel. I speculate that some may say the major event was the freed spirits or Kayla stepping into her role as a seer. Others may say it was Leonie’s attempts at being a healer or Jojo seeing Richie - arguing that Pops' story was build up to that event. I argue that Ward “bucked” tradition with this novel and held the reader with smaller day-to-day climaxes instead of holding them with plot build up that lead to one climax. From the killing of the goat, to Pops’ story about Parchman prison, to Jojo’s thirst, to the Kayla’s near death, to Mam’s death, to Michael’s prison release, to children hearing the unburied sing, to Jojo seeing sprits and hearing animals, the reader is engrossed by smaller climatic events and not the plot building up to one climax – the novel read like real life. I believe the protagonist of the novel was Jojo; however, Ward gave us other character’s backstories with such depth that I am sure others will argue for Leonie. Jojo had the goal of keeping Kayla safe and accepting his and his family’s spiritual powers. I see Leonie as Jojo’s antagonist; she is a physical threat to Kayla and to Jojo’s own development. Leonie’s neglect of Kayla forces Jojo into a parental role that Leonie resents. The main message of the novel was the need for family. Ward used a family under attack by racism, the prison industrial complex, and addiction to illustrate how an individual needs family. Mam would not have transitioned without Leonie, Jojo would have not had a guide without Pops – the need for family is strong in the novel. The family being under attack was one motif, along with the individual being attacked by addiction and the effects on the addict and the family of the addict. The most effective metaphor was “Given-not-Given” showing the strength of addiction; Ward had a ghost brother appear to try and help Leonie see the error of her ways, but a ghost was powerless over her addiction. The most memorable scenes were Kayla throwing up in that car and at the lawyer’s house, on Leonie, on Misty, and the police officer; the child puked on the putrid life of the addicted. I believe this text represents the malady of societal attacks on poor families within America. With this book, Ward illuminates those attacks and calls for families to remain strong. Without a doubt, I would read another Jesmyn Ward book. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lindsay Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 Please keep in mind, the forum is open - post what you think about our selected reads - the questions are only suggestions, not required guide lines - we want to read your thoughts 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSS Posted October 27, 2018 Report Share Posted October 27, 2018 The most compelling aspect of this story is the familial love that exists. The bonds of love between Michael and Leonie, Kayla and JoJo, and Mam & Pop, despite the dysfunction and societal ills, give the reader hope. I salute the "JoJos" of the world who hold it all together. A very real story at a much needed time in our history! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Lindsay Posted October 31, 2018 Report Share Posted October 31, 2018 Yep, she did a great job with family love, and showing the strength of the young - we forget how strong and focused kids have to be in such situations - I salute the young survivors as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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