Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward -> Starting March 9th, 2018

[Alaina]

An intimate portrait of a family and an epic tale of hope and struggle, Sing, Unburied, Sing examines the ugly truths at the heart of the American story and the power – and limitations – of family bonds.

Jojo is thirteen years old and trying to understand what it means to be a man. His mother, Leonie, is in constant conflict with herself and those around her. She is black and her children’s father is white. Embattled in ways that reflect the brutal reality of her circumstances, she wants to be a better mother, but can’t put her children above her own needs, especially her drug use.

When the children’s father is released from prison, Leonie packs her kids and a friend into her car and drives north to the heart of Mississippi and Parchman Farm, the State Penitentiary. At Parchman, there is another boy, the ghost of a dead inmate who carries all of the ugly history of the South with him in his wandering. He too has something to teach Jojo about fathers and sons, about legacies, about violence, about love.

Rich with Ward’s distinctive, lyrical language, Sing, Unburied, Sing brings the archetypal road novel into rural twenty-first century America. It is a majestic new work from an extraordinary and singular author.

[Alaina]

Chapter 3: (view spoiler)[UGH, Leonie is a terrible mom. YOU DON'T GET SOMETHING JUST FOR YOURSELF WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS! (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 6: (view spoiler)[I really liked Richie's POV and how Pop was basically the father figure to both Richie and Jojo. (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 9: (view spoiler)[Kind of confused about Richie and his decision making skills.. idk. If pop is basically his "home" then where the hell is he going? Unless I misread something somewhere... (hide spoiler)]
Chapter 12: (view spoiler)[Aw I feel bad for Richie! He isn't excluded intentionally. (hide spoiler)]
Finished: (view spoiler)[Interesting ending. I like Kayla and how she believes that ghosts will eventually go back home - me, I don't believe in ghosts but kudos to her. (hide spoiler)]

[✨Skye✨]

I won't start this one til the 9th-hope you liked it Alaina :)

[Alaina]

✨Skye✨ wrote: "I won't start this one til the 9th-hope you liked it Alaina :)"

it was good!

[✨Skye✨]

Alaina wrote: "✨Skye✨ wrote: "I won't start this one til the 9th-hope you liked it Alaina :)"

it was good!"

Good to hear! :)

[✨Skye✨]

I'm around 13% in and I am really liking it! I'm just not sure if I'm going to carry on with it at the moment, I'm not sure I'm in the mood for a book like this right now, and I'd hate to ruin what I think will be a book I'll love :( I'm going to give it a few days and see if my mood changes, but all I want to read right now is romance!

[✨Skye✨]

Let's see if I can get this one done before the end of the month!

25% (view spoiler)[ Given's story is tragic and makes me so angry that someone could get away with murder over something so petty just because of the colour of their skin! Leonie is awful, I hate that she still took drugs when pregnant and is still committed to Michael despite everything. Big Joseph's attitude towards Leonie is despicable, though. (hide spoiler)]