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| Alla Dreyvitser/The Washington Post |
Dear Bookclub,
Enjoying our lunch at Piacere Mio, we happily caught up with each other and ordered yummy Italian fare before settling down to our book discussion. Jesmyn Ward's "Sing, Unburied, Sing" shook us up with the sad story of one African American family that is unfortunately, very timely and a true characterization of the complicated and ruinous environment that has evolved in Ward's deep South and beyond. Remembering Ginger's comment that she didn't care for this book, I delved into our read, curious about why she felt this way as her likes and dislikes nearly always mirror our taste. Within a few chapters, I understood: this was going nowhere good. That it was not an escape, feel-good work of entertainment was apparent within a few chapters. Necessary to Ward's art is the creation of a piece of literature that responsibly portrays the world she grew up in and still experiences today.
The above illustration for the quote below is from a Washington Post review:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/a-powerful-new-entry-in-the-literature-of-race-in-america/2017/08/29/45cb2008-8b89-11e7-91d5-ab4e4bb76a3a_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.934db592e0a2
'Looking out to the yard, Jojo thinks, “The branches are full. They are full with ghosts, two or three, all the way up to the top, to the feathered leaves.” '
Jesmyn Ward is interviewed by Jeffrey Brown in the PBS News Hour as her book was chosen as the first "Now Read This" selection. Only a few minutes long, she answers readers' question - all very thoughtfully crafted. I highly recommend watching this as it will enhance your appreciation for both Ward and her book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEpKy0g9saM
Following this video, is another interview that took place in her home and town - excellent!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5E01GVW6gQ
Hoping this smattering of information will stay with you and give a deeper understanding of Jesmyn Ward, her work and the plight she chooses to illuminate.
Trudy proposed three suggestions for an upcoming read:
"Imagine Me Gone" Adam Haslett
"An American Marriage" Tayari Jones
"Unsheltered" Barbara Kingsolver *chosen
Up next:
Happy reading!
LK
